I just bought my D350 this past Saturday, and have been asking quite a few questions...

...so, I figured I'd toss a tip out there with something I've had success on.

I used to have an '02 Dodge Ram that I kept spotless...now I run a Jeep that's missing half the sheet metal, so all my cleaning/polishing supplies have been sitting in the garage...

bought the '89 from the original owner (he bought it in 8/89 with 13 miles on it)...and I'm not sure when the last time he washed it was, much less waxing it....

it started out years ago as a nice black...and was a dark grey that felt like sandpaper when I drove it home...

decided I'd see what I could do...so I got out my junk...without even washing the truck, I started on one side and did the following steps:

1. wiped down one side with a Coats Miracle Mist
2. used a Coats Clay Bar to remove the residue
3. used Coats Mild Buff
4. applied a nice layer of Coats Cherry Wet Wax
5. wiped it back down again with Coats Miracle Mist

I'd never attempted to work on paint this old, but I was truly AMAZED at the results...

BEFORE:






AFTER:






probably 1-1/2 hours total to do one entire side and the tailgate...not including the small area below the trim on the rocker panels...

I'll do the other side this weekend...

the hood, dually flares and roof are beyond repair...you can see the condition of the hood in the pics above...basically the horizontal surfaces are in bad shape, but the vertical will be able to be saved...

my next steps will be to install the stainless simulators I ordered, tint the windows, and paint the hood/roof/fenders...I'm just gonna go with gloss black in a rattle-can, and then spray clear coat or just wax it...figure I'll just see how it goes...

I also think I'm going to paint the grille black...


Just thought I'd give hope to some of you out there with some paint in bad shape...you never know what might be just below the surface...

Thanks.
Greg

 

Looks Great. Its always amazing what a little bit of work can do to an old finish. I just got mine 3 weeks ago and I need to give it a good detailing.

 

Great job! Do you think you could do anything for this?

 

Turned out GOOD!!
There's another product I've had experience with and that's a product called Color Back by Turtle wax. It's a liquid in a red can. It's an easy on, easy off type product and IT WORKS!! I've seen it at auto parts stores, K-Mart type stores, it's not hard to find. It's not expensive and you don't need a grinder or dynamite to get it off as it goes on like a nice smooth liquid wax and rubs right off just as easy. Very little elbow grease is needed but the results are OUTSTANDING. It's for older paint without a lot of clear on/in it. But everyone I've told about *Color Back* absolutely loves the results. It's not for new paint or a new(er) vehicle but for any of our first gen trucks this is THEE stuff to easily refurbish your paint.

I dunno Edwin....that looks serious. I think the only thing that'll help that is some sand paper and some black paint. I don't think there's anything in a can that'll help paint that far gone or damaged. But give it a whirl....it for sure won't look any worse and just may help. Good luck!! Chuck

 

Yeah, I've already stripped, sanded and primed. I just threw that in as a joke. Thanks for the serious reply though it wasn't necessary.

Edwin

 

Looks great! Unfortunately my truck no longer has any "shineable" paint on the horizontal surfaces...but I like suede.