The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Paint vs patina

We got the motor and tranny out of my '46 pickup last night (and it was surprisingly easier than we thought it would be). The first thing my FIL said was that we needed to paint the firewall and the frame. Hubby and I talked about it... I want to clearcoat it to preserve the original state that I received it in, and hubby says we should primer and paint it.

Obviously I have to clean it up really good and get any troubled surface rust off, but, is it possible to clear coat what I have, or should I sand the whole thing down, primer, and paint? I should add that he'll be parked in the pole barn vs sitting outside in the elements.

* You can see where I sprayed "Rustoleum" clear over the part number stenciled on the leaf spring. It's things like that that I would like to preserve. I'm leaving the black body color as is, so the rest of the truck won't have a brand new paint job or anything.

Either way would be nice. I personally like the paint.

It's a continuum of personal decisions.

As others have said... it's probably best to get it running and just drive for some months before deciding all these things:

Do you want to drive regularly on wet or salted roads?
Can you commit to washing the salt off quickly when you do?
Can you keep it inside?

Do you care if it's going to rust a bit more?
Do you want to preserve for future generations?
As a museum piece, or with functional upgrades?
Are you going to enjoy the extra challenge of cleaning/painting?

Leaf springs probably thick enough to last with minimal protection... but other stuff would need to be really well cleaned before applying protection.
If you're going all the way to frame off resto (careful it's a LOT of work), I like the idea of doing nothing to the outer body, but then mega cleaning frame/underbody for SPI epoxy as an undercoat.

You see the clear coat patina trucks/cars at all the shows. If that’s the look YOU like, make sure you get it clean enough for a germaphobe to eat off of. Then clear coat shiny or satin, your choice.🛠

Not knowing the history, that looks like a great find. You will have a great time enjoying it for years no matter what your final decision is. One way to think about it is, if you leave it patina, and tire of it down the road, you can always do a bit of sanding and paint it. However, if you paint it now, getting back to it’s current patina state is pretty much impossible. Fake patina paint jobs are cool too, but you’ll know it’s not original.

Its all in what you personally like. Patina is easy, paint is not. If you enjoy the well worn look and dont want to have to worry about a scratch or ding when you actually use the truck .....then patina is great. If you enjoy waxing and shining up you pride and joy for carshows and are super careful to not let anything brush against it or nick it and then have this eye drawing “blemish” on your shiney ride...then paint it and take care of it. I personally dont drive my truck in anything but dry weather and it stays in my garage so i dont worry about salt or moisture. I do regularly use the front fender as a workbench and i do drive the truck A LOT (5,000mi this year already). The patina works well for me and i really enjoy the way the truck looks and the history it shows. Its kinda like people with tattoos or scars. Its a piece of your past or your life story that people see on the SURFACE. I dont plan to sell mine and im only 36yrs old but mabey when im 50 i might say hey i think i wanna make this thing perfect and shiney again. One thing is for sure.... you can never go back to original real life long patina after paint.
Here my current driver status truck.

Your firewall looks pretty solid in the pictures so you will probably not have my experience. As I removed some of the solid looking "patina" on my truck I found unexpected nearly rusted thru areas. I was glad I took everything to bare metal.

@ olezippi - Your truck's original state is exactly what I was looking for! Having said that, your current state is beautiful. I have a lot of respect for anyone who brings these forgotten beauties back to life, and I always respect their decisions. Thank you for sharing your pictures! I always enjoy seeing what everyone has done with theirs. I noticed your handle - Thank you for your service!

@ Ott3r - Whatever I do I'm going to do before we put a motor back in. I'm going to drive him a bit before we make big decisions (upgrades on the brakes, chassis, rims and wheels...) but I want to have him totally ready paint/body-wise before we drop the engine. We live in Southern Indiana and I have a 'real' daily driver so I won't be driving him in bad weather. He will reside in the (fairly climate controlled) pole barn with hubby's '68 Camaro when I'm not driving him. (I threw that in because I know my truck will always be taken care of as long as hubby's high school sweetheart is. 😄). I don't mind a little more rust (I looked patiently until I found him) but I obviously don't want him to deteriorate. We've got two kids in college and we both still work full-time...not a lot of extra time and money to repair what I could have prevented. I'm trying to make educated decisions now to prevent heartache and decay in the future. Thank you for the SPI epoxy tip! I'm adding that to my screenshot album for 'Bruno's' restoration. 👍 I appreciate you taking the time to respond, and you definitely bring to light a lot of things to think about.. Thank you!!

