Who's a professional painter?? Got questions.

[Jim Oaks]

I want to start rebuilding my 1983 Ranger (TRS-1) this coming summer.

I want to rebuild it for show. Big axles, big tires, and lots of details.

I want to put it together, and then take it back apart for paint, and then reassembled.

The truck will probably be on 39"-42" tires. Painting something that tall can be a chore. I was thinking about painting the body off the truck where I can easily get to it. I've even thought about shipping it off to a painter on a trailer for paint while I finish the chassis.

Not sure if I want to do the blue and white, or do something completely different. I've considered a vehicle wrap, but airbrushing would look better under a bunch of clear.

Vanessa likes the new Ford tuxedo black. It has a silver and gold metal flake in it. I wondered what black would look like with silver, blue and red metal flake it it.

Maybe a theme. THought about have a small image of Vanessa painted on the side somewhere and calling it the mistress.

Maybe a public safety theme and some LED's.

Wonder if I could paint the base, have it air brushed by someone else, and then clear it myself.

I thought about getting someone to straighten it out, and then give it back and let me paint it. I'm not sure if I can get it straight enough on my own.

I want this to be show worthy. I'd really like to get some feedback from some professional painters.

 

[Grey_04]

i haven't posted over here for a while but my take on reading this . if it was me i'd keep trs one like it is, then doing what your talking about when you redo trs2.

i'd like to see the truck that started it all stay like it is and modle the mods like bob chanler did big foot with more trucks later?

 

[94twodoor]

Hey Jim, I used to work for the Ford dealerships as a painters helper and then got into painting single panels. I did my own 1983 Merc Cougar. Black base with a reptile green fade from bottom of car to mid point. Had extremely high metal flake components. It made it difficult for the paint to relax and lay right. My suggestion is to find an out of work autobody guy and check his credentials. If he has high credentials, let him do the ground work. Starting with straight lines and a good base is imperitave. Also, you are right about it being near impossible to paint a rig thats tall. Best bet is to have some temp saw horses set up, paint the rig while apart and down. Looks like a great project, cannot wait to see the final build!

 

[badblue]

I have a old frame that i striped and put casters on for when it is time to paint my truck.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

You should totally repaint it like my truck keeping the White and Blue, but maybe a little different shades or something. (that way I couls see what mine would look like awesome!)

Maybe a deeper metallic blue and a superclean almost slight blue white. And silver strips seperating the colors...?

Sorry I had to try. I think TRS 1 would look cool painted like mine (but tahts cuz I love my truck i guess)

 

[MUDDING B-3000]

ya if i could go back to when i painted my ranger i would of at least taken the box completly off an drop the truck down on jack stands cuz its got 9" lift an just 33s an was ridiculiously hard to try an paint the roof an hood, but heres an idea of what black an silver looks like, i was goin to go ford blue an silver but if seen alot of trucks with that color around here so i went a different route. this is a picture of my truck its jet black with metallic sliver, an i still have to put the red an blue pin stripe on the it but heres it is.

two coats of color for each, an only 4 coats of clear, i wasnt super picky cuz its my trail truck.

 

[ZMan]

If you want airbrush work done, it would be best to base/clear the entire truck, then wetsand it with 600 grit, have the airbrush done, then clear it again. Most basecoats have to be cleared within 24 hours (except for sherwin bases, they can go 7 days). Otherwise the clear may peel.

Having the cab off will definitely be simpler. Just get some 2x4s and some caster wheels, and build youself a roll around stand for the cab.