To off-frame or not to off-frame...

...that is my question. (My apology to Willy Shakespeare)

I took all body parts off my '53 Chevy pickup frame and had them sandblasted. I have attempted to repair the few dings, dents and scratches and now I am ready to prime and paint. I bought new aftermarket rear fenders, bed sides, tailgate, running boards, etc. I am waffling about painting the truck myself so I checked with a few paint shops in the area.

None of the local shops want to paint the body parts--especially the cab. Should I prime the parts, reassemble the truck and have them paint it? If I decide to do the job myself, should I assemble and haul to a rented paint booth? I am 68 and want to drive the danged thing before I turn 70 but at this rate, I am beginning to wonder if I will ever drive it.

My frustration also comes from body shops that fail to deliver or fril to deliver on time and I have had my truck cab in one for more than five months for floor board repair.

I would paint your truck disassembled which is the way I will be painting my 48 Ford pick up project.On a ford truck there are to many places that are really hard to get to being put together.This will be my first atempt at painting.Good luck to you.

Thanks for your reply. I don't have much choice but I was hoping to get another opinion.

Just got back from this painter http://www.buddyscustompaint.com/ who said they had never painted anything off frame. If they don't want to do it, I will be forced to learn bodywork and painting.

Thanks again

Starlight, I've done 'em both ways. It's easy enough to throw some plastic drop cloths over the frame, and mask it tight at the bottom edge of the cab.

Old trucks are always a lot of work. I just helped a friend with all of the body work, primimg, block sanding, then repriming on a 1950 3-window.

The biggest reason they are sooooo rough, is that they are work vehicles, and no one ever takes care of them. They get used and abused until, one day someone wants to make a nice truck out of them again.

If you do it off-frame, you need several strong backs,to move it, or a "body dolly" to set it on so it can be rolled around. I'd loan you a dolly, but you are a little too far from Tucson. :-)

If you decide to paint it apart, you will need to pick a solid color with a simple formula. Keep the paint well mixed before spraying. You may not get the best match this way, but the alternative is to shoot the inside of everything, put it together, mask carefully, and shoot the outside.

Unfortunately, I have no help here. Wish you did live closer! I need some advice to chew on.

I have access to a paint booth and lots of advice there but it is 40 miles away. I would almost have to bring everything down there and work on it nonstop until finished. I am retired military and the facility is the Auto Craftshop at Fort Carson. I can buy paint at wholesale prices through them so going that route is tempting. I don't think the paintshop I visited today is interested so I am stuck doing it myself.

The reason I have everything off frame is because I bought another '53 frame after an "expert" welded a '69 Camaro subframe on crooked. Plus, the truck was a 3/4 ton and he cut too much off while shortening it and messed up the welding there. I bought another frame and put a Mustang IFS on and got an expert welder to do the hard work.

If I buy enough paint to do the whole truck, why would I get shade variances? I can just see a dark fender here, a lighter cab there and a pink bed.

Thnks for your informative reply. I appreciate all the advice I can get.

ambient tempature, humidity and several other factors can affect the colors final color.

I agree with Matt. There are many variables that could affect color. If you paint it together, you still have the problem of the area between the bed and cab, plus there isn't a good result when trying to spray the fenders on the truck either.

Try to keep the paint well mixed each time, with the same amount of reducer, and have the shop conditions as close as possible. If you don't plan on perfection, you will be a little more accepting of the results.

As a minimum, I would suggest you shoot the outside of the cab with the doors and hood installed. Get it totally prepped in primer. Shoot the inside first, then assemble the parts, and carefully mask the jams off, before you spray the outside.

Do you have a final color in mind? That can make a difference in how difficult the match is.

Keep the advice coming!!!
My 51 chevy 3/4 ton is almost off the frame and soon I will have the same questions. I'm taking notes...
jd

The only way I've had any luck panel painting a car is to have EVERYTHING ready to paint, then mix the paint, reducer, and hardner together. Make sure you keep the paint stirred well throughout the entire process. As the others said, any changes in ambient conditions will seriously affect the shade of the paint, as will the method in which it is applied... Be consistent throughout the entire process.

http://www.autobody101.com/ nice reading here!:D