@ justhorsenround - While I definitely appreciate their 'beginnings', I really enjoy the current state of these old beauts. I will probably go flat because I've seen some of the glossy and, IMO, the brightness/dark tone that the rust takes on takes away from the eye's ability to 'take the vehicle in' as a whole. (My eyes are always drawn straight to the rust instead of flowing back and forth across the entire vehicle, if that makes sense).

@ DES57 - Thank you! I've actually written to the gentleman whose name was on the title. It's an address in Kansas, and I really hope he replies! The gentleman I bought it from in Illinois said that it was a barn find in Kansas, but for a farm truck, someone has taken excellent care of it over the years. It seems like you and I think a lot alike. 😊

@ Barnfind49 - It seems like we think a lot alike, also. 😊 I love your truck! It too was what I was looking for. I think it's awesome for someone 'your age' to have such an appreciation for the past. We're 45 & 47 (hubby has a '68 Camaro who was his high school sweetheart. He just finished restoring her [after 20 years away in the Air Force] in time for our son to take his girlfriend to prom a few years ago). Our boys are 20 & 21 now and I hope we've instilled in them the importance of preserving history, and taking care of what we've worked hard for. Thank you for sharing! I think you've helped tip the scale in my favor. 😊

I truly appreciate you all taking the time to weigh-in, and share your thoughts. I would much rather make an educated decision than to have regrets down the road. After reading everything I will definitely begin researching the best methods to preserve what I currently have. As was pointed out, I can always paint him down the road but I can never get back what I have right now. Bruno's staying as-is both underneath, and topside. 😊 (I've included a picture we took when I bought him [a few weeks ago]).

46 Chevy Mom,

First, thank you for the comment about my service to our country. I was in the Air Force as well. You and Hubby will figure it out. That's part of the fun figuring out what you want to do with your truck to put your own spin on it. The pics I posted were just for reference for what a painted truck vs Patina looks like. I have a 49 pickup.

One other option is you can clean up and paint the engine bay (and possibly interior), and leave the outside patina'ed. Seen that done on numerous vehicles.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^


Pic is after a the truck was park for 30 plus years in field in SD. It was completely green when parked.
When parked it had a complete wood bed. When I rescued it all the wood was completely gone.
Complete overhaul engine, Trans, drive line, brakes, chassis, electrics of every nut and bolt.
Cleaned and 3m pad with diluted CRL then 5% gloss clear.

46 Chevy Mom,

Congrats on your purchase. After our conversation last year i was curious what you would find. Looks like you have a solid project and I look forward to seeing it in person around town.

You have seen how I did my 49 one ton with the patina look. I did touch a few areas a d added a little " fake patina " carefully . I agree with others it is just a matter of what makes you happy. I may paint mine some day, but for now there is a lot to be said for just getting it on the road and enjoying driving it.

I just focused on the mechanical aspects of mine for now as i kind of felt my truck has earned all those scars and patina on a Kansas farm.

Put a good coat of wax on it in order to protect it and then decide later what you want to do.

Welcome to the forum.

Hi,
Just another perspective: Fix it all up so everything is like new, including the paint, then drive it and use it as it was meant to be used. You've have a "new" truck that will acquire patina, scratches, etc. but it will last for another 70 - 80 years!
Samantha

I would not use clear coat on it. It does not look right, especially on your beauty. A friend of mine takes trucks in worse shape than yours and wipes it down with boiled linseed oil. It greatly slows down the rusting process, but doesn't give it that too shiny look. You will need to keep it out of the rain. The boiled linseed oil does attract dust, but all you need to do is give it another wipe of the oil. His trucks all look like they were just pulled out of an old barn. That is the look that I like.

@46 Chevy mom - Thats funny because I actually own a 68 camaro. It was my moms very first car and its been in storage waiting for me to dive into the project.

@Possum - Im actually doin the entire interior over in my truck with new correct maroon seat cover, door panels, arm rests, all fresh paint inside and I also have new headliner, visors and floor mat. The gauges in my truck are the tan ones and they survived remarkably well so im leaving those alone and the rest will be all original as far as dash controls, trim and glovebox just cleaned up with center painted. I will make it all flow so it looks like its a slightly aged interior with just all original stuff. Underhood I dont care. Its got a shiny “vortec” cover on the engine and besides that its just stock hahaha.

Yikes. Isn’t oil on metal a no no if you ever change your mind. Oil left in the pores of the metal would cause any future painting to blister. Wouldn’t a dull finish clear be a better choice?

Moving this over to Paint and Body for further discussion.

I have vehicles I have left original, and ones I haven't. It depends on if 'm showing them for points or not, which the older I get-the less attractive this activity seems to me. I tend towards leaning on drive the HE-double hockey sticks out of em. It's your choice (as you know).

