52 GMC "patina" Look Help

Zwolf

Zwolf

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This truck is the real deal. My wife bought this for me from a farmer in central NE 4 years ago. Got it running redid all the fuel lines, brake lines, basically anything to do with either system is new. Tuned it up and changed all fluids. Runs great.

Now the looks of it are awesome in my book. I drive this truck quite a bit. Its just fun. I would like to get some protection on it. As you can see a true polish will ruin this look. Paint is flat, dull, missing, down to some bare surface rust in places. And I am not 100% sure it wasn't painted with a brush.

What would you guys use on this just to try to keep it looking well the way it does now?

My first thought was some duragloss 101 on it just to protect it a bit? Any thoughts comments would be appreciated.

Thanks
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im not sure what i would do, but id rock that truck as-is too.

great lookin ride.

Shawn
 
dude, i'd ride as is, it looks sweet as is so I agree there!

Maybe just put some OCW on or something?
 
Sweet looking truck! I like the looks of it. Its even cooler that you use it to haul stuff around. I like the gritty look.
 
Thanks fella's!!! Yes that IS my intention. I get a lot of conversations at stop lights and half the people ask "When are you going to paint that"? Then the other half say "You better never paint that, its perfect"!

I had two guys in a truck one say the first and the passenger say the second. It was great.

But I don't want to change it, I would just like to put some protection on it. As it does sit outside now. But yes I DON'T want to do anything to it to make it look much different. I know sounds nuts. But if that means leaving it without any protection, then that is what I will do;)
 
Nice truck...and "patina"!

I'm thinking that:
About anything that's put on it to protect it, will make the
current-patina somewhat...(for a better lack of terms)..."shiny"(?)

But when all's said and done...It's your choice, afterall.

:)

Bob
 
I have heard but have yet to see guys wiping it down with wax and grease remover and clear coating.Now you have shinny rust.
 
what about those companies that make wax for matte finishes? I would assume they would still work on the rusty spots....although i dont know how i would apply it to said spots.

Shawn
 
Love the current look.:xyxthumbs:

What about hitting it with a matte or flat clear-coat? I've seen guys that have done this, mostly on rat-rods because they want that petina look.
 
Kinalyx said:
what about those companies that make wax for matte finishes? I would assume they would still work on the rusty spots....although i dont know how i would apply it to said spots.

Shawn
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CG has a matte detail spray, sure it has some minimal protection in it....good suggestion.:dblthumb2:
 
Hmm. you guys bring up some good points. Yes I don't want it shinny. I may look into a flat or satin clear coat...

I may do some test spots of different waxes, to see what it will do, i mean its not going to "hurt" the paint;) I didn't know anything about matte detail sprays or waxes, I will have to look into that! Thanks

Heck I may just keep on driving it. I do give it a bath a few times a year, just to get some of the oxidation and gunk off of it. Other then that the interior stays clean and the window, and the rims;)

Keep the suggestions coming!!! Its funny when I pull up to a landscape place and they ask are you sure that old truck can handle this? I just laugh and say just look underneath it! With 5.14 gears, and a full set of leafs, plus a full set of helper springs. They always look and say you will be just fine. Here is what they see;)

PS all original brakes, engine trans... basically everything
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The load of rock in this pic was said to be around 4,000 lbs according to the guy that loaded it, fine pea gravel and sand, wet. It sat it down on the helper springs, but didn't bottom it out. The sand was around 2,500lbs. this is what this truck was meant to do right:) Plus it rides so nice with a load in it. Shifts better and everything
 
That look is becoming very popular right know. what i have seen done by some is to have the truck sprayed with a clear coat.

Then it will be more shiny and the rust underneath will always be the way it is now. and you can take care of it like a normal paint job.
 
I've buffed a lot of rigs like this out in my life. While I too like the original patina look I can go either way.

Dull and original or shine up what's left...


When I've buffed rigs like this out I compound them and polish and wax the good paint and then buff the steel sections enough to make them shiny and then keep on buffing it once in a while and waxing it to prevent rust.

Gives the truck a cool look...


You decide because just making what's left would look good, especially that grill and the glass...

I have an article for this...

"Taking your car's paint to it's maximum potential"


:D
 
You could take it to a painter and get them to put clear coat over it to preserve the look. Alot of rat rods like to use this as a way to keep the look
 
The problem with shooting clear over the paint is that the paint has to be scuffed in order for the clear to stick. Simply spray clear over the truck now will have the clear flaking off done the road. Of course once you do put clear on it it will really add that unwanted gloss that you dont want for that truck.
 
I like the look of the truck....its a work horse and I'd work the hell out of it!

If it were mine I would leave it alone!
 
That is awesome! Can we get an engine bay picture? I tried googling and nothing good is popping up, I am curious about how much room is in there. Turbo 5.3 swap would be amazing!
 
I would wash the whole car (truck) down and then try getting rid of the rust with mineral spirits and then apply a very good sealent , maybe even restore parts as it could be a good truck, I would also invest in some seafoam as those lines probably are clogged with carbon
 
Thanks everyone for the kind words. Its just a blast to drive around in. My son and wife and I just went to sonic tonight! Tomorrow evening it is picking up a bunch of stuff at HomeDepot.
Here are a few pics I have of the engine bay. This is theGMC, which back in the day meant a GMC engine and not Chevy. yeah they were different. This is the GMC 228 Inline 6. The only thing that isn't stock is now it is a 12V negative ground system with alternator, instead of the 6V Positive ground system.

I think the sky is the limit to what size of engine you want in there. I know I can crawl in there and shut the hood, pretty sure another guy could do the same on the other side;) I have seen many with 350's in them and even those look small in there
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Here are a few shots of the interior.
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Truck runs perfect! Not sure what lines would be full of carbon? fuel lines are brand new, as is the tank, and the pump, and a fresh carb rebuild. I have used seafoam before with good results especially with small engines like trimmers and mowers. I don't care to restore any parts, nor do i want to get rid of any rust. It just surface, and I just want to keep it at bay, i like it just the way it is;)

Thanks again for all the compliments fella's. Life is crazy busy right now, I am hoping to get some time to do a few test spots with some sealants to see what it looks like.
 
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