HJ sandman ute restoration

[HJsandman75]

I thought I would put some photos up of my ute and the progress made so far. under all the coats of paint, bog and dirt, the body proved to be remarkably rust free.
The body has been panel beated and sanded back to bare metal. It was then chemically treated with rust inhibiter followed by a coat of etch priming. This highlighted a couple of more dents in the tray which will be dent knocked out.
Will update when the mandarin red paint goes on!
Not sure whether to paint tray red or correct vynacoat grey? Head says grey as this is original however I think it looks so much better all painted as per exterior body. Not sure which way to go yet?

[Valencia]

Paint the tray red it will looks heaps better

[playwme]

Yep, do it red. Not a big deal to put it to grey at a later date if there's a need.

[Beachy]

Where hj Gray hx on where the exterior colour

[Alien DNA]

What Valencia said

Nice progress too

[Big Rob]

Red is the correct colour for the tray area, Vynacoat was for panel vans.

I'm doing my ute with the old favourite colour-fleck because I intend to use it and it's going to get scratched a lot, but with a full perfect respray like yours then body colour is the only choice.

[Robbo]

Yes, definitely body colour, as per all the responses. Great work your doing, and fortunate to have a ute with rust free body.

[rocky]

looking good what mags are going on it mine should be going in 2 weeks time so the beater says go the utes

[HJsandman75]

Original gts rims ( as per photo of ute in my shed). It took them off when the car went to the paint shop but the steel wheels kept going down so the painter wacked on a set of mags he had. I will refurbish gts rims. Car is going back to original, complete with AM radio.

[Taily]

Red is the correct colour for the tray area, Vynacoat was for panel vans.

Not in all cases. From what I've been able to gather the HJ ute interior of the tray was a plant specific finish. My Melbourne ute is/was originally vynacote, much as I don't like it I've kept it the way it was.

But hey, it's a personal thing. You do the back of your ute whatever way you want it! Most people aren't all that rapt in vynacote in utes but it is a much more durable finish.