1953 Chevy Truck - Chassis and Underbody
A decision was made to clean up the chassis and underside of the truck. While this isn't intended to be a concours ("white glove") restoration, it is intended to be a 'show' truck to a level worthy of a spectator's attention.
The first step was determining the scope of the clean-up. Our powder coating friends would have us disassemble the entire truck. They would then bake each piece in an oven, cooking out all the oils, greases, and other contaminants--yes, even the frame!!!--then sand blast and powder coat. In this case that would be overkill. Nearly 60 years is a long time to accumulate rust and caked-on grease. We decided to scrape and pressure wash as much of the underside as reasonably possible. Special attention was paid to the axles, springs, and spring shackles as these are what one notices most underneath when walking up to an old truck.
A little more cleaning was done in the obvious areas by washing with solvent and scrubbing with a wire brush.
Finally it was time to spray some Rustoleum 'Rusty Metal' Primer. We've used this on a number of vehicles. The Rustoleum is an oil-based paint. It's not affected by the inevitable oil and grease still in the nooks and crannies. The parts-washing solvent we scrubbed with is an acceptable product for thinning the Rustoleum to spray, so no compatibility issues. Adhesion and durability are good without sanding unless applied over shiny paint.
After priming, ambient temperatures were low and humidity was high so we gave it more than the recommended 24 hrs. to cure fully. As it turned out, we had to wait ten days for an appropriate day and little wind. Top coating was then done with Rustoleum semi-gloss black. Still in the oil-based line this semi-gloss gives a nice balance between (too) glossy black and flat black. Some call this shade satin black. High end specialty paints this shade are sometimes even called "Chassis Black". Whatever the name, this is the same color vehicle manufacturers use to protect parts from the elements without trying to make them stand out visually.
After two sessions of scraping and pressure washing some spots of grease and gunk remained, some as hard as wood.
Even in primer, just being all one color makes it more pleasing to the eye.
The exhaust was the only thing left unpainted, since this paint would eventually burn back off, but not uniformly.
Close inspection reveals the pits are still in the metal but perhaps the rust will be suitably retarded for another 50 or 60 years! The suspension and axles are at least presentable from a distance now. Note the use of tin foil for quick, unobtrusive masking of the tail light wires.
Any spots missed or damaged in subsequent operations will be easy to touch up now. Cleaning up & painting the underside is a dirty, messy job. One is always working overhead and things are often falling, dripping, or misting down. The most difficult part is resisting the urge to make every inch so perfect one would be willing to eat off it. That said, the result overall presents a more professional, finished look.
