For those of us who are to the point of "finishing" our trucks, I have a question about the finer points of pin striping. (Or is it pen striping?) Anyway, in an earlier post I read that there is only one stripe on the "beltline" of the cab and that it is 1/4" up from the bottom and 1/4" wide. This puts it at the base of the wiper stantion. I am sure there was some variation between factories and painters. I also think I read somewhere that one of the acceptable colors for the stripe was silver. Since my interior is flat "titanium" with some semigloss silver accent, I want to use silver on my pin stripe. Some of you are into detail when it comes to the history of these beauties. And some of you are way more artistic than I will ever know. What say you? Gater
Gater, Go with Silver! 2 reasons why. #1 It's your truck, you built it, you paid for it and you want to go with silver. #2 The original Swift Red on the AD's were accented with Argent Silver. So there you have it. You get the color you want and it's period correct (and who cares about being "period correct" anyway?) I've seen some stuff, both on the net and in books, that makes me wonder if the correct width of the stripe should be 1/8" instead of 1/4".
Pin Stripe Hi guys, I just finished taking my cab down to bare metal and removed the original pin strip. It was definitely 1/8" wide.
Choices, choices... Hey, G! Red truck, huh? hmmmm.... Did I ever mention how good yellow and white look on a red truck? You'll need one of each with equal distance between them! Glad to help, don't mention it!
Thanks for the input. I think it will be a 1/8 inch silver pin stripe that runs 1/4 inch up from the bottom of the belt line. Sorry, Zig. Since Peyton went to UT and I pulled for him there I have to stay true to the Colts. It just wouldn't look right to have Chiefs colors on a Colt fans truck. I can't wait to see the pin stripe. Now I have to find a steady hand at one of our reputable paint shops. Gater
do it yourself, gater! if at first you don't succeed, wipe it off and try again! i also agree about the 1/8th inch- 1/4 inch is way too thick, yeeuch. jon
Pin Stripe It Is ! And there does seem to be some slight variations in how they were done depending on which plant your particular truck was built in .....
They are 1/8 inch. They are located just below half way up the ridge, going right through the wiper bezels. there is a Pin stripe leaflet available from Jim Carter, reprint of origional.
I know it has been a while but I decided to bring back this thread on pin striping. I ended up following ol' chebby's advice. The stripes are tape that I put on myself this morning. They are 1/8 inch and go through the wiper bezels. Here are some pics. Gater
Nicely done Gater. My grandpa-in-law used a pinstriping roller kit to do his back in the '50's-just like yours by the way, only white. You can check out his pinstriping by clicking my signature. I found the kit and gave it to my sisters husband who does body work/painting and lettering on race cars, etc.
i read in the encyclopedia (SP) of truck colors that RED and YELLOW are only to be mixed in the state of Kansas!!!!!
No, no, nooooo No, Gerald~ It was red, yellow, and WHITE! Just think how slick that would look with a stripe of yellow with a stripe of white above that! BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT... I'd have to say that looks FABULOUS, Gater!!!! So does this mean when you get the wipers on you'll be cruising that ride of yours again? Posting about the fantastic spring trips you're taking?
Hope so, Zig. I was worried about applying these stripes but it wasn't bad. I used my calipers and a sharpie to put dots at the same height above the bottom groove all the way around. Then I taped it off with blue painters tape. Wiped it down with rubbing alcohol then applied the pin stripe. Then I removed the blue tape and it was done. I took my time and wasn't tired at the time. That was probably why it was easy. Gater
I read that there is only one stripe on the "beltline" of the cab and that it is 1/4" up from the bottom and 1/4" wide. This puts it at the base of the wiper stantion. I am sure there was some variation between factories and painters. tailgater -- Over the years, when I had seen our '47 thru '53 trucks in the wrecking yards, or still driven even, I have seen some of the pinstripes that actually "varied" in their width of paint. Like they would get "narrow" or a little "wider" as they made the loop around the cab. I know it certainly was not like a pinstripe "tape" like one can get today, with a perfect dimension. I thought it was neat looking, and associated it with a true honest caring well-built truck. It just seemed "homemade" more to me I guess. A more down to earth working truck of a by-gone time. I have had a lot of talk with ranchers and farm type people, most retired, who will ask...... "hmmm ...why can't we order a plain jane work truck like we had 40 to 50 years ago?" Loved driving them things...tuning up ourselves, proud to have !
MJD, It would be nice to be able to go back to a time when we weren't so regulated. The improvements in safety are great but there have been so many changes that we can't fix our own trucks anymore. I ended up with the 1/8" stripe through the bezel because we basically decided that there was enough variation between the plants that made the trucks that it comes down to what you want. Thanks for the feedback to all. I like the gratification that comes with being able to work on my truck without having to get an "expert" involved. Gater
That looks great!!MJD you bring up a good point about those old plain jane trucks. I have a 06 WT. Had rubber flooor mat and 4x4. Prety plain. You can still get them just most people want all the goodies so dealers order them that way. You can order a cheap truck or find a company type truck. They are usually pretty plain. I've been adding little things to mine from the wreaking yard. It now has carpet and keyless entry.And it only cost me 50 bucks!!
