Joined
·
72 Posts
Long time reader. First time poster. Not new to forums. I thought this might be a good time to FINALLY join the forum and not post about what I'm doing, but also document the process.
My 2002 Silverado only has 65K miles on the ODO. I ride my motorcycle most of the time (2006 Goldwing with 125K miles).
Just after I got the truck in 2001, my "ex" accidentally backed into the side and did some damage. Nothing severe so I never got it fixed. Several years ago while pressure washing the wheels, I got the nozzle a little to close to the hood and stripped some paint. I had every intention of getting the hood fixed, but I procrastinated and just never got around to doing it. Fast forward about 3 years and the truck was looking terrible on the outside. Clear coat had peeled on the roof, hood and upper part of the sides.
A good friend of mine has worked in the Publix body shop at their main distribution center here in JAX for 25+ years. When I told him I was thinking about getting the truck "fixed," he said "Let me do it. I'll take my time and do it right." So, here we go!
Here, you can see the damage when the truck was only about 3 weeks old.
![]()
Removed the grill and started removing the bumper. It's being replaced along with the upper and lower caps, fog lights (they're broken) and a new front license plate. Notice all the "white" residue from the old paint. When it would rain, with no clear coat to protect the paint, it did this. It was a mess.
![]()
The bumper is off!
![]()
Removed the fender flares (aftermarket) and the body side moldings. They're all being replaced along with all the emblems.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
So I get the truck over to my friends house (he has a paint booth at his house). Convenient. Within about 15 minutes, the box is off.
![]()
A little surface rust on the frame rails. No big deal.
![]()
The headlights and turn signals come off. Here you can see the big spot where I did the pressure washer damage several years ago.
![]()
Initially, he was just going to sand off the clear and scuff the base coat but when he got into it, the paint was so weather damaged, he decided to go down to the metal.
![]()
![]()
Here you can see where he fixed the damage the "ex" did all those years ago.
![]()
There was a minor dent in the fender. Fixed.
![]()
This was a learning moment. Since the rear windows can be removed without destroying them, he used this 3M tape to "PULL" the gasketaway from the frame so the paint would get in there better. Worked out great!
Removed all the rubber trim and gaskets from around the doors as well as the trim along the "A" pillars (those are being replaced) as well as the trim piece along the top edge of the windshield (also being replaced).
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Just before he was getting ready to spray the truck with the first coast of epoxy primer, he wanted to double check the door alignment and block sand the area he fixed...again.
![]()
Taping begins.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Two coats of epoxy primer.
![]()
![]()
![]()
Sanding the primer coat than wiping it down and hitting it was tack cloth. Getting ready for the base coat.
![]()
![]()
First coat of base. Artic White. Or as I call it, Maytag Refrigerator White.
![]()
![]()
All three coats of base are done.
![]()
![]()
![]()
Start clearing! Three coats! During this phase, several bugs got into the clear. He was SO pissed! He tried to get them out and ended up ruining the clear. And with some orange peel in the clear, he decided to sand the whole truck and re-clear the truck. Another three coats of clear.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Now for the box, tailgate and fuel filler door. No real damage to the box. A few minor dents. That was fixed. Two coats of primer, three coats of base. And three coats of clear. Some orange peel on the side of the box. He re-sanded that and three more coats of clear.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Stay tuned for more updates. Today, I'm going over to change the rear diff fluid while the box is off the frame.
My 2002 Silverado only has 65K miles on the ODO. I ride my motorcycle most of the time (2006 Goldwing with 125K miles).
Just after I got the truck in 2001, my "ex" accidentally backed into the side and did some damage. Nothing severe so I never got it fixed. Several years ago while pressure washing the wheels, I got the nozzle a little to close to the hood and stripped some paint. I had every intention of getting the hood fixed, but I procrastinated and just never got around to doing it. Fast forward about 3 years and the truck was looking terrible on the outside. Clear coat had peeled on the roof, hood and upper part of the sides.
A good friend of mine has worked in the Publix body shop at their main distribution center here in JAX for 25+ years. When I told him I was thinking about getting the truck "fixed," he said "Let me do it. I'll take my time and do it right." So, here we go!
Here, you can see the damage when the truck was only about 3 weeks old.
Removed the grill and started removing the bumper. It's being replaced along with the upper and lower caps, fog lights (they're broken) and a new front license plate. Notice all the "white" residue from the old paint. When it would rain, with no clear coat to protect the paint, it did this. It was a mess.
The bumper is off!
Removed the fender flares (aftermarket) and the body side moldings. They're all being replaced along with all the emblems.
So I get the truck over to my friends house (he has a paint booth at his house). Convenient. Within about 15 minutes, the box is off.
A little surface rust on the frame rails. No big deal.
The headlights and turn signals come off. Here you can see the big spot where I did the pressure washer damage several years ago.
Initially, he was just going to sand off the clear and scuff the base coat but when he got into it, the paint was so weather damaged, he decided to go down to the metal.
Here you can see where he fixed the damage the "ex" did all those years ago.
There was a minor dent in the fender. Fixed.
This was a learning moment. Since the rear windows can be removed without destroying them, he used this 3M tape to "PULL" the gasketaway from the frame so the paint would get in there better. Worked out great!
Removed all the rubber trim and gaskets from around the doors as well as the trim along the "A" pillars (those are being replaced) as well as the trim piece along the top edge of the windshield (also being replaced).
Just before he was getting ready to spray the truck with the first coast of epoxy primer, he wanted to double check the door alignment and block sand the area he fixed...again.
Taping begins.
Two coats of epoxy primer.
Sanding the primer coat than wiping it down and hitting it was tack cloth. Getting ready for the base coat.
First coat of base. Artic White. Or as I call it, Maytag Refrigerator White.
All three coats of base are done.
Start clearing! Three coats! During this phase, several bugs got into the clear. He was SO pissed! He tried to get them out and ended up ruining the clear. And with some orange peel in the clear, he decided to sand the whole truck and re-clear the truck. Another three coats of clear.
Now for the box, tailgate and fuel filler door. No real damage to the box. A few minor dents. That was fixed. Two coats of primer, three coats of base. And three coats of clear. Some orange peel on the side of the box. He re-sanded that and three more coats of clear.
Stay tuned for more updates. Today, I'm going over to change the rear diff fluid while the box is off the frame.
