Technical How to Paint 51 Ford Bed Roll?

I have new sheet metal for my 51 Ford F1 bed. How do I spray primer/paint and ensure I get good coverage inside the 1.25 in roll the entire length of the bedside? Would hate to develop a rust spot in here.

 

I’m kind of a redneck but I’d probably push a wire through it and then snag a cloth soaked in paint and pull it through. That would coat the inside- do it before doing the outside cause it’ll drip or run.

Now that I’ve replied, it’ll be fun to find out the Real way it should be done.


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Damn Fourspeed that was my first thought to, but figured it can't be right.

 

That's what I'd do too.
There's spray wands but the rag on a wire will get the job done. Prep it that way too. Get two strings and a buddy so it goes faster

 

went to Lowes and bought some small paint rollers and attached to long rod to push thru and back out first with etch primer then with primer. just need to wipe up the paint that runs out but more is better than not enought!!

 

Seeing as they probably dipped them in primer then shot the color they would only have primer in there from the factory. Using the rag on a wire or small sponge type paint roller should work for the primer and color. I would do both then clean up the runs after but before shooting the color.

 

Adjust the spray gun spray pattern to a small tight circle, open the fluid valve some, turn up the air pressure, put the gun nozzle against the opening and blast paint until you see it come out the other end.
Repeat at the other end.
Wipe up run off.

 

Long wooden rod wrapped with cloth saturated with primer then paint. More control than a wire.
SPark

 

Now let's see what the cut and buff method is!

 

I like this idea the best myself. If you are applying from one end and it is running out the other, you know you have coverage. If you are stuffing or dragging a rag or other applicator through, how do you know the paint doesn't wipe off in the first 12" and leave bare spots in the middle?

 

Stand it up, so's the paint runs down hill (gravity) and as john worden says above ...

 

I'd probably stand the bed on end then pour some thinner down each tube to help degrease/clean them. Then I would try to find a wand for an undercoating gun, or make one. As I understand it they can spray a radial type spray. Buy a cheapie Harbor Freight gun and attach it to that. Set the bed flat again. Mix your paint and then reach in 3 feet from either end and spray as you pull the wand out. As others already mentioned you will probably have paint running out that will need to be cleaned up.

 

I have a few unreachable places on my cab (inside a-pillars and such) that I’m using this stuff on:

http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-internal-frame-coating-14oz-aerosol.html

It comes with a long hose and sprays forward with 4 little streams at an angle for 360degree coverage. Stick it in from both sides and pull back while spraying. It covers over with primer really well so if a little leaks out the cracks no big deal. I’d only worry about getting topcoat/color in to the first 6 inches of each end.



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I don't think they ever had much if any paint on them when the trucks were new

 

My go-to for this job: http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-internal-frame-coating-14oz-aerosol.html

 

Thank you for the tip. I will definitely be buying some of this for my current build.

 

Awesome responses thanks. Probably end up doing a combination of these options. Thinking the Eastwood frame coating for the stake pockets.

 

For painting inside rockers, I took an undercoating gun and shot it at 80lbs, blew primer all the way thru. I tried the wands and they just didnt work well.

Same would work on your project but im not sure it would be any less messy than a rag on a wire. If you have an electric cable "snake" it would be a good puller.

 

Rag on a stick.

 

Why not stand the bed up, and seal the lower end of the tube ? If you're that concerned regarding rust in there, couldn't you fill up one tube at a time ? They can't hold that much paint. Hell, put a can to save the paint fill from one side, and dump it into the other ..... once you pull the respective paint tube stopper.

Again, I'm no rocket scientist ... but I just don't see how pulling a tampon with paint thru a tube, is going to cover sh#t.

 

That Eastwood frame coating thing looks pretty neat.