So I'm nearing my completion of body work on my '88. Just wanted a few opinions on paint. I'm taking it to our local Maaco. Their single stage urethane runs about $500. A friend of mine has had 3 trucks done there, and this particular Maaco does a great job at painting. So, when I originally got the truck, I was all about the two-tone paint job that it had. Baby blue is my favorite color on a pickup. But I'm beginning to think I want to just paint the whole thing dark blue. I know I'm going to incorporate dark blue no matter what, since I don't want to repaint the door jambs. I'm also concerned about Maaco's ability to do a 2-tone paint job...as in tape straight lines, and not have overspray. If you have any other suggestions, I'd welcome that too.

One more thing...the FORD letters on the tailgate...are they painted on? Or are these decals I can find? They might end up being something I spray on my own, or cut out of white vinyl myself.

 

Just go with the dark blue since that is what the jambs are. But personally I like the 2 tone like this


As for the tailgate letting they are stickers and i believe LMC sells them

 

Solid basic colors tend to stand the test of time. Two-tone paint jobs are almost always dated... So if it's a truck you are keeping a long time, I would stick to a solid color scheme. There are some great looking 2 tones out there but IMO, ten years from now, it will look dated. But I'm cheap and can't redo things when I want. So I do it for the long haul.

 

The Ford letters on the tailgate are painted white.


I love tu-tones on trucks! Looks classy and makes them stand out more.

I'd defenentlly go for Dark blue and baby blue! Especially since you must have a blue interior, and originally blue truck.

Another one of my favorite tu-tones is Tan/Brown with maching interior.

 

Personally I like solid colored trucks, but that two-tone that brad posted looks pretty nice.

 

I just voted for solid blue, but this is one choice you're really just going to have to make for yourself. Is that the original paint? If it came as a two-tone, then it might be kinda nice to keep it that way. Either way, just do what floats your boat. The two-tone would definitely be distinctive since there are so few trucks out there like that.

As for the decal; I'm fixing up a nice 93 F350 turbo diesel to sell and I thought it would be nice to replace the missing white "FORD" decal on the tailgate. (It's definitely a decal, at least on my year - you can see the adhesive outline). I called the dealer and they have them for $45. I said thanks but no thanks. A friend told me about LMC and I thought great, I'll be able to get one for cheap. Wrong. $39.95. The truck will go as is.

If you want to get one, LMC's # is 800-LMC-Truck (800-562-8782).

42-1136 White $39.95
42-1138 Red 29.95
42-1141 Silver 54.95 (Must be made of actual silver)

I think I'll go into the decal business.

Good luck with your project, and enjoy your nice ride whatever color scheme you end up with. Nice looking truck, and glad you're preserving it.

Best regards, John D

 

Of it were my truck, I would go with the color Brad posted in post #2....

 

In the poll I went with the solid dark blue, but thats only because the one Brad posted wasn't an option. For a two tone set up, the dark/light/dark on that Brad posted is sharp, and imo looks better than just the dark/light combo.

 

Just to clear any confusion. The 87 i showed a pic of i painted about 10 years ago. It was actually a 97 dark blue and I think a 94 light blue

 

Thanks for all the input. I think I like the two-tone dark blue/baby blue the most myself. I'll ask about it when I go. I still may end up a solid blue if I don't like what I hear, probably get a nice silver pinstripe also. When the truck is done i'll be sure to post up pictures. It'll also have new wheels/tires, step rails, fender trim, bed rail caps, and bumpers when it's all said and done.

 

I voted for metallic dark blue with silver/gray bottom, but I say just the lower bottom of the rockers like this. Paint the letters on the tailgate the same silver. This particular color is galled opal gray metallic.