This is just my personal note I really like satin clear coat. However it is up to your preference. I have a 49 that is satin coat after I put clear coat on it first. It looks weathered but clean now which is common for a vehicle that has been in a barn in Florida. Lot of dust and hay enclosed with it. Looks clean and dry. Oh the unknown item according to my brother, 60 years in farm equipment told me that is a New Idea Company or Plant It Jr. broadcaster. Doc.

I would say that if one were to change ones mind and decide to do a grade a number one paint job, media blasting would be in order. Boiled linseed oil can be easily removed with a hot pressure washer, or probably with a detergent soap prior to media blasting.

I'm with Samantha on this one.

I do old tool and restore antique fans..on the side. Try good cleaning and then linseed oil. Protects, shines, and can be removed if you want.
2 cents worth...

Which means that you can always paint it later without any worries about the linseed oil on it.

I think your firewall looks pretty darn good, so if it were me I’d clean it up with a Scotch pad and steel wool and leave it as is. You made a good decision not to repaint the truck, as I like originality. I happen to think that those trucks at the car shows that have been shot with clear look wrong. What’s right about shiny rust?!? If you’re going to drop in a shiny brand new motor, either a rebuilt six or an SBC, then I’d dress up the engine bay, otherwise leave it alone. It matches the exterior. Remember, it’s only original once.

@ olezippi - I love your truck! Thank you for sharing. So far we're having a really good time taking him apart... David has the patience of Job. =)

@ Possum - That's a good idea too! My FIL actually brought two cans of primer over on Wednesday...for my husband's birthday. LoL I think I've decided on clear coating all of it. I'm going to call our paint guy later in the week and see what he thinks.

@ showkey - That's pretty amazing!! So the black is just faded, and you didn't add that? I'm asking because the only other color other than the black on mine (aside from some navy flecks under the black on the edge of the bed) is the Army green. I'm wondering now, after seeing yours/hearing your truck's story, if the black is just actually the result of years of fading. Got me thinking now...

@ vette1968 - Thank you! It was great seeing you and Bryan the other night. I love "Big Sally" just the way she is, and it was nice seeing her again too. =)

@ Samantha - That's a great idea! I searched until I found "just the right truck" so I won't be painting him any time soon. As someone mentioned earlier you can't go back to original once you completely restore them.

@ 52Carl - I've had the linseed oil suggested before, and I think it's a great idea. I'm going to clear coat the bare metal under the hood (vs primer and paint) to preserve the patina there, and then treat the exterior differently. I also don't like the really shiny look on the original exterior patina. It looks great on the fresh paint jobs, but it's not my taste for original patina 'preservation'. RE your second comment - If I ever decide to paint him it will definitely be a ground-up proper job which would include blasting. It's good to know that, if I go the linseed oil route, it won't be a problem to "go back" later. Thank you!

@Barnfind49 - That's so cool!! I'm sure you'll do a great job on her Camaro. Hubby's was originally a light blue but was "Candy Apple Red" when he purchased it in HS. A couple of years ago, after finally getting her going again, her new color is "Pull Me Over Red". =)

@ 63C-10 - If he ever won something at a show, that would definitely be a bonus. I just hope it's not "most room for improvement" [because he'll be in his original state]. LoL David enters his Camaro when we go to shows... He washes and waxes her, we spiff on her a little when we get there, and that's about it. He doesn't get all crazy with things which is, I think, the reason that we enjoy the shows so much.

@ Doc.Hall - I'd love to see a picture of it sometime. I'll cruise around and see if I can find one here.

@ mac67 - I took the heater out of my truck and cleaned it up. I was just going to put it back in sans restoration but would it be worth having it rebuilt, or just buy new guts to put in the old shell? I've done a little research and seen it done both ways but I thought I'd ask your opinion.

@ Spotbiltxo - I think that sounds like a great idea! The longer I look into it the more I'm convinced it will be 'just fine' to clear coat the metal under the hood, to prevent further rust/any problems, and leave the exterior with a little wax and/or linseed oil here & there. =)

Its actually mine now haha but yea im doin something a little different than stock. Its a stock light blue color. Its actually called “teal blue”. This is the actual car. Its got wayyyy more “patina” now hahaha but my paint/patina debate will be easy because I always planned on painting it and it needs some decent body work.

Posting car photos on a truck site. Not cool!

Sweet car. I'm feeling the cool. You're harshing my buzz, dude. There's a plague going on man!


P.S.
'65 Chevy Biscayne.
'39 Dodge Businessmmans Coupe...