I have a 78 regular cab 2 wheel drive short bed truck, that i'm getting ready to paint. Does anyone know of any do's and don'ts for colors? I'm stuck between multiple different paint colors and have no idea which way to go. Any ideas, thoughts, of colors and the do's and don'ts for painting these old trucks? It came factory white...and i was leaning toward the yellow on the truck on the cover of the LMC magazine.

 

Well, I gots more do's than don'ts cuz there's lots you can do to save money and get a better paint job... even a scratch n shoot! :

Do's:

Do remove everything you can do get better paint coverage. Why pay $80 an hour when it is something you can do? Remove the bumpers, trim, mouldings, mirrors, marker lights, tail lights/housings, grill inserts, grill shells, antenna, door handles, and anything else that is easily removable and will not be painted. Masking jobs by most bodyshops is usually pretty sloppy and not as careful as if you were doing the masking.

Do a thorough wash-job after removing the above BEFORE turning it in. The more it appears that you care for your rig, then the shop is more likely to respect your property. Plus, there'll be less chance of a spray gun blowing dirt out of some cranny and ending up on your fresh color.

Do bag and ziptie light harnesses left loose from the above steps. It'll keep the primer and color off the bulbs and wiring.

Do keep the tail lights mounted and one side view mirror to be somewhat street legal. You can leave the headlights and buckets installed. Remove the tail lights and side view mirror when you get to the shop. Bag and ziptie the loose pigtails.

Do buy a set of body gaskets/seals for when it is reassembled. Fresh lenses also make a world of difference....It's like putting on a clean pair of socks.

Do budget a 20-30 percent overage on the quoted cost. There's all sorts of lil things that can crop up at the body shop. For example, my Pontiac's bodywork became more extensive because they started tracing the rust.... from the rear end to the wheel arch. That was an extra grand to fix cuz the whole quarter panel needed work.

Do have a detailed work order specifying exactly what you want done and what they will do.

Do call the bodyshop ahead of time if you're gonna stop by to see the progress.

Do ask questions. If they don't feel like answering them or act as if you're an inconvenience or are a hassle, then take your business (and money) elsewhere.

Do inspect the bodyshop you're hiring. The cleanliness of the shop, especially the paint booth, is indicative of their overall attention to detail.

Do install a set of roller wheels and tires that you don't mind getting overspray on.

Do be flexible on a completion date. Shops working towards hard and fast deadlines sometimes results in hurried (and shoddy) work.

Do remove a couple of bed bolts and loosen the other bed bolts' nuts. Remember to tell 'em their loose. The shop will thank you for your consideration. You are removing the bed to have shoot the back of the cab and front of the bed, right? Right.

Do get to know the shop supervisor or foreman and take a look at what other projects they are working on.

Do keep track of your paint code. An OEM color is easiest to match wherever you go.. plus touch-up paint is only an auto parts store away.

Dont's:

Don't be a pest by calling every day, hour, or whatever.

Don't leave the cost open. Some guys I know go have signed off on time and materials and have gotten reamed. Have a signed quote in hand for the work that is specified on the work order. And that any change is subject to your approval. Before signing off on the extra work, go to the shop to do a firsthand inspection of what is causing the extra work. Get a change-order recorded and a written quote. Documentation is important!!!

Don't wash or wax the rig for at least a month or whatever period the painter tells you. Though dry, the paint really needs to cure and outgas thoroughly.
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Don't forget to enjoy the process and do share your enthusiasm with the shop... I brought them a four cases of beer about a week after I got my Pontiac back.... They remembered me then, and they sure as heck know me now. And now have a relationship with a great shop.

 

Do not leave the completion date open. In other words, have an absolute deadline allowing them some flexibility but do have a deadline. I made the mistake one time of leaving the completion date too flexible, allowed them to use it as 'fill' work, and I got the car back six months later. It had a beautiful paint job and the price was right, but six months? I blame myself for not being firm on the time frame.

 

Good advise from HIO. I use tin foil on the lights and pigtails, it works just as well and requires no tools to remove.

One more tip. Try and find a body man who does work on the side. Most often the rate is lower and you will get the same (or better) results. I do body work on the side and my rate is $35/hour as I have very little overhead.

Be aware that a color change done right is MUCH more costly than a repaint in the same color.

raytasch, thats not to bad for telling them to use it as fill in. I've seen some "fill in" work that has been 2 years or more! If the shop is busy your project may sit for months at a time!

 

Thanks for all the info this is great stuff. I do have a guy that does this type of work on the side and i've been told numerous times not to be pushy. They mention he does a great job, so i'm excited. Any ideas on color? I can't seem to narrow myself into a particular color.

 

Color? That's a personal choice... really personal. Have you looked at the OEM paint options in 78? I'd use that for starters. Second, I'd consider going two-tone.. the white roof cab with a metallic or solid body color, to me, evokes tradition. If I had an open choice? - Wimbledon White on the cab roof and Silver Blue Metallic for the body... and nice chrome adds the "jewelry".

I did an online search about the psychology of color and here's what I found:

 

I now know more about myself


Jeff

 

I'm in the same boat as you but i'm painting my truck myself. I'm painting it gloss white from rustoleom. I hope to have it turn out reasonably good, while being painted in a backyard