I am cleaning up the original grille that came off of my 69 Ranger. The bare metal portions are polishing right up, but there is that red stripe that runs horizontally across the middle of the grille -- it's very faded. Does anyone know what paint I should use for it? Also, is there a particular primer I should use under it, or should I get good enough results with just scuff sanding the original and painting over it? Finally, can I get a good enough job with a rattle can and sanding, or do I need to fire up the HVLP sprayer that I bought last year to paint my kitchen cabinets? I'd rather do the former, because the HVLP requires a whole lot of cleanup, and I'm only painting a tiny little stripe about a half inch wide and four feet long.

Thanks for your help.

 

If you get some good thinner, take the old paint off and rough it up with a fresh scotchbrite pad, the rattle can should work great. Try it in two coats, first a light one followed by a heavier wet coat.

 

i have not seen the size of the stripe you refer to but mabe this will work...
I covered the black stripe on my side trim with `pinstriping tape`.. 3-M has just about any size you want. and it looks like you painted the stuff on.



__JOHN__ô¿õ
1972 F-250
ICQ# 6030753

 

I need to do my also. Tape does seem to be a better alternative; it will probably hold up to rock chips/washing a lot better than paint.

 

I think the Ranger red stripe is too wide for the tape method.

Karl, I'd certainly do the job with a real spray gun and professional quality paint considering this will probably be the last time you'll ever do it. You can get a really small touch-up gun for around $20. These work great for smaller jobs and are a breeze to clean up. The only other factor to consider is cost, i.e. a can of spray paint is around $4-5 while a quart of urethane enamel is around $35 plus you'll need hardener and reducer so add another $20 or so. As far as going over the old or sanding down to bare metal, you make the call. If the old paint is still relatively sound and not too badly chipped, you can easily scuff sand, prime and topcoat. If, however, the original paint is in poor condition, I say it would behoove you to strip and start over. Bottom line, you will probably get decent results with the spray can, but despite the significant cost differential, my philosophy has always been do it right the first time. What are you going to do with the black parts of the grille?

As usual, my 2¢

 

Thanks. I don't have any black parts on my grille. The '69 Ranger grille has only the red stripe across it. The '68 had the vertical members painted black, but not the '69.

 

I need to measure this on my 69 Ranger to make sure but I was planning on using 3M #35 Red Electrical Tape on it. It is usually 3/4" wide but is also available in 1/2".

 

 

It's 1/2" wide so the 1/2" 3M #35 Red tape would be perfect, I would think.

 

I have the exact same question - I never did see the paint code? Did you end up doing the 3m tape? how did it work?

Thanks
Karl - 1969 F250 w/ 429 cobrajet

 

Unless you're doing a true resto, the normal observer will have no clue as to what is "correct". Grab a Harbor Freight $10 touch up (gravity feed) paint gun and some red One-Shot sign paint and go to town.

$0.05... inflation!

 

Wow talk about digging up an old post. 2-11-02
One thing for sure, people post questions, multiple ideas are given, and we never know what happens.
It would be nice to have the original poster post what happened, what he/she used and what the outcome was.
Definately easier than asking the question ten years later.
Come on people, when you try something LET US KNOW!!!