Need Advice on Paint Correction

[Bobby740]

Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to read my first post here. I recently purchased a 1993 from a guy in Colorado Springs where I live. The 4Runner runs excellent but has a few issues as can be expected from a vehicle this old. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice as to how to go about doing paint correction. The hood and roof both have lost portions of their paint and I'm very worried the metal will begin to form rust if I don't repaint them soon. I'm able to lookup the correct paint code online but that's as far as I know how to go. Before ordering anything I'm hoping someone with previous experience has some advice as to the process of repainting and any tips or tricks beyond what an online guide could offer. Additionally, I have a neighbor who mentioned the possibility of bed lining the hood rather than repainting it. The 4Runner is forest green so I'm not sure this would look the greatest but could anyone tell me if that is a viable option?

Thanks,

-Bobby

 

[Bigshankhank]

You can put bedliner on anything provided you do the necessary prep-work. :rockon:

Fact is, if you have never done paintwork on a vehicle before, especially on something with as much "real estate" as the roof and hood of an SUV, you are in for a heck of a chore. Not to say it cannot be done, but it will be a big job. Again, the success or failure of the job is almost entirely dependant on the prep work, do a thorough job sanding and priming and the finish coat will come out well. Skimp on the hard stuff and you will end up with runs, embedded crap in the paint or fish-eyes.

Good luck.

 

[wanderMT]

Won't be able to match the old paint (due to fading) so may be good idea to paint hood and top different color anyway, or at least the hood since can't really see top anyway. Only thing I know about paint is that it is hard to do a good job without lots of experience.

 

[wanderMT]

Forgot, I do have experience painting - about 45 years ago painted a '48 Chevy with house paint, brushes and roller. Looked better than it had, at least it was one color!

 

[KidVermicious]

An offcolor hood wouldn't look terrible, and would cut glare. Bedliner is one option, but if you do that find one that will lay flat, you don't want texture there (Als Liner has a vinyl additive available that makes the bedliner nice and flat, other companies may have similar). Plastidip is a better option, so is a vinyl wrap, because either of those will come off easy if you decide you don't like it.

I think if it was just the hood and roof I was worried about, I'd take it down to Maaco or some other budget paint garage and have them fix it.

 

[Titanpat57]

Another point to remember is the base coat/primer color....if that's not correct your top coat won't matter