How to Paint a Chevy Truck

For the do-it-yourselfer that lurks deep inside many of us, home projects can be fun and rewarding. Fixing cars, painting houses, landscaping and other activities can all be done by the amateur handyman. One project that requires a bit of skill as well as time is painting a car or truck. This involves some patience, equipment and effort to get it just right.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Paint sprayer
• Face mask
• Tarp for floor
• Masking tape for masking non-painting surfaces
• Fine and medium sandpaper
• Power sander
• Towels
• Clear plastic lawn bags
• Bondo for any holes or pocks
• Anti-rust primer paint
• Garage, if possible

Instructions

1. Wash the truck with a gentle soap and water mixture to remove any debris. Allow it to dry. Wearing a breathing mask, use the fine grit belt sander to begin removing the existing layer of paint. In tight spots you may need to use actual sand paper to avoid damaging any chrome or electrical lines. You also may need to remove the fender to get under the truck's front and sand the wheel wells as well. A fine steel wool is great for hard to reach areas.

2. Scrub the sanded truck with damp towels to remove all surface paint dust and rust. Do a careful inspection of the body of the truck. Check the wheel wells, under the bumper, the gate, under the cab and around the door frame for any rust. If found, use the fine grain sandpaper to remove light rust spots and a heavier grit for deep rust spots. It may be necessary to sand deep enough to leave a small indent. Repair this with Bondo or another frame epoxy and smooth it out to match the surface of the truck. If you have access to a garage and extra space, you may want to remove the bed from the truck to sand and spray it separately.

3. Prime the truck with an anti-rust primer spray. If at all possible, do this and the painting in a garage where you will not be at the mercy of the elements. Allow the anti-rust to dry after you have evenly painted two coats of it. Make sure that you have sprayed the undercarriage and the underside of the bed, as well, if you have decided not to remove it.

4. Mask off the chrome parts, all lights, door handles, trim, grill and tires. Use the clear plastic bags cut open to cover the tires and rims. Double check that you have sealed all the masked areas well. Don your breathing mask and tarp the floor.

5. Paint with long, back and forth motions. Do not stop or stall in any area as dripping may occur. In crevices and around the bed, if it is not to be removed, pull back on the sprayer and allow a fine mist to accumulate. This will get a good coat without any drips. Make sure that you get inside the doors as well as the gate for continuity of color.

6. Dry the truck in a garage for at least 24 hours. Gently remove the masking tape and the bags over the wheels. Add any touch-ups that may have been overlooked with a small, fine paint brush and smooth sponge.

Tips & Warnings

• The longer and smoother each passby are while painting, the more even the coat. If you happen to make a drip, use a sponge to tamp it off and resume spraying that area again. Sanding any spot with Bondo until it is flush with the rest of the body is another key step and may involve some effort with a very fine sand paper or steel wool.

• Always wear a mask. Paint and primer are hazardous in any quantity when inhaled.