my 84 is .. Red.

I want to paint it dark green like the 2nd gen 4runners. How do I get started? I guess I need to sand it all down. Do I sand to bare metal or just to get the chalky red paint and gloss off of the bed?

After the paint has been sanded, is it necessary to prime? I want to prime it, but if it's not necessary I'm not gonna...

I'm going to paint the inside of the bed black, along with the rims. The inside of the bed I was thinking could be flat black. The rims I want to do a gloss black. What do you guys think? The entire thing I want to be green and black.

Basically.. anyone got any painting advice for prep and advice for what needs to be paid special attention to?

 

when I did mine I only sanded down until the pain was all chalky but where I had to do body work I went to metal to make the repairs, the body filler, primer, more sanding and final coat, and clear. I didn't change colors though so I didn't go to metal. Hope it helps a bit.

 

It's not going to look real good because the inside of your doors and hood and any seam, etc. is all going to stay red unless you do a complete job. It's usually better to stay with the original color for that reason. Sand it all down with 400. Make sure you pay special attention to the edges, around windows, etc. There's nothing worse than a rig with paint peeling because they didn't do any hand sanding on the edges. Body work is a whole different story, grinding, filling ,grinding again, primer, blocking, sealers, etc. If you don't care then just blow it all down with 400 mask it off and shoot it. I've actual seen some pretty good jobs done in peoples garages with just a wet floor.

 

just do what everyone else does, dont do any prep work

 

Ok..

I know I gotta do all the seams, door jams.. yada yada.. and pull off the bed too. What do you guys mean by body work? like fixing dents and such?

Anyways, Sand it all with 400 yes? I can handle that.

 

there are many books written on this.... the cost and effort vary so much, you can do it for a $100 worth of rattle cans, $250 at maaco (my recommendation), $700 do it your self with paint, compressor etc or pay thousands at a real shop. prep work is like 80% of the time spent and worth about as much in the final finish, actually shooting it is quick and easy. how you want it to look and how it will look will be based on work/time in initial prep and wet sands in b/t coats. i'd seriously take it to macco. and it will look better if you stay with the same color, go a shade or two darker if you don't like the bright red, have em put some flake it in or something.....even if you think you can rattle can the jams and under the hood....um, don't do it... will take a lot of cleaning/sanding so the paint will stick w/o fish eyes.

 

Here ya go...

 

The truck looks like it was originally a dark red. I'm not changing my mind about changing colors. I want it to be green and black. I understand I'll have a lot of sanding priming and painting to do, but thats no problem for me. This is a project truck, so it's supposed to keep me occupied, though I would like to get the painting done soon.

I'm going to pull off the bed and sand the underside and paint it black, as well as inside of the bed.

So I knock off the chalky paint and any glossy paint left with 220 grit right? Should I use a sanding block or a sponge or should I go with my bare hand and paper? Do I sand down to bare metal, or just to get the chalky paint and gloss off?

After that I prime it and sand the primer with 400 grit? block sponge..? Am I doing this to even the primer surface or to create a rougher surface for the base coat to attach itself?

Shoot the base coat which would be green, then the top coat which is a clear, right?

Please, any and all advice is appreciated. I did read some of the auto body forum but I'm hoping you guys can answer my questions.

This truck will be cool. I promise. Then I'm sending pictures to Fuster to make him regret selling it

 

to put it in basic terms

step 1 sand/strip-i would first hit it with like 300 grit all over, getting all seams really well, and sanding more in high wear areas. then i would go back over it with 400 grit.

step 2 clean-clean everything down with acetone then blow it dry with an air compressor. after that wash it down with water and again blow it dry with an air compressor. this will assure you get all the dirt/dust/etc off.

step 3 prime-shoot a coat of primer, even in all areas. prime all your seams/edges, then do all your flat areas.

step 4-light sanding of the primed rig to even the primer all out and remove imperfections. use 600 grit.

step 5-clean with a tack cloth or something similar to get all the dust off of the vehicle.(there maybe a more efficient way of doing this step)

step 6-spray your base coat of green, edges then flat areas...if you end up with high spots or drips wet sand it down with 600 grit lightly

step 7-spray another coat of green, check your coverage...shouldnt need another coat after this.

step 8-spray your clear top coat, i beielve for more protection you can lightly wetsand your first shot of clear, then spray another coat of clear.

step 9-wait a few days, clean it, and carnuba wax that puppy.

step 10-drink a beer, and ice down your arms...

 

I already regret selling it! Wish I could help on the prep and paint. I'm doing mine right now. I've been lurking that auto body forum I linked for a year....

I still have the paint I bought for that truck somewhere. It is greenish-black pearl. Guess I'll save it for my new FJ40 project...

I found the gear shift knob pattern disk....just tell me where to send it

 

You ain't kiddin' brotha

 

Thats what I've been wanting. Thanks for the advice 91TPU