Replacing surface rust with spray pain

[J.McConnell]

I've got an 85 F250 that's mechanically in decent shape. Normally that's all I would care about but the hood is almost entirely covered in surface rust. I want to remove the rust and re-paint the hood. I don't care if the finished job is flawless, I just want something that will hold up to the elements and keep the rust away. I was planning on sanding, treating with naval jelly, laying down a layer or two of rustoleum spray can primer, then spray canning the paint on. I realize that to get a good paint job the right tools (compressed air and spray gun) would be better, but all I want is good enough. Just want something that will prevent the rust from coming back and look halfway decent. It's really about function more than appearance. Any tips?

[ReAX]

Your plan sounds sound. I have a krylon truck once and it was nice for touching up. Sand it down all the way though, get the whole hood shiny and silver. If you have rust spot after a good sanding, keep going. Then fill in any holes or pits with metal or bondo.

Then coat with what ever you like, rustolium isn't a bad choice and would be fine alone I think. However I am not sure on how well of a primer it will be, you may need to scuff it up a little. If you want to try to get it pretty, prime/scuff then paint and let the paint dry in a clean place for a day or so and then wet sand it to your liking.

Old cars used an enamel paint, not the fancy base/clear. I think with enough care you can get spray paint to look half decent.

[stangbanger]

I just did this on my bed rails and down the side to the pin stripe.. The rust was so bad it left pits being i am going to put bed caps on i didnt worry about smoothing the tops. But i used some gel form ospho typle stuff it works pretty well. And then i used sandable primer, sanded , sandable primer, sanded more and then sanded and hit it with a sealed primer, then hit it with some rustoleum black. Its holding up so far. Good luck!

[ReAX]

If your going to cover it, my procedure is just hit it with a wire brush and coat with rustoleum. I did the floor board and bed rails on my 89 that way. I sold the truck 2 or 3 years later and no issues.

[stangbanger]

yes i forgot to mention the excessive use of a wire wheel cup on mine hehe .