Truck painting tips (need help)

[nofear4189]

Hi, I have a few more questions... My truck is currently dark green w/ original paint. I just am finishing my body putty work and am looking to get a new paint job. It has obviously faded a bit over the years, so im gonna re-do it with same color it originally had. (outside paint is faded, im planning on matching paint to the orig. paint on the inside door jamb.) I was wondering what would be the best way to get it ready to re-paint. Should I just sand off all top layer and then spray, or prime and spray, or what. like i said, im keeping the same color so im not quite sure if i need to prime or, just rough it up and lay a few coats on and itll still be a smooth finish? im probably going to get it all readt myself and take it to the maaco thats 1/2 mile away from my house and get them to paint it. ( not totally decided though, torn between painting it myself, or maaco... gonna check some prices.) any tips on prep. work i would appreciate.

Ohh, and another thing, anyone have that has any experiences with maaco, id like to hear about them, ive heard before good and bad, so im trying to get a wider amount of opinions. Thanks,

-Adam-

[xrs22]

I hear Macco's crap, from my father and a couple of other people. My fathers' been painting cars and autobody work for 30 yrs. now. So i listen close to what he has to say when it comes to this stuff and he really knows how to utilize his resources. I just recently had him paint my body kit for me a couple of weeks ago. I did most of the prepping myself, used 320 sandpaper first or u could use scotch pads they're reddish but it does the same as the 320 it'll dull it up pretty good for ya'. Then proceed to a 620 i believe for a fine sand. Make sure to mask all the moulding and what not, that u don't want to get paint on. U can use a couple coats of primer if u want it's up to you, you can see it and i can't. Get a bucket of water or soapy water if u want and use the 620 to wet sand. Don't put too much pressure on the sand paper when u do 'cause you'll burn through the primer coat just keep it light until smooth to the touch.

[Greasygreg]

Im a prepper at a dealership.There is nothing wrong with getting your truck painted at maaco.HOWEVER,..due to the fact that they are a high volume paintshop,their prepwork is kinda too quick.The guy from the last post spoke of scothbrite.If i was to take my rig there,I would scuff the whole rig first and take out what lights and stuff i could first,so there isnt any need for them to spend time doing stuff i could do myself.scuffing is very important.paint WONT stick to shiny surfaces.If you spent say,two hours with some scothbrite and soapy water on your rig,you would be much better off,especially if you go to the car wash place to power spray off your mud sometimes

[xrs22]

Is there any specific brand of paint your gonna use? I myself went with Omni, my dad says it goes on just like PPG, coverage wise and was a lot less. I got a 1 qt. of 8P4, that's the factory color that was already on my car and was around 25 bucks. Might want to check into that. Valspar, PPG, Montana, House of Colors and a lot more. Also, he already had a black base that he used first before he put the 8P4 on. That way u don't use so much of that factory color for a lot of coats and gives it a darker appearance.

[76toyota]

I did all the body work on my old 76' Toyota Longbed, and took it to a place that is like Maaco, can not remember the name right now . They are in Chatt Tenn. They did a great job on the paint, did do some prep work also for me, and it was cheap-a couple hundred dollars. It has been a year, and no problems. I would not risk getting around paint today for a few hundred dollars . You can see where my body work was not pro, but I am very happy. Main thing is taking a lot of time on body work, and you still will miss many things. I used the site www.autobody101.com.