The Old Girl gets a cheap facelift

[RobbieD]

That is sharp, since the first post was 2009 and we are now right at 15 years, I am curious how the parts that were rattle can have lasted. I only hope mine comes out that sharp. Very nice job.

OK, I'll play. Here is the 15 year review for "cheap paint".

First thing, is that this truck has not been babied. The first year after I painted it, I washed and waxed it a few times; since then I've seriously only washed it maybe four times- total. It lives outside, unprotected, and it was my daily driver until I retired it in December 2022, to occasional use as a lumber getter and trash hauler.

It's basically been untouched, as far as cosmetic maintenance, for about the last 12 years.

In 2011 a damn tree fell on it:

The damage was surprisingly light:

A couple of dents on the hood and fenders. I'm sorry, but new trucks can't hold a candle to how tough these old ones are.

For several years (until Dec 2022) I drove it daily to my night shift job. I hit two deer with it on work runs (well, one was a real dumbass and actually ran into me from the side). The first was just a tap, but second sounded like bomb going off, but it didn't dent the truck.

In 2017, during one of our rare snows, a large tree limb broke off and fell on it:

OK; a couple of more dents. Except for the dents and grime, the paint was still holding up well.

This is it in August 2021; on the top surfaces the paint has oxidized through in spots and starting to show the primer underneath. This 12 year old paint, with no waxing after the first year, and only a very occasional wash. I think I took this pics right after one of those rare washes.

And here it is today, just over 15 years after it was painted. It's definitely losing paint to oxidation on the upper surfaces.

So sure, she's a little sad looking these days, but I'm not complaining. I originally painted it keep it from rusting, and it's simply getting time to do it again. I did it cheap, and didn't stress out keeping it perfect in the fifteen years since. After all, it's a damn truck, not the Taj Mahal.

The bottom line is, the Tractor Supply brand "Implement Paint" that I used held up to my satisfaction, and the rattle-can Krylon Hammered rockers and the black on the bumpers has also held up pretty good, in my opinion. The only thing I dread in doing it again, is that I'm not sure if you can even buy "real" paint anymore these days.

 

[Brain75]

That's better than I expected for enamel. and who knows the 2024 enamels might even be a significantly better. Another thing I remind myself is I can only keep it pristine for so long before something (a tree, or two, getting hit by a deer) something is gonna happen. It's like buying 30 year warranty carpet, long before it looks terrible it is "out of style". My grandparents had some killer good looking emerald green carpet they installed way way back in the days, it was time to replace it due to the ugly green color / shag long before it gave up.... Like your truck all the "something bad happened" all add up about the same time the paint is starting to go. Plan on repainting every 10-15 years unless you have a trailer princess you only take to car shows. I'm not making a car show car myself either, even with my '48. I took it to one car show way way early on and took home people's choice. I think because I told the little kids go ahead you can touch it, I drove it here, I will drive it home, no trailer, it's a truck, it's built to work not ride around on a trailer it's ok to touch. The parents smiled and thanked me every time they passed.

 

[RobbieD]

If it was able to be parked in a garage, or under a canopy, and got regular washes and wax it would probably be fine, still. Down here in Georgia, I think that it's years of direct sunlight that really kills paint.

Both of my '94 Explorers are still in original factory paint, and are very presentable. I really need to give them their annual wash and wax before it gets cold.