Clear coated Rat Rod pictures

[1952ssr]

I will admit I was not a fan of clear coating most rat rods. To me it just took the authenticity out of the truck. Yet here lately I have been pondering the thought of clearing mine since it is red and started to kinda fade into a pink. I watch Vegas Rat rods and they clear about everything and have seen some nice cleared trucks for sale on dirty birds website.
Can you guys that have cleared your ride post a picture and comment(s) to help me make a decision. Thanks in advance

[b-mac]

Debating on this myself, although mine is basically 100% rust. I think I would do satin clear...I don't particularly like the gloss clear.

[mr48chev]

It will rust out and fall apart just as fast with the clear coat on it as not.

[b-mac]

Is that true?...It wouldn't "seal in the rust" like they claim epoxy will?

I'm really trying to decide how to handle my windshield replacement. I sand blasted the inside of the cab to bare metal. But the outside is rusty...and I think I want to leave it that way. But I hate to put new window channel rubber over rusted metal...

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by b-mac

Is that true?...It wouldn't "seal in the rust" like they claim epoxy will?

I'm really trying to decide how to handle my windshield replacement. I sand blasted the inside of the cab to bare metal. But the outside is rusty...and I think I want to leave it that way. But I hate to put new window channel rubber over rusted metal...

epoxy will seal in rust, just like clear coat will
then the rust will continue to eat away at the underlying metal
eventually rusting thru and into big holes and bubbles in either one

rust is rust and will always be rust eating away at metal
imo... patina is what 1952ssr described: sun faded paint, faded signage, old paint showing thru, ect...
however if the edges of the doors and fenders have rust or bubbly paint, those areas need to be addressed

rust around the windshield will eventually eat thru and leak into the cab, then wet floor mats will rust out the floor

[1952ssr]

Originally Posted by b-mac

Is that true?...It wouldn't "seal in the rust" like they claim epoxy will?

I'm really trying to decide how to handle my windshield replacement. I sand blasted the inside of the cab to bare metal. But the outside is rusty...and I think I want to leave it that way. But I hate to put new window channel rubber over rusted metal...

My '53 I'm building now sounds pretty much like yours, what I did was took some black chassis saver and a 1 inch brush and painted around where the rubber was before. Por 15 would work too.

[b-mac]

Playing devil's advocate: Isn't oxygen a component of the rusting process. If the air was completely sealed out, would the process continue?

What do you think about bare metal? Like this: http://www.hotroddirtys.com/-Dirty_Sanchez__51_PU.html

Obviously, they have done clear on this. Do you think it will only look like this for a little while, then start flaking or rusting?

Clear doesn't have the same "adhere to bare metal" properties as etching or epoxy primer. I've always wondered about this.
Or especially anything really sticking to rust.

Even when using POR, as SSR suggested, I've always got as much to bare metal as possible, and then etched the metal with their prep, and then put POR on top.
In the window situation, I will probably strip bare, tape, and epoxy prime this area.

I was actually thinking of leaving my truck rust/patina, and blasting my grill to bare metal, and clear coating it. I don't know how it will turn out though.

Also found this, and a few people making similar things.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005TLBATU...a-305220164769

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

epoxy will seal in rust, just like clear coat will
then the rust will continue to eat away at the underlying metal
eventually rusting thru and into big holes and bubbles in either one

rust is rust and will always be rust eating away at metal
imo... patina is what 1952ssr described: sun faded paint, faded signage, old paint showing thru, ect...
however if the edges of the doors and fenders have rust or bubbly paint, those areas need to be addressed

rust around the windshield will eventually eat thru and leak into the cab, then wet floor mats will rust out the floor

^^^ I agree with Ogre^^^

What people call "patina" is really decades of neglect and abuse. I think a vehicle has patina if it shows wear & tear of decades of daily use including paint that has been polished through to the previous paint job, primer or even bare metal in places.

I'd take no pride in a surface rusted truck and certainly not one with cancer. If I had an oldie like that - as I did - I'd CLR it, color sand and polish it to make the remaining paint look as good as possible. If there is nothing left of the original paint - as with my avatar truck, I'd paint it with what I could afford - Rustoleum Satin spray paint in my case.

PS: I wouldn't appreciate anyone calling anything I drive a "rat"-anything.

[Softpatch]

Coating Smoating.......
I live 100 yrds from the Salish Sea.
anything and everything I have that is metal will be gone in a few yrs including Me.!
That being said........
If you like it. just Do what make YOU happy it's your truck even if it means painting it with a brush/Rag Rust noRust its your truck.
................................................................I don't get these car guys that don't drive/use there Trucks cause they want to keep it original low miles Why.?.... Crazy...?
That's like your Not going to sleep with your wife so her next Husband can injoy

There's no guaranty Tomorrow will come
Life is short injoy what time you have

I wish you all good health... now.Excuse me I'm going drive my truck.....S
.
.
.

[DrKrankenstein]

Originally Posted by Softpatch

Coating Smoating.......
I live 100 yrds from the Salish Sea.
anything and everything I have that is metal will be gone in a few yrs including Me.!
That being said........
If you like it. just

even if it means painting it with a brush/Rag Rust noRust its your truck.
................................................................I don't get these car guys that don't drive/use there Trucks cause they want to keep it original low miles Why.?.... Crazy...?
That's like your Not going to sleep with your wife so her next Husband can injoy

There's no guaranty Tomorrow will come
Life is short injoy what time you have

I wish you all good health... now.Excuse me I'm going drive my truck.....S
.
.
.

[1952ssr]

Let me inject another situation that i saw at a show several years ago. Nice looking 50'ish model chevy good mixture of rust and patina, it was very glossy so i got talking the owner an older gentleman and i said "how many coats of clear did you put on your truck". He said oh that's not clear that's polyurethane....i was like I wish I had a picture to show yall.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Softpatch

I don't get these car guys that don't drive/use there Trucks cause they want to keep it original low miles Why.?..

i equate that with not having sex with your wife.... saving her for the next husband

needless to say i drive the hell of my truk