Your truck looks great! I'm glad this thread came back to the top I just buffed my truck a month ago and am happy with the paint but not so much the rusted areas. You can see on the hood it just looks dull. Do you think I could apply that to only the surface rust areas? The storage box in your bed is exactly what I want for mine. What brand or model is that?

Thanks in advance, Pat

 

I'm not sure you could get away with pentrol on just certain areas. It would probably look pretty obviously different. I think what I'd try if I were you is Gibbs lubricant on those areas. That's a penetrating spray/metal protector that some use to protect rusty patina finishes. It would darken up those areas a little and dry more of a satin or matte finish. And it would probably not change the look of the paint if you got some on the red areas. I used it in the engine bay and under the truck to protect everything from rusting, and that's the look I got.

Whatever you end up doing, it looks awesome already!

The tool box is a Lund 5560 Challenger Series. I got it on Amazon for about $200 somehow, but I see it's like $500 now. Maybe you could find a better deal somewhere else.

 

I'm going to do this.


Here is my hood with just the morning dew on it so it should look good once I do like the video above.
Original paint/Patina wear, no modification on the paint from me.
This is how I found it under the ole Oak tree for 15yrs.

 

Man, that looks great! It'll be even better when you can get it to look like that all the time. The mixture in that video is a very similar product to what I used. Penetrol is some mixture of drying oils plus naptha (solvent) and some other chemicals. The company keeps it secret, but does claim that it's not linseed oil. Seems like the BLO mixture gives a much less glossy finish, which I really like.

 

I did my Penetrol job - yikes! four years ago - but as you see I still can't do pictures. I used a foam brush, outside on a hot sunny day. It really did look pretty good, and still does, but the surface rust reappeared in a couple of areas. It was usually parked outside, and usually in the rain. I sanded through it and recoated it where it rusted. A second coat might have prevented the rust.
The hardest part of the job was the removal, polishing, and re-installation of the aluminum trim.

I would have preferred a sprayed two-part clear but I only had $20 at the time.

In my jurisdiction, I can get a "Collector" plate, which offers certain benefits, and keep the patina look but all the dents and scratches have to go so I'll have it painted if I take that route.

Eric