So I'm starting to get serious about painting my 2003 screw. Lariat. It has the two-tone today with the Arizona beige metallic lower and fender flares. Toreador red is the rest I think, which is really kind of an garnet red metallic.

With 336 k on the truck.... But only about 131K on the engine.... At the rate I drive working from home now.... The truck will easily last me several more yrs . Don't want it to be something my wife's embarrassed to be driven around in... And the clear coat on the hood and roof is gone now...


I don't have anything against the existing color it's been fine for 21 years....... But The look is a little bit dated.... Compared to today's style So I'm considering going back with something else.

Given the extra cost for the two tone.... I'm thinking about going back with just all solid color.... Which is more like the modern trucks sold today have. But I'd actually like a little darker reddish burgundy color. And then just a black honeycomb grill and call it a day..... But due to door jambs etc it is easier to stick with all original color.

Anyone else painted their truck and made it more modern paint color style? I don't care for all blacked out with black wheels etc...

It's actually not that simple to find places to do all over paint nowadays. Body shops only want to do small repairs and do it for insurance work where they Make the most money in the least time. So many people think it's not worth it to paint a 21-year-old truck....... They don't realize that if you buy a new used..5 yr old . truck.. with 100K on it.... Just the state tax on that 25k + truck pays for a good chunk of that paint job......

 

I've had a few cars painted over the yrs. Always had a problem with either the paint or the vehicle afterwards. Just has been expensively bad luck. Just my experience tho.
Maybe someday an aluminum Ford truck polished?

 

Well unfortunately paint is 95% prep, and that's expensive. A good paint job would be prohibitively expensive.... Like maybe 9 grand.. disassemble... Use a high build primer for all the minor imperfections .. So you really have to settle for a *not so good* paint job..... Which will look better than what you got just because it will be shiny and glossy instead of dull and oxidised.... As long as you don't look too close.. maybe stand back 6 ft.. expect edges of paint where masked to peel and curl a few years down the road when it dries out and shrinks more..... Had a toyota celica repainted back in early '90s. It was good enough to look "okay" a few more years. Poor paint experiences when I was in high school... Of course as a kid you were going for the cheapest thing and you got what you paid for. I remember when a friends dad had his Porsche 911 painted... It looked great... . By my figuring that $3000 paint job in 1982 would have been about $18,000 in today's dollars,

 

While I have always loved a nice 2 tone, my next truck may still be a 2 tone but with a black top and solid color bottom half. Have seen the new Explorer and the wife wants to do that when she orders, but not paying Ford 5K for the option.

 

By the time I am done with the prep and paint on my new to me 68 Camaro, it will be around 15,000
2) 427 engines and the 12 bolt posi rear end cost me 16k
Car was 22k
It's an expensive pay to play game
Enjoy your projects
My Boss 302 took years and years to get prepped and painted right, hate to guess on the actual cost

 

I'm serious about the polished aluminum. well, kinda.

 

I feel called out with the all blacked out with black wheels… on the flip side I’m repainting it tomorrow “ford blue.”

I painted it myself a year ago, a days work and probably a hundred bucks in paint and materials using rustoleum farm and implement paint, the only spot I had an issue with the paint not staying was on the mirrors, but that’s cause it was shiny plastic

 

I have liked the look of the black top on cars and trucks, actually more than just top, like shoulder line (maybe?)
top of hood also about 3" down from top of fenders and under windows. I think the bed is left alone, I don't remember.
Kind of a 'tuxedo top' look. Anyway, I think it looks good but being in Tx it would prob. be exactly what would be considered a bad idea.

BUT, since my sides are great and my tops are what are in bad shape....hmmm.
As you can see, I haven't learned my lesson fully yet.

 

I think it is a great idea.
I can't really tell you what color to paint it though, that would be your call.
Although refreshing the original color/s as you said would prevent the different door jam, under the hood, inner fender, colors.
How is the body of your truck, is there any body repairs needed?
I dont get why everyone thinks repainting an older car/truck is not worth it.
@manicmechanic007 posted about 15k for his paint job, albeit it is a 68 Camaro but, in my eyes, no different than your truck.
If you are doing the work yourself, and you are not in it for a show truck, you could do it far less than 3k with a bit of work.
Do you happen to have a picture of your truck linked on the forums?

 

No body work needed...