Style-side paint job question

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Aug 8, 2004 | 06:44 PM

79RangerJoel

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From: Waco, TX

Style-side paint job question

My 79 F150 Ranger has all of the chrome side molding intact, but the paint job is leaving a lot to be desired, and she's just developing an very light external layer of rust in some places. I'd seriously consider getting a paint job, but it seems to me that having to remove all those individual pieces (plus the rubber) would be extremely time-consuming, not to mention the potential for damage to the old rubber. Wouldn't it take someone very experienced with these old trucks, and wouldn't it cost a lot more than a standard tape/prime/paint job? Looks like it might make the cost prohibitive for me right now, but I'm only guessing. Any thoughts?

Aug 8, 2004 | 09:39 PM

JohnT

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The chrome trim on these trucks is not very hard to remove if you have the right tools. What style of trim does your truck have? Is it just the chrome with black vinyl insert down the middle of the truck, is it the chrome with black vinyl insert down the middle and chrome rocker panel moldings along the bottom, or is it the race-track style trim? I had to do this when I had my 78 Lariat restored a few years ago. My 78 has the race-track trim on it and the body parts used in the restoration were rust-free parts brought back from Arizona. Unfortunately, the replacement fenders and bed did not originally have race-track trim on them, so the body shop had to line up the trim on the new parts and drill holes to install the mounting clips for the trim. That was alot of work!

Aug 9, 2004 | 01:00 AM

Mil1ion

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For the best job possible...take the time to remove the trim.

Aug 9, 2004 | 01:12 AM

79RangerJoel

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From: Waco, TX

Thanks for the input. Exposing my ignorance here, but I don't understand the "race track" term. It is a Ranger Lariat, and has the middle section of paint surrounded by chrome/vinly tracks top and bottom (and front/rear). Being new to the circa-70's F-150, I'd have no clue how to go about removing the tracks. Do they come out in two pieces (chrome/vinyl) or does the entire thing lift off as one unit? Does it pop off? See, I know nothing! Me & Sgt. Schultz...

Aug 9, 2004 | 02:29 PM

fatherdoug

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From: Colstrip, MT

I think it is called racetrack chrome, because it appears to wrap around the truck in a continuous loop, like a race track.

There is no easy way to get the chrome off. It comes off in pieces and is attached by 5 to 8 different types of fasteners, depending on where the chrome is located. The fasteners range anywhere from a screw which can be done on the outside(like the chrome on the cab corner) to various combinations of popout inserts or slideout inserts. Some of them can be accessed by removing the taillight at the backend or removing the headlight and/or the grille insert. I haven't done it myself, but I do have a drawing of how the chrome attaches in the 1978 ford manual.

Aug 9, 2004 | 09:19 PM

79RangerJoel

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From: Waco, TX

Makes sense re: the "racetrack" description of the chrome. At the wrecking yard today, I found an F150 with that type of detail, and inspected a spot where a section of chrome was missing. I was not encouraged. I'd like to remove the tracks for a good painting, but may be tempted to tape it off if I can't find a guaranteed way to remove all the pieces without damaging them or the brackets holding them in place.

That manual for the '78 that you mentioned, which manual is that? I might like to get one for my '79, and I've found shop manuals, etc., but not one that deals a lot with cosmetic details like that.

Thanks again~

Aug 10, 2004 | 10:12 AM

fatherdoug

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From: Colstrip, MT

The "original" manuals published for Ford Motor Company apply to specific years and are still available on e-bay at times. I got my set of 5 volumes(each manual deals with specific sections) for about 20 dollars. The price varies based on the condition of the manual. You would need volume 3 which is entitled "body/electrical". There are also cd's available from this website for sale which are based on original publications, and are more in-depth then the cd's that you find in dicount stores.

There are a set of manuals on e-bay now. The item # is:
Complete set of 5 Manuals+ Service Specifications Guide Item number: 7915321337 . These are ford the Ford Bronco, but they give you an idea of what to search for.

Last edited by fatherdoug; Aug 10, 2004 at 10:14 AM.