1985 Stepside bed paint rebuild

[jcwoodworks]

I am rebuilding a 1985 stepside that I picked up in Missouri to replace the rusted out fleetside on my 1977. The bed is totally apart and the repairs are in progress. My question is, when attaching the fenders to the body side, do I need to add seam sealer or a fender welt between the two? Also this is my first time doing the total paint. Shoud I prime, assemble then final paint and clear OR should I prime, paint, clear then assemble. Any suggestions are welcome. Since I am trying to do this properly to prevent as much rust as possible I want to do it correctly. I am repaiing all rusted areas, epoxy primer, block or high build primer, paint then clear? Thanks.

[Gregski]

you painting the whole truck or just the bed?

[Greenlee]

Originally Posted by jcwoodworks

I am rebuilding a 1985 stepside that I picked up in Missouri to replace the rusted out fleetside on my 1977. The bed is totally apart and the repairs are in progress. My question is, when attaching the fenders to the body side, do I need to add seam sealer or a fender welt between the two? Also this is my first time doing the total paint. Shoud I prime, assemble then final paint and clear OR should I prime, paint, clear then assemble. Any suggestions are welcome. Since I am trying to do this properly to prevent as much rust as possible I want to do it correctly. I am repaiing all rusted areas, epoxy primer, block or high build primer, paint then clear? Thanks.

I'm not sure what's right or wrong, but when I did mine I assembled the fenders after they had been painted and cleared. I used seam sealer before I put them together.

[jcwoodworks]

I'm going to paint the whole truck. Just not sure of the proper way to attach the fenders.

[Pine Bark Auto]

I think you would get much better coverage and more even coverage if painted and then assembled. The area between the bed rail and the top of the fender is very tight when assembled. I don't know if the factory used seam sealer or not, but if you could do it without it squeezing out, I would do it. Chip.

[andrewmp6]

If you bolt the fenders on and seam sealer the gap from the inside it should be ok.