That's a good question, Jim, and I wish I could give you a correct answer.
Keeping your truck original is a worthy endeavor.
I'm in the process of reassembling the Blue Funk (see my signature), after it was totalled, disassembled, and the frame straightened. I took the tact that if I had to remove a part and clean, repair, or replace it, I was also going to paint it. Once a part is off and cleaned, painting it isn't that big of a deal. Besides making a part's lifespan longer, it makes the part look better; cooler; more aesthetically-pleasing. Also- if you're doing a true restoration, your end result shouild be a truck which is better than when it rolled off the showroom floor. If you are following the restoration philosophy, perhaps you should decide to paint.
I used the KBS Rust Protection System for the Blue Funk's frame, leaf springs,front and rear axle, pitman arm, etc. Some Guys prefer POR-15, or I think Eastwood, or similar products. When I was planning on painting my frame, I just put "frame paint" into Stovebolt Search and came up with all sorts of threads.
Good Luck to you, Jim. And keep us apprised of your progress.
Last edited by Davey Do; 03/15/2013 3:11 AM.
