Implement paint on a sought after truck..

[rebar]

It took me three years to find a clean dodge 4x4 5 speed 12 valve. Its only got 110K on it but the previous owner must not have cared about rock chips on the front because he ignored them and they are now rusting.

I wish this truck was white, because It would make painting easier. But since its silver, (been quoted $1500 for hood fender paint and clear) that would mean I have to paint the entire truck white. Has anyone bought a car/truck that was TO clean for them or intended porpose?
Im having doubts about using white rustoleum because light driftwood satin glow is Chucks color! Seriously, since I bought this truck to full time when I retire in 8 years, I wont ever sell it probably, so why worry about how it will look with white rustoleum on it? Right? Or is almost sacrilege to paint a clean practically rust free 12 valve with implement paint?

Thanks!

 

[Bayou Boy]

At the end of the day it's a 20 year old truck. Not really something that special even though you were extremely picky about the one you chose.

But more important than that is that it's YOUR 20 year old truck. Do what YOU want and don't worry about the next guy. What about having a bedliner strip put on the front of the fenders and hood to seal those chips and prevent any more from ever happening?

 

[borison]

Isn’t a dodge just the crate a Cummins arrives in?

 

[ambulancemonkee]

https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/craig-fitzgerald/how-paint-car-bucket-rust-oleum-and-roller

This dude seems to think it's a good idea.

 

[barnsey]

I used to do the stone chips on my hot rod front guards or fenders with nail polish, it comes in lots of different colors

 

[BritKLR]

Same, but kinda not the same. When restoring our 24 year old Tiger I had it resprayed with white industrial implement paint. The stuff buses, tractors and construction equipment uses. The thought was since we're taking it off-road it'd get scuffed and scratch so might aswell use a tough paint. So far it's held up very well and is easy to touch up. Good luck!

 

[vintageracer]

Touch up the chips and get out on the trail and enjoy the truck.

Painting the truck in any color just opens up another can of worms to deal with.

 

[Marine]

listen to what these guys all say run it as is.

 

[huntsonora]

Clean truck! Auto? 5 speed? I wouldn’t repaint a truck because of those. I’d clean em up as good as possible, put some touch up paint over it and put some 3M clear over it and deal with it latee

 

[rebar]

Thanks guys.

Bayou Boy, I don't like that strip of bedliner look because that would makes it look like it had rusted and been unprofessionally repaired.
Borison, if chevy or ford had the cummins, life would be better. The cummins is one of the few things dodge had going for them. Cant think of the others now
Ambulancemonk, I used white rustoleum on my old cummins E350, and it looked better than the factory paint. Really nice, but allot of time involved
BritKLR, allot the same.. Mainly the part where you know you will, or it's likely you will scrape/bang something in your travels and need to touch it up.
Vintageracer, I'm on it, but as usual, one thing isn't working out. Just enough to screw with everything else. Yeah, I better stay light driftwood satin glow.
Huntsonora, thanks, completly unmolested until me.. 5 speed 3.54

I posted the original question while I was trying to sand chips out. It sucks when a 1/16" chip turns into a 1/8" repair because the rust extends under the paint. Long story, but it's slowly being repaired, and I think I made good progress on my biggest chips today. My rusty chips will go un noticed from 10' away when I'm done, but main thing is the truck doesn't continue to rust.. But what a time consuming pain in the ass!

 

[thebmrust]

You could look for a replacement hood in a junk yard... or buy a new/remanufactured hood and fenders.