Whadda Y'all Think of This Look?

[Johnny49]

I was working on cleaning up the back of the cab and liked the look that was emerging, so I kept going. I figure I'll leave it like this until I can afford a real paint job. Interestingly, the end result pic is getting a lot of viral views on the Facebook page. I know there are a lot of people here who actually know what they're doing... Wondering what you guys think...

[fabguy]

I think it looks GREAT.
Nice truck
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[jjzepplin]

I think I see Jesus in the second pic. LOL. No really though, I kinda like pic # 1 And pic #3.

[Denee007]

I'm confused, did the paint come off as you cleaned? Looks like the body is well preserved!
I like

Ps: we need a little thumbs up/down, you know, like smiley faces,etc.
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[Johnny49]

Glad you like! Thanks... The "cleaning" was done with heavy sandpaper, since I needed to level out some very old rough bondo on the back...

I agree on the thumbs up/down idea! Sometimes people would rather just give a quick indicator of whether or not they like something instead of having to post a full comment...

[Highsider]

Photo #1 is my vote...it just looks good in a comfortable way.

[Dan in Pasadena]

I liked it before you sanded it. But now that you HAVE sanded it, it still looks good for a "patina" truck, if you like those.

My preference would be to get a good seal on the metal with a good primer anywhere you exposed it. That body looks too nice to let rust start. Or should I say MORE rust?
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[Johnny49]

There are a few small bare spots that I'm going to re-spray. I've been lucky - not a lot of rust. Some on the underside of the body and frame, but all in all it's a very solid truck. And this look will only last until I can afford a real paint job. I'd rather leave it like this for now than spray it on the cheap...

[Daze57]

the truck looks good either way - just not a big fan of the orange turn signals on the fenders

[Dan in Pasadena]

FYI to Johnny, Those bare spots? Don't spray them with rattle can Duplicolor Self Etching Primer - the avocado green stuff and expect it to keep rust from starting. It doesn't! How do I know? I painted my entire truck ('55.2) with it and in a month or two it was developing rust from beneath.

I recently sanded it off and re-sprayed with regular old Rustoleum satin paint in a similar green. Yes, it'll ALL have to come off when I someday put final, real paint on it.

[mr48chev]

It looks like you are getting it leveled out, keep on block sanding until it's straight.

[Rude Dude]

Make sure when you do take it off it all comes off, nothing worst than spraying a new paint job and it reacts to Rustoleum paint and it will do. A neighbor sprayed his Plymouth Fury after it had been sprayed can rustoleum even after primer sealer it reacted horribly. He was out over few hundred bucks just on paint waisted and he had to redo the paint job twice after aircraft stripping the whole car.

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

FYI to Johnny, Those bare spots? Don't spray them with rattle can Duplicolor Self Etching Primer - the avocado green stuff and expect it to keep rust from starting. It doesn't! How do I know? I painted my entire truck ('55.2) with it and in a month or two it was developing rust from beneath.

I recently sanded it off and re-sprayed with regular old Rustoleum satin paint in a similar green. Yes, it'll ALL have to come off when I someday put final, real paint on it.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yup, agree. When the time comes I'll strip it to bare metal myself because I don't trust the painter to do it as well as I would. Plus my truck was painted (I think) with a light blue metallic sometime in the 70's probably and I suspect it was a cheap job. It's gotta ALL come off to be certain it'll be right

[Johnny49]

Originally Posted by Daze57

the truck looks good either way - just not a big fan of the orange turn signals on the fenders

lol... I've never been a big fan of those either! My brother put them on after he bought the truck in the early 80's. They will eventually come off. What I would like to do is put the turn signals in the grill where the parking lights are now...

[Johnny49]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

FYI to Johnny, Those bare spots? Don't spray them with rattle can Duplicolor Self Etching Primer - the avocado green stuff and expect it to keep rust from starting...

Right on, no avocado here! I'm just going to hit them with some Rustoleum clear and maybe scuff it up with some steel wool. And someday when we can give it a real paint job it will definitely be stripped completely bare first...

[SCHRUMGMC]

Either way is still a Great truck

[focusedontheprize]

Truck looks solid Johnny...nice rig.

Like the rest of the boys said here. When it comes to take it down, bare metal is what you want. We have done quite a few cars (old man is quite a talented body and paint man) and like the rest have said, old sht doesn't mess very well with new materials. Strip, prep, and clean.

I see you are listed in Danbury, the truck originally from there? Incredibly solid truck if it is a East coast truck. I am down in NYC.

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by Johnny49

lol... I've never been a big fan of those either! My brother put them on after he bought the truck in the early 80's. They will eventually come off. What I would like to do is put the turn signals in the grill where the parking lights are now...

I don't know if you have something already in mind, but this is the setup on my '49. The LED turn signals and the conversion kit is from LMC. I put them in the grille and really like them especially the LED setup.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/full.aspx?Page=43

[Johnny49]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

Truck looks solid Johnny...nice rig.

Like the rest of the boys said here. When it comes to take it down, bare metal is what you want. We have done quite a few cars (old man is quite a talented body and paint man) and like the rest have said, old sht doesn't mess very well with new materials. Strip, prep, and clean.

I see you are listed in Danbury, the truck originally from there? Incredibly solid truck if it is a East coast truck. I am down in NYC.

Thanks! My brother bought the truck in Missouri and drove it home to CT in the summer of 1981. Been in love with it since then. Finally took it off his hands about 9 years ago. Except for the last three years (since we had to bring it here to the house), it's been garaged. Kills me to have to leave it outside, but bringing it here is what finally prompted me to get the project going...

[Johnny49]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

I don't know if you have something already in mind, but this is the setup on my '49. The LED turn signals and the conversion kit is from LMC. I put them in the grille and really like them especially the LED setup.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/full.aspx?Page=43

Exactly what I want, thanks for the link! I've ordered a lot of stuff form LMC...

[dubie]

i think it looks KILLER in the sanded patina bud. Much better than it did before you started. I like the aged look on these old trucks. Mine wears it proudly and will continue too

[Bubba54]

Nice truck, looks great.