Question about Preserving Patina

[Lynn]

OK, don't laugh. I love old trucks, and I like "different" as well as liking some of the bellybutton cars.

Recently bought this cool Studebaker (so how come there is no Stude specific muscle car forum Charlie?) dump truck. 100 HP flat head six. Dump works off of PTO over hydraulic. Just using this around the house for now. Who knows what it may turn in to long range. Besides, highway use isn't much of an option as she sits with a 6.66:1 rear axle, even with tall tires! Tranny is a fully UNsynchronized four speed with 6.4:1 granny gear.

I really like the look of the old truck. As you can see, the paint is worn through to primer in a few spots, but the only bare metal is at the bottoms of the rockers, where there is light surface reust only. There is not one place on this truck that is rusted through. For now, the truck has to sit outside.

So... yes, I really do have some questions.
1. Is there something I can put on bottom of rockers to keep the surface rust in check that won't harm the surrounding paint?

2. Anyone ever tried spraying a satin clear over old paint just to keep the old look alive? Would like to use something where I can just scotch pad it with the least abasive pad I can find and then mask and shoot.

3. If I can spray a satin clear, what should I use, and can it be applied over all three surfaces I am dealing with, meaning the paint, the primer and the light surface rust?


I know there are some guys doing "old look" restorations, where they to down to bare metal and spray a combination of finishes to make it look old. I am not interested in that.