'51 GMC 100 Project

dang

Administrator
Site Donor
Messages
4,247
Reaction score
3,262
Location
Rocklin, CA
I started creating the "patina" on the truck over the weekend. I'm going for a worn look versus a rusty truck-found-in-a-field look. The paint on the truck is old and not very good paint, like one step above rattle can paint, but this made for an easier process of creating the worn out look. After trying a few things I ended up using Acetone with a scratch pad. If I rubbed it I could get layers of paint to come off and make a two-tone effect with the color underneath, or take it down to metal. I would also let the wet pad sit for 10-15 seconds in one spot and it would loosen up the paint in a rough pattern, then go lightly to keep the roughness. Here's how it turned out on the hood and fender. I still need to figure out the "rusting" process since the ones I've tried so far are not great.

Acetone with a scratch pad
patina hood 4.jpg



patina hood 3.jpg


patina hood 2.jpg


Sanding with 400 grit.
patina hood.jpg


Wiped down. Will need to get the bare metal to rust, sand for paint prep and put a clear coat on.
patina hood 5.jpg
 

Markos

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
13,369
Reaction score
7,502
Location
Seattle, WA
I still need to figure out the "rusting" process since the ones I've tried so far are not great.

If you want it to look authentic use your e9. Pull the e9 up to the truck so that you have metal to metal contact. The clean metal on the truck will immediately begin to rust. I beleive the technical term is karmannoxide-transference.
 

dang

Administrator
Site Donor
Messages
4,247
Reaction score
3,262
Location
Rocklin, CA
Trying to get this thing running and can't get spark at the plugs. Since this is a very complicated ignition system :D I need some advice! It's a 6v negative ground system. I get power to both sides of the coil and to the side of the distributor but no spark when I check the center post of the coil. Everything is fairly new on the system except for the coil so I was wondering if it could be that. The points look good and are opening when cranking. What's left?
 

Rod Cole

Well-Known Member
Messages
75
Reaction score
20
Location
Maine
The way I do it with an unknown vehicle: Disconnect dist. to coil wire from coil - attach ohm meter to wire and crank engine, to prove points are grounding coil. If good hook volt meter to other coil terminal and ground the other lead - look for voltage while cranking to check key switch - pedal starter setup may not need this test but can't hurt. If these tests work out you should have spark, next look to timing, but that won't effect no spark~
 

dang

Administrator
Site Donor
Messages
4,247
Reaction score
3,262
Location
Rocklin, CA
The way I do it with an unknown vehicle: Disconnect dist. to coil wire from coil - attach ohm meter to wire and crank engine, to prove points are grounding coil. If good hook volt meter to other coil terminal and ground the other lead - look for voltage while cranking to check key switch - pedal starter setup may not need this test but can't hurt. If these tests work out you should have spark, next look to timing, but that won't effect no spark~
Thanks Rod, I'll check the coil to dist with the ohm test, that's the only thing I wasn't sure how to test but knew it was important. I get 6v at the batt side of the coil and the starter circuit is separate so I think that's okay.
 

dang

Administrator
Site Donor
Messages
4,247
Reaction score
3,262
Location
Rocklin, CA
Turns out that a ballast resister was added inline for some reason and was robbing current. I bypassed the resister and it started right up. Going through the fuel system now so it will run on it's own. This thing is such a simple design inside and out that it makes me want to fix more and more on it. I'm thinking... "The interior is painted all the same color, if I pull a couple gauges and unscrew the door trim I can paint it in no time" "Hey, the engine compartment is so simple and open I can paint it really easy!" I'm getting sucked in, I can't help it.

engine-right.jpg
 

Nicad

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
3,503
Reaction score
536
Location
Toronto
Even though it is running, throwing a carb kit at it might be enjoyable.
 

Markos

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
13,369
Reaction score
7,502
Location
Seattle, WA
That is by far the most complex engine bay that I have set my eyes upon. :D
 

dang

Administrator
Site Donor
Messages
4,247
Reaction score
3,262
Location
Rocklin, CA
Thought I'd add some more photos... Faux-patina is coming along. I've pretty much finished removing the paint, now I'm sanding the edges off and going over everything with 320 grit before clear coat. It's a slow process by hand.
 

