Painting

Maxo · Oct 15th, 2003, 09:45 PM

I have an '84 Nissan pickup truck. My sister-in-law gave it to me and she didn't do a very good job at keeping it up. I've fixed a lot of easy things like the seatbelt, wiper fluid pump, etc. As you can see in http://maxolasersquad.com/truck1.jpg http://maxolasersquad.com/truck2.jpg http://maxolasersquad.com/truck3.jpg http://maxolasersquad.com/truck4.jpg while the truck was in her posession she decided to get a "fancy" paint job. I'm looking at repainting the trcuk myself and doing it right if that is feasible. I'm just looking for some suggestions from people who have repainted a vehicle manually.

Maxo · Oct 25th, 2003, 08:22 AM

Any help with how to repaint my truck would be awesome.

1997XETruck · Oct 25th, 2003, 10:37 AM

I gotta tell you... I'm not usually a fan of DIY painting - you just don't have a clean enough area to get a good coat on there - but anything has to be better than that!

I'd think in terms of a cheap Maaco or Earl Shives paint job if you're trying to do this without spending a lot of $$. They do an "ok" job, but still better than anything that comes out of a spray can or bush in your driveway...

Heath

Maxo · Oct 26th, 2003, 07:06 PM

Since I'm guessing any paint job will cost me at least $100 I really can't justify that cost. I've put a lot of work in fixing a lot of things on that truck myself and haven't spent even $50. A lot of elbow grease and a screw driver have done miracles to making that truck a nicer ride. Short of the AC, the right door luck, the right door cover, the left window's deep purple tint, the ripping seat covers, and the paint job that truck is in great condition. Another trip to a junk yard and a seat cover will fix most of what's left.
I don't mind putting a little elbow grease and time to do that job right.

jadcock · Oct 27th, 2003, 06:59 AM

I think Heath's point (and I agree with him) is that you really can't do it right in your driveway or garage without spending at least the same amount of money as you would for a Maaco job. If you're considering painting outdoors (like in your driveway or backyard), forget it...there are just too many contaminants in the air to get that to come out right. You'll have dust and bugs all over the paint. To do it inside, you really should case off your garage with clear plastic liner and install an exhaust fan, with a filter, for some sort of air purification process. With that, you'll also need personal protection gear, which you'll need to purchase if you don't already have it.

On the other hand, if you remove all the trim yourself on the vehicle (including the windows if you want to), you can get an excellent job from places like Maaco. The paint quality itself is sometimes very good from those places. It varies of course; ask around and see who in the area has a good spray man. The biggest cost in painting a car is the prep work, and that's at least half of your bill (the labor). If you do that yourself, you don't have to give the paint shop that money and you'll get a better job for less money.

Your original question asked if it were feasible to do it right by yourself, and I guess you have to decide for yourself what your definition of "right" is. Even if you have all the proper equipment for a GOOD paint job (HVLP paint gun, air compressor, personal protective gear), you will spend a lot of money to achieve what a commercial paint shop already has in place...the filtered air paint booth and associated supplies. My definition of doing a paint job "right" is a reasonably flawless finish. You can't achieve that at home without investing at least as much money to make your own paint booth than it would cost you at Maaco for a decent base/clear coat job. I think that doing all the prep work yourself, like sanding and doing any body filling if necessary, is great -- but for the final step (actually applying the paint), I would take it to a professional.

Maxo · Oct 28th, 2003, 08:31 PM

Oh well, I was kinda excited about painting it myself. So you think if I removed the windows and stuff and sanded it down myself and took it to Maaco that they would do it for a lot less? How much money do you think I would be looking at spending?

1997XETruck · Oct 29th, 2003, 12:00 AM

I'm not sure that I'd remove the windows so much as just mask them off ahead of time. With the age of the truck, I'd think trying to remove trim would probably mean that you'd have to replace it - it's bound to be brittle.

The cheap paint jobs that I've seen are always lacking in that area... they just don't take the time to do it. I'd say $200-300 would cover a decent paint job with you doing some of the prep. work.

I guess it all depends on your goal. You could certainly try just surface sanding it and then painting it with grey primer... flat paints are easier to work with than gloss. If you feel good about that - then get a case of spray paint in your favorite color and go for it! Like I said earlier (not to bash your sister-in-law's tastes) anything has to be better than what's there now!

If you're not happy with the results then you could go to a professional.

Another option I've never tried, but might work, is to donate it as a project to a local technical college. For a reduced price (or maybe even free) you could let someone who has some training, but not much experienece tackle the job.

Heath

Maxo · Oct 30th, 2003, 05:16 PM

Well, I'm a pretty lucky guy because my grandparents gave me their Dodge Dynasty and just this weekend my dad gave me his Ford Explorer. So between me, my pregnant wife, and my baby we went from one old beat-up stank pick up truck to two very nice vehicles. We are negotiating with my sister-in-law in giving the truck to my brother. He could care less about the paint job so I'm not going to bother. I do appreciate the advice and from keeping me from trying something I shouldn't be trying.
I do have one more question though. Did those trucks have power steering or not? This truck definitely does not have power steering and if it should then I'd like to look into fixing it.

jadcock · Oct 30th, 2003, 05:33 PM

Back in 1984, it was probably not standard. We had an '85 S-10 at work that wasn't equipped with power steering. If it originally was equipped with power steering, and it's broke, you would know it. It'd be close to impossible to turn the wheel. I understand the gear ratio in the steering box is much different in a manual steering box, to make turning the wheel easy. With the power assist of the PS pump, they were able to tighten up the ratio and only give you 2 or 3 turns lock-to-lock for quicker steering. For this reason, if your truck is supposed to have power steering, and was designed with the assist of the PS pump in mind, if it were without it you would definitely know. If yours doesn't have power steering, I'd bet you a beer that it came with a manual box from the factory.

Maxo · Oct 31st, 2003, 06:22 PM

Thanks. Turning isn't impossible. Just not as nice as a power-steering equipped vehicle. I'm sure it was built without it.

lovemysan · Nov 4th, 2003, 08:18 PM

I had a friend paint a VW trike in his yard with a friend. It turned out great considering. He had a bug fly into one panel and repainted it. It has to a breezeless day and after a recent rain. That helps to keep the dust down. If you don't care about a blemish he and there its ok. I would just spray it with flat black primer and quit. If you do small sections it can done so that its even looking.