Not a show Truck Orginal Paint What to do ?

[greedy geezer]

this truck is mostly original paint , Went to a local Paint shop and had the paint thickness checked with a sonar meter mostly came up in the low 3 mils with a couple of high spots where I knew some paint had been done , also did not find any bondo, the tail gate is a mess the cab roof has a couple of spots paint peeling nick scratches here and there doors hood and bed side some surface rust along seams bottom of doors and pin hole rot bedside under tool box , I do not want a show truck just a nice "driver "I will use for a Music business hauling equipment and attacking attention at a large out door flea market
So what are my best options to keep it original practical economical clean up surface rust and have a great looking truck and maintain it
thanks for any advise on how to do the paint touch up clear coat repaint what would be best
gg

[Grumpy old man]

Mothers/Meguiars/ cleaning products should cover your needs .Then finish with a high grade Carnauba wax.

[greedy geezer]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Mothers/Meguiars/ cleaning products should cover your needs .Then finish with a high grade Carnauba wax.

I like that do you mean just go over any nicks as is or try to touch spot treat first what I want to do is stop rust and the truck deterioration but not over reacting and ruining a nice old truck paint

[Grumpy old man]

being in the "SALT ZONE " I would have to really clean the under carriage and under coat everything ,I used Ziebart on a few Camaros and cuda's back in the 70's and they still look great .

I used to live in Maine and "Jewrzey" and moved to Florida heat for many years now 1/2 way back and Tn is fine .There are a ton of 1/2 backs as we call them here moved from the cold north to sunny Florida then 1/2 way back for the 3 beautiful months of each season and little snow .

[greedy geezer]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

being in the "SALT ZONE " I would have to really clean the under carriage and under coat everything ,I used Ziebart on a few Camaros and cuda's back in the 70's and they still look great .

Yeah That was the firs thing I went after this fall , I don't drive in snow with it and let the salt wash away a few days before I take it out but I do drive it so it will be a problem agree I'll be repainting this underside for years Ha !

[73737373]

Buff with this. https://www.jbtoolsales.com/wizards-...FU07gQodTbsA2w. It will take off years of just plain crud and a microscopicly thin layer of dead paint and expose virgin factory paint. Then wax w/a wax that contains carnauba. From your pics, it doesn't appear to have too much oxidation, so you probably won't need to wetsand any areas.

To remove surface rust; sprinkle a non abrasive cleanser (Bon Ami or Barkeepers Friend) and gently rub w/a damp washcloth.

[BigBlockBurris]

Not to hijack, but 737373, do you have anymore pics of that truck?
It was amazing what you did with that paint!

BBB

[greedy geezer]

Originally Posted by 73737373

Buff with this. https://www.jbtoolsales.com/wizards-...FU07gQodTbsA2w. It will take off years of just plain crud and a microscopicly thin layer of dead paint and expose virgin factory paint. Then wax w/a wax that contains carnauba. From your pics, it doesn't appear to have too much oxidation, so you probably won't need to wetsand any areas.

To remove surface rust; sprinkle a non abrasive cleanser (Bon Ami or Barkeepers Friend) and gently rub w/a damp washcloth.

Wow that looks real nice , I did compound polish the hood and some of the cab I can try what you suggest its looks great but I still have the Cab roof peeling and tailgate which I think will need paint I'll post a couple pics of these spots tomorrow when I'm home
thanks
gg

[greedy geezer]

there is also some pin hole rot under the bedside tool box how can I fix and match that up color wise

[jocko]

Original paint mo betta if you ask me. Here's a 71 Cheyenne Super I sold a little while ago. Original intent was to do a full resto, but things changed and I needed to sell to support my 72 habit... So, just did a pretty extensive buffing job. Be careful not to buff through the paint, easy to do. I never went through, but it got thin, oh my, very thin. But it was hard to let go of after the transformation (and it had had a repaint at some point along the way many years ago, so keeping original paint in your case seems like a no brainer to me).

[greedy geezer]

Originally Posted by jocko

Original paint mo betta if you ask me. Here's a 71 Cheyenne Super I sold a little while ago. Original intent was to do a full resto, but things changed and I needed to sell to support my 72 habit... So, just did a pretty extensive buffing job. Be careful not to buff through the paint, easy to do. I never went through, but it got thin, oh my, very thin. But it was hard to let go of after the transformation (and it had had a repaint at some point along the way many years ago, so keeping original paint in your case seems like a no brainer to me).

Wow That looks Great Yeah I need to figure out how to resolve the few issues spots and blend to the old paint I have to keep it the way it is its in such good shape plus the price of a full paint job would not make sense

[j_cst_10]

I have buffed out a couple original paint cars and trucks and you would be really surprised what a good compound and a light duty foam pad can do to original lacquer. Night and day. If you're not comfortable working a buffer, find someone to do it. You will be surprised what it looks like when it's done.

[greedy geezer]

Originally Posted by j_cst_10

I have buffed out a couple original paint cars and trucks and you would be really surprised what a good compound and a light duty foam pad can do to original lacquer. Night and day. If you're not comfortable working a buffer, find someone to do it. You will be surprised what it looks like when it's done.

I'm okay with buffing what I want to find out about blending the few repairs that will nee to be done got some small breaking threw under the bed tool box and paint peeling on cab roof and tail gate is lifting in spots, I guess for that I'll have to trust a paint guy