Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion To restore or not to restore?

I got a call from my father in law yesterday. I figured it was just to chat, but instead he called to let me know a friend of his finally decided to let this pump go after having it the last eight years. I stopped at the guys shop and talked to him for a bit getting to know him. He told me he rescued this year's ago from going to the scrap yard and he has decided to let it go because he does not have time to work on it.

I know this is a very common pump, but one of the best original paint pumps I have ever owned. I have restored every pump I have ever owned. My dilemma is do I leave it or restore it. What would you do if it was your pump?? I know a pump is only original once. Sorry about the link to images my computer is down and only have my cell at this time.

Restore or leave as is single choice
	Do a full blown restoration
	Leave as is
	Re-wire, add globe, hose, and correct nozzle .
Votes accepted starting: Sat Nov 22 2014 02:46 PM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

It should clean up good , it is only original once.

my 2 cents, I'd see how the red waxed out & repaint the white doors...

Jacob, if the pump were mine... I would take it back to how it looked when in use... No pinstriping, no polished chrome nor brass, no multi-stage paints....

An honest red body with crisp white doors...

IMO, you need a 4th option... Something in between a "full restoration" (which usually looks nothing like the pump did when in use) and leave it alone... Which usually looks like yours does, a pump that looks as if it was found at an abandoned Station...

agree with the 4th option..

Little too much patina in my opinion, to be a survivor.

Maybe try something that will take that haze of rust off. Like maybe a Scotch brite pad and some of that concentrated purple cleaner/degreaser. Youd be supprized what that stuff will do. Maybe just some rubbing compound and an electric buffer. JM2C

You left out one option in your poll. Disassemble, clean and degrease the sheet metal and brush or spray with a satin polyurethane. Some slightly diluted muriatic acid will remove a lot of that rust stain on the white panels. Then rewire and add hose, etc. I did this to a Frontier pump (minus the acid treatment) and it really brought some life back to it without taking away the originality.
Link to my pumps story.

http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=62705&Number=393114#Post393114

How bout a 5th option..sell it to me.

Randy, Bob, and Jim thanks for your input. I never thought about just doing the doors. I think I'll see how it cleans up like Ron suggested and go from there.

Chris,

Thanks for the link to your story.



Dave,

I agree that the doors have a bit of patina to them, but they may clean up better then I expect.

Rick,

I thought about putting it in as an option as a joke, but it would take allot of coldpizza to pry it away from me.

Thanks again guys

I can always sand blast it and paint it, but I can never make it original again.

I'll post pics of the progress once I get to it.

I have been using a spray on wax /cleaner no water needed.
It turns out almost like a clear coat with out the high gloss.
Then light it up.

The Muriatic acid works great. I use it straight. make sure it is washed off real good. Use a rag or scuff pad then dry right away. Keep the acid off aluminum and pot metal parts, it will eat them. Protect your hands and and resporator is a good idea because the fumes are not good. Here is what it can do to a rust stained white panel.

Holy cow Matt. I would not have guessed there was even paint on that panel!!