Maybe I should have titled this story “weekend rest and recreation” instead of “weekend restoration.” It really is amazing how therapeutic detailing and doing a little glamorizing to an old pickup can be. Welcome to my latest truck project—it’s a 1976 F-250 Camper Special that I picked up for $300. Besides its incredibly low selling price, what really attracted me to this truck in particular was it still had most of its original paint, and not one dent in the body. There is some serious rust damage on the passenger side of the roof, but I have that to thank for making its original owner decide it was time to let the old girl go for scrap.
The ’76 F-250 had 36 years...
The ’76 F-250 had 36 years worth of damage caused by never being garaged. Although I’m sure its owner paid attention to keeping it washed and waxed, or else the original paint wouldn’t have lasted this long. Repaints don’t last nearly as long, proving it pays to take good care of your original paint. I started the job with a heavy concentration of Mothers California Gold Car Wash making for soapy suds that lasted a long time.
The first step I took was to opt for one-stop shopping with Summit Racing to get the products I needed to clean the truck up once I had it home. In no time at all the brands I have the most faith in arrived at my door. Every name-brand product used in this story can be sourced directly from Summit Racing Equipment, which makes it extremely easy and convenient to get what you need.
After an afternoon spent cleaning up my new project, I’m sure I could double my money! That not being my goal though, at least it looks good sitting in the driveway and I feel pretty good about my latest purchase. Not too bad for a day’s work!
I begin a car wash by hosing...
I begin a car wash by hosing the entire truck down with water to presoak the dirt. Next, scrubbing with car soap begins at the very top, working down. Notice the black mold appearing on the camper shell’s gel coat.
I thought adding a little...
I thought adding a little bleach might have been necessary, but using Mothers genuine wool car wash mitt along with California Gold Car Wash alone was all it took to lift off the dirt and flush the black mold.
Doing a thorough wash job...
Doing a thorough wash job will pay off in the end. It took me about four hours of serious scrubbing and hosing the entire truck down to get it this far. Check out how much better the camper shell looked afterward.
Straight from the Summit Racing...
Straight from the Summit Racing catalog I used PJ1 combined with 4-ott (0000) steel wool under the hood on a warm engine compartment to remove the heavy buildup of dirt and grease from inside the grille and core support. Flush with water liberally afterward.
The next step after washing...
The next step after washing was to use Mothers clay bar system on the blue paint and white gel coat (use separate clay bars). This stuff is absolutely miraculous! Notice how much grit and oxidation it removed in a short time.
Avoid direct sunlight. The...
Avoid direct sunlight. The best technique I’ve found is to spray a small area with Showtime (clay lubricant) and hold the clay bar flat and use primarily a straight-line pattern. Occasionally I’ll use an orbital motion, but it can cause swirls. Do not allow Showtime to dry. Using a Mothers microfiber towel, polish the area until it is absolutely smooth. Repeat as necessary.
To completely remove light...
To completely remove light to heavy oxidation, Mothers Rubbing Compound must be used for the best results. If you’ve never used a “wheel,” don’t be afraid. Thanks to the Makita 9227’s six-position switch (#3 position = 1,500 rpm) combined with the 1,500-rpm speed specified on Mothers bottle, professional results are easily obtained.
For this job I preferred using...
For this job I preferred using a traditional Schlegel (fast change) wool buffing pad. Single stage paints that have oxidized leave a significant trace of color on the pad; clear paint doesn’t. Whether one uses a foam pad or wool, it’s a good practice to wash the compound off with water before it dries.
Afterward, I’ll rewash and...
Afterward, I’ll rewash and dry the vehicle. Mothers Brazilian Carnuba Cleaner Wax is an old time favorite for use on mild oxidation or taking a rub-out up to the next level. It can be used by hand or with a machine.