faded truck

[Ben69]

Hey, my truck is really faded and was wondering what is the best product to try and shine it up. thanks

[ECM]

Try a good polish (not a wax)... what year is this truck - is it from the pre-clearcoat days of assembly line painting?

Wash & dry her really thouroughly, then give it a good rub-down with a quality polish, and then follow up with a good wax if one application of polish gets the luster back into the paint to protect it, or give it another rubbing with some polish if it doesn't.

A lot of guys here prefer more expensive products, but make a stop by the local auto parts store, and grab some Meguiars polish, and some of their Gold-something wax. The polish will be in a burgandy squeeze bottle, and the wax in a black metal tin with yellow text.

[Mad Dog]

I just used some of Meguires color-x on my 72 that has factory paint.....it worked really well and restored alot of the brilliance and removed alot of oxidation. Two thumbs up from me.

[67Fleet]

After I brought my '67 home I didn't think the paint would EVER come back. Red is the worst color in FL for oxidation and it really looked horrible. It was almost pink. I got some 3-M rubbing compound. Started with the medium grit and an electric polisher and then moved to the fine grit. If you're not familiar with a high-speed polisher, stay away from one, or just use an orbital or you can damage the paint. I heated the paint up in a couple places and it leaves "burn marks". Took me a while to get them out. I followed up the compounding with Meguiar's Cleaner Wax, and it is looking really good. I can't believe I resurrected it, but I'm still going to put on some Meguiar's NXT to give it the brilliance. Good luck with yours!

[73737373]

Before you waste time and $$ repainting an old truck (they are NEVER as good as when they come from the factory), try this. Wet sand w/1500 grit wet/dry paper. Go to an auto paint store and buy some 3M 5970 buffing/ rubbing compound and then start rubbing. Goes alot faster if you have a high speed buffer, but a low speed orbital will work just fine, especially if you've never used a high speed one. Keep the buffing pad clean and make sure you use plenty of water. Just do 1 section at a time. I have resurected several old mid 60s to mid 70 GM cars and trucks this way w/simple OUTstanding results.

Just because there is some oxidation on your paint is does not automatically mean you need to repaint. Try this method, and I guarantee that you'll be amazed w/the results. It can be a long, messy and tedious process, though. I don't believe that there is some magic formula in a bottle that that will match these results. If you're uncomfortable w/trying this, many body shops offer this service for a fraction of what a quality paint job will cost you.

There are good instructions on the bottle of the GM 5970 that I first used when when I started doing this. I've done at least 30 cars this way, and it always works.

[JeffD72]

Originally Posted by 73737373

Before you waste time and $$ repainting an old truck (they are NEVER as good as when they come from the factory), try this. Wet sand w/1500 grit wet/dry paper. Go to an auto paint store and buy some 3M 5970 buffing/ rubbing compound and then start rubbing. Goes alot faster if you have a high speed buffer, but a low speed orbital will work just fine, especially if you've never used a high speed one. Keep the buffing pad clean and make sure you use plenty of water. Just do 1 section at a time. I have resurected several old mid 60s to mid 70 GM cars and trucks this way w/simple OUTstanding results.

Just because there is some oxidation on your paint is does not automatically mean you need to repaint. Try this method, and I guarantee that you'll be amazed w/the results. It can be a long, messy and tedious process, though. I don't believe that there is some magic formula in a bottle that that will match these results. If you're uncomfortable w/trying this, many body shops offer this service for a fraction of what a quality paint job will cost you.

There are good instructions on the bottle of the GM 5970 that I first used when when I started doing this. I've done at least 30 cars this way, and it always works.

I have never wet sanded, but am willing to try. Can you give any tips? My paint has a lot of oxidation, I dont seem to be getting very far with hand applied rubbing compound or polish.

[oldblue1968chevy]

wet sand wet sand some kind of polish we did a 53 chevy all by hand looks great lots o work

[72BlckButy]

Any pics of the truck?

[Daddy Brim]

If paint is real faded and clear coat is gone, wash with Ajax cleanser or something similar. Rinse and dry real good. Then apply paste wax. First pic is when I got my truck home. second is after Ajax scrub and wax.