Attachments

  • patina 6.jpg
    patina 6.jpg
    177.5 KB · Views: 201
  • patina 7.jpg
    patina 7.jpg
    168.2 KB · Views: 221
  • patina9.jpg
    patina9.jpg
    154.4 KB · Views: 215
  • patina10.jpg
    patina10.jpg
    203 KB · Views: 224

dang

Administrator
Site Donor
Messages
4,247
Reaction score
3,262
Location
Rocklin, CA
Decided to rattle-can the wheels so they'd be easier to touch up in the future when they get scuffed, then picked up a good used set of tires and mounted them. The old wheels don't have a safety bead on them and when you air up the tires after mounting they don't "pop" like a normal wheel. I was a little confused when I mounted the first one until I realized what it was doing.
 

Attachments

  • wheel.jpg
    wheel.jpg
    161.7 KB · Views: 215
  • wheel3.jpg
    wheel3.jpg
    185 KB · Views: 222
  • wheels-tires2.jpg
    wheels-tires2.jpg
    185.3 KB · Views: 226
  • wheels-tires.jpg
    wheels-tires.jpg
    124.3 KB · Views: 226

dave v. in nc

Well-Known Member
Site Donor $
Messages
3,029
Reaction score
1,204
Location
North Carolina, USA
I haven't been the same since I sold my 54 as part of my divorce settlement back in 95...I have a nice 03 shortbed 4wd I'll trade you..meet in OKC?
Dave V. in NC
 

dang

Administrator
Site Donor
Messages
4,247
Reaction score
3,262
Location
Rocklin, CA
I haven't been the same since I sold my 54 as part of my divorce settlement back in 95...I have a nice 03 shortbed 4wd I'll trade you..meet in OKC?
Dave V. in NC

Ha! I'm trying to reduce my inventory but you get credit for trying.
 

dang

Administrator
Site Donor
Messages
4,247
Reaction score
3,262
Location
Rocklin, CA
Big decision over the weekend... no clear coat going on. I've been on the fence from the beginning whether or not to put a clear coat on but since the truck is so straight and solid I thought the next owner might like to clean it up and paint it so a hard clear coat would make it that much harder to do. So, cut and polish it is. It's a lot of work, more sanding, several cutting passes and several polish passes but it should look decent.

This is one pass of cutting compound. Also, I sanded the paint off the front emblem and then blocked the face with 150 grit. I like the result.
 

Attachments

  • cut and polish.jpg
    cut and polish.jpg
    230 KB · Views: 222
  • emblem.jpg
    emblem.jpg
    192.1 KB · Views: 218
  • patina11.jpg
    patina11.jpg
    166.7 KB · Views: 194
Last edited:

bluecoupe30!

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
2,136
Reaction score
1,283
Location
Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I started creating the "patina" on the truck over the weekend. I'm going for a worn look versus a rusty truck-found-in-a-field look. The paint on the truck is old and not very good paint, like one step above rattle can paint, but this made for an easier process of creating the worn out look. After trying a few things I ended up using Acetone with a scratch pad. If I rubbed it I could get layers of paint to come off and make a two-tone effect with the color underneath, or take it down to metal. I would also let the wet pad sit for 10-15 seconds in one spot and it would loosen up the paint in a rough pattern, then go lightly to keep the roughness. Here's how it turned out on the hood and fender. I still need to figure out the "rusting" process since the ones I've tried so far are not great.

Acetone with a scratch pad
View attachment 50327


View attachment 50328

View attachment 50329

Sanding with 400 grit.
View attachment 50330

Wiped down. Will need to get the bare metal to rust, sand for paint prep and put a clear coat on.
View attachment 50332


Wow, never thought I would be photographing my '78 F250 for the E9 forum, but here goes: this is actual, natural, rust-trying-to-come-through original paint, patina. I think your technique is capturing the essence rather well :p Carry on! Mike
SAM_4216.JPG
 
Top