Hi-ya everyone!,
This up date is about a new paint job inside and out and the bumpers too. Although the paint isen't cured yet. After curing, (90 days) it's wet sand with 1500 then 2000 than 3000 grit wet sandpaper. Should be able to comb your hair using the paint as a mirror when done!.. It was in a neighbors garage for a little over a week. 3 coats.

I'll post new pictures of the inside after I'm done doing the inside too. Take a while, but it'll be worth it... Updated the web site. Come and have a look... Also, leave a comment in the new comment box found at the bottom of the pages.

http://www.kc2dok.columbiawebtech.com/

Seems there are a lot of you guyes following my progress... Thats nice to know.

 

Looking good, Altho i couldn't wait 90 days to cure, i'd take it to a body or paint shop and see if they can bake it for you.

 

theres no need to wait 90 days before wetsanding...as long as the paint is dry youre fine...i work at a body shop and we wetsand new paint the day after we paint it/same at school too

 

Yea that is going to be difficult to wait. Although I have the bottom to work on in the time to wait. baking is an option, although one of the things I wanted to keep to was to make this a "Home grown" project... Baking would be a deviation from the planned path. Although I could call it a "Short Cut through the grass"... LOL...

 

Hmmm, yea?. That may be an option. In the garage each time I coated it it was "warm", and I figured thats probally the reason why it turned out good... It was in there after the last coat for 2 days, Lonely, and screaming for me. It wanted to take a drive!... LOL

Maybe I'll wait until I get the underside done. I going to have to use a brush on the underside. Thanks.

 

did you use single stage or base/clear to paint it?

 

define "Single stage". and Base clear... There is no clear coat yet, and what I did was wet sanded the original, feathered the chips. Thinned the paint a little bit, not a lot. Shot it first coat thin, second coat thicker, third coat a little thicker. Used a Home depot 44 dollar air spray gun and a craftsman double cylinder compressor.

I had to think about the method to paint. I mean, I had to do the roof first, the inside bed, then under the hood, and the rest. One reason I had to wait a dull 24 hours because I had to use the bed to paint the roof.

 

sounds like you used single stage as it has no clear coat...base/clear is totally different...you have the base coat that contains the color pigments and the clear coat that gives the paint its gloss/UV protection

 

You used a single stage. i would get that to a shop to bake PRONTO. you NEED to clear it, otherwise if something gets in the paint, its in the paint and you'll need to re paint.

 

No, can't do that... $$ is the reason.... It's in the garage. The paint is dry of course. Clear coat may be an option a little later on...

 

it is a gloss paint. it tryed to get it on as wet as possible so sanding won't be a chore. It's glossey, but dosen't have the mirrow finish. Wet sanding will make that happen withj 1500 then 2000 then 3000. After that, maybe a clear coat. Cost is a concern.

 

Okay guys.... It's time to tell you what paint I used. (see picture below)... I treated it like car paint except diden't thin it so thin... I checked the internet. Found many, many people whom painted there cars with it. Even email them. There are no issues except the same things as car paint, but helps stop rust.

Everybody I checked with, internet too, they diden't have any problems and it does come up with a mirror finish after wet sanding. Although a clear coat will help, It's just not in the budget. That stuff cost just about the same as car paint. Everypne else used a roller or brush. I used a pro air sprayer.. As I remember from school. it handled the same way as car paint. Looks the same, and has the same consitity. I suppose time will tell... Besides, the truck isen't driven everyday and is enclosure stored.

I don't think anyone has taken Rustoleum to this height as a car paint... heck! maybe Rustoleum will want to use the truck on their advertising campaign... LOL.... Only time will tell on how well it holds up. maybe by that time i'll be millionaire and can get it painted really professionally.

 

I still think you should clear coat it. If you drive it, get something in the paint (stone chip, tar, etc) and you go to get it out, you will be taking paint off and you'll have to re spray it.
I know cost is a factor, but parking it is cheap.

 

yea your right with the tar or something like that.... Yes sir... I'll have to see if she will let me use the garage again in some months...

 

Very nice restoration!

 

I agree! Very tasteful!

 

Thats an awesome looking little Ranger you have, my fist Ranger was an 84 and my oldest daughter wants one of that body style and it's getting hard to find a clean one. I may have to buy one and fix it up like yours.