The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Caring for original paint

I have a 1940 Chevy WB-Series 1-1/2 Ton truck my grandfather bought brand new. It has always been stored inside and has the original paint on the truck. It is in remarkably good shape, but is slightly dull. I am wanting to polish/wax the truck, but want to make sure I am not using something that will harm the original paint surface. Any help will be appreciated.

It all depends on the paint. Chances are that your paint is really thin so a buffer is more that likely out of the question. If it was mine I would do a three stage process. Start with a good cleaner wax, this will help to remove all the junk that sticks to the paint (if you rub your hand across the surface lightly you will feel little bumps, etc.) and it will give you a good base for your next step which would be a polish. The polish will give you the shine back. Then lastly I would go over the whole truck again with a carnauba wax. This will seal the paint and help protect all of the work you just put into your truck. If it was me I would put another coat of the carnauba wax on a couple weeks later to help build up the protection. Hope this helps.

In addition to Redwood7's process, I'd add these
initial steps before waxing....

1.) get some professional grade wax and grease remover & wipe off
any previous "stuff" that may still be on the surface. Do it twice to make sure.
THis is a solvent that is used to final prep a car for paint. This will only take minutes and dries fast.

2.) Invest in some 3M "PERFECT-IT" OR FINESSE-IT" (not cheap, but good stuff)
These finishing products can work wonders on old lacquer, in bringing back a shinier surface. Do it by hand; section at a time.

Then go ahead and wax her down.....!

Just wondering guys....would a clay bar help clean up any oxidation/impurities before waxing or would that be too aggressive,considering the age/thickness of the paint?

I'd use 3M handglaze, and a good carnuba wax. And cover it with painters plastic like from home depot leave it loose and not to the floor, cause of moisture. Don't have it so theres a breeze blowing it either, I'm sure any movement could in time abraid it in area's. I don't like any cloth on because it will hold moisture. But wax will keep moisture out of the paint.

I would not do a clay bar.

The dull paint is oxidized paint. Anything you do to shine it will remove that paint. I'm not saying to not do it just be aware that every time you "polish" the paint or use a wax with a built in "cleaner" you remove some of it. Eventually you'll work through the paint so I'd not "polish" it regularly. Other than that most anything you put on it in the way of a wax or sealer won't hurt the finish. It's so neat that the truck has stayed in your family all these years. IMHO a slightly faded finish on an original truck is a badge of honor, indicating it's been used & loved all those years.