You’re Doing it Wrong !! Two tone Paint

[FireTruck1984]

The top level Two Tone paint trim package ( Exterior Decor Package ) on 1981-1987 Trucks.
It’s a great look when done right… that being said, it’s becoming much more common that guys are getting it all wrong when repainting their trucks.

The center contrasting paint (Band) will gradually dip and follow the contour of the hood. The front corner should land at.. or slightly below the height of the grille.

What I’m seeing more often than not on repaints is the band painted way too high at the front. Even Professional paint guys at reputable shops are guilty of this! This mistake immediately draws your eye and tells you something is very off.

Here’s some pics of the Wrong way and the Right way…
Wrong Way

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Wrong Paint Detail

 

[FireTruck1984]

Correct Paint Detail

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[CalSgt]

Eh.... I think the wrong way looks fine. The correct way pictures do look better than the brochure photo though, maybe because the don't show the whole side of the truck.

 

[Goldie Driver]

I think the factory way looks more betta - it emphasizes the sloped lines of the front fender. having said that, it looks like correct trucks 2 & 4 have different heights than 1 & 3 ...

 

[Catbox]

The red and white truck is very displeasing to the eyeballs...

 

[FireTruck1984]

Eh.... I think the wrong way looks fine. The correct way pictures do look better than the brochure photo though, maybe because the don't show the whole side of the truck.

Doing it Wrong only shows that the builder takes no pride in his work.
Imagine going through all the trouble to prep the job and get the body perfectly straight.. only to F..k up the paint details.

 

[FireTruck1984]

I think the factory way looks more betta - it emphasizes the sloped lines of the front fender. having said that, it looks like correct trucks 2 & 4 have different heights than 1 & 3 ...

The first 4 pics are the wrong way.

Next 4 pics are the right way to do it.

And yes you’re right on that.. the first 2 trucks are laid out differently and both are wrong.

 

[CalSgt]

Doing it Wrong only shows that the builder takes no pride in his work.
Imagine going through all the trouble to prep the job and get the body perfectly straight.. only to F..k up the paint details.

That's the thing about being a gearhead/hotrodder... Build what you want because you like it that way regardless of the "correct" or "factory" original way.

However if I paid for a paint job and asked for a "factory" period correct two-tone I would be pissed if it came back with the wrong paint job (top photos), that shop would be repainting it free of charge.

 

[Goldie Driver]

The first 4 pics are the wrong way.

Next 4 pics are the right way to do it.

And yes you’re right on that.. the first 2 trucks are laid out differently and both are wrong.

Pics are mo betta - let me explain.

Truck 1 :

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Truck 3 :

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Truck 2 :

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Truck 4:

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Looks to me like the paint sits higher up on the body line on 1 & 3.

 

[Keith Seymore]

One other observation: in the factory the secondary color was sprayed first.

The stripe sticker had a pre-mask on top. So the order was: spray the secondary color, allowing overspray above and below. Install the stripe. Mask the shape of the insert using butcher paper and masking tape. Spray the primary color. Remove the paper, Masking tape and pre-mask from the stripe and Viola! two-tone paint job.

 

[FireTruck1984]

Pics are mo betta - let me explain.

Truck 1 :

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Truck 3 :

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Truck 2 :

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Truck 4:

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Looks to me like the paint sits higher up on the body line on 1 & 3.

OK Yes, especially on 3.. it’s a little higher. but as we all know, there is always slight difference from the factory (Factories).

I’m just surprised painters don’t do a little research before their layouts.

 

[FireTruck1984]

One other observation: in the factory the secondary color was sprayed first.

The stripe sticker had a pre-mask on top. So the order was: spray the secondary color, allowing overspray above and below. Install the stripe. Mask the shape of the insert using butcher paper and masking tape. Spray the primary color. Remove the paper, Masking tape and pre-mask from the stripe and Viola! two-tone paint job.

Keith.. I’ve said it before, you have the best inside scoop!

 

[AuroraGirl]

just to satisfy ones contempt for consistency or a contempt of organized society as a whole, make sure on the truck which appears displeasing to have misaligned panels so that no lines that should be seamless flow or line up

The red and white truck is very displeasing to the eyeballs...

The rebel inside wants to see society bur- i mean, the universe to tend to disorder muhahah

 

[shiftpro]

My biggest pain is when the new '81 fenders hit the scene. They lost that body line where the chrome (aluminum actually) strip was mounted and curled around the front fender facing to the rear. That is where the two tone border was. With or without the body trim, it looked great.

 

[Goldie Driver]

just to satisfy ones contempt for consistency or a contempt of organized society as a whole, make sure on the truck which appears displeasing to have misaligned panels so that no lines that should be seamless flow or line up

Sadly, on my '80, that applies to the passenger side front fender ...

And, some of the trim.

I think body panel gaps & lines were a bugaboo for the American manufacturers for a looooong time.