AS SEEN IN OUR Street Trucks JULY 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!

Bringing an Old Frame

There’s something satisfying about saving old metal instead of throwing it away. Anybody can order brand-new parts, but taking a rusty old truck frame that most people would scrap and bringing it back to life in your garage—that’s a different kind of reward. That’s exactly what this new three-part series is all about.

For this project, we started with an old Ford truck frame that had seen years of abuse, surface rust, grime, and weather. It was the perfect candidate. Instead of blasting it apart and hiding every inch under an expensive powdercoat, we wanted to show what real-world restoration looks like for the average garage builder—something you can tackle at home with basic tools, some patience, and the right products.

That’s where KBS Coatings comes in.

If you’ve been around the restoration or chassis world for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard people talk about KBS products like they’re cheat codes for rusty metal—and honestly, after getting hands-on with this lineup, we understand why. These coatings are designed to stop rust dead in its tracks while creating an insanely durable finish that holds up to rocks, road grime, chemicals, moisture, and years of abuse. This isn’t the kind of paint that flakes off the first time you drag a wrench across the frame rail.

What impressed us most is the flexibility of the system. In this series, we’re testing multiple methods side-by-side. We’ll show fully prepped metal, direct-to-rust applications, cavity protection inside the frame rails, seam sealing, top coating, and even undercoating. We wanted to build a realistic guide that shows what works best depending on the condition of your project.

This first installment breaks down all the products we’ll be using throughout the build and explains where each one fits into the process. In the next issue, we’ll start cleaning, repairing, and coating the frame. Then in the final chapter, we’ll reveal the completed chassis and talk about long-term protection, durability, and final results.

If you’ve got an old truck sitting in the garage waiting for a second chance, this series is for you.

KBS Paint Spouts

These reusable paint spouts make pouring coatings cleaner and easier while helping reduce mess and wasted material during large projects.

Schutz Underseal Spray Gun & 48-Inch Wand

Designed for undercoating and cavity protection, this spray gun and extended wand make it easy to coat inside frame rails, crossmembers, and hard-to-reach areas.

Natural Bristle Paint Brushes

KBS natural bristle brushes are ideal for applying RustSeal and chassis coatings smoothly without shedding bristles into the finish.

BackBone Reinforcing Mesh

This reinforcing mesh helps strengthen repairs around rust holes, seams, and weak metal areas when used with coatings or fillers.

KBS Paint Mixing Cups

Heavy-duty mixing cups make measuring and mixing coatings simple while helping keep ratios consistent during larger jobs.

KBS HVLP Spray Gun

Built specifically for thicker coatings, this HVLP spray gun helps lay down an even finish while reducing overspray and wasted product.

Outrageous Orange Diamond Grip Nitrile Gloves

Heavy-duty nitrile gloves designed to stand up to harsh chemicals, coatings, and solvents during long garage sessions.

KBS UV Light

The KBS UV light helps inspect coating coverage and identify missed areas during application and repair work.

KBS NuMetal Epoxy Putty

NuMetal is a steel-reinforced epoxy filler designed to repair rust damage, pits, cracks, and imperfections before the final coating.

 KBS Fusion Self-Etching Primer

This self-etching primer promotes strong adhesion on bare metal while helping prevent future corrosion underneath the coating system.

Cavity Coater

Designed to protect hidden areas from rust, Cavity Coater sprays deep into frame rails, doors, and boxed sections to stop corrosion where you can’t see it.

RustSeal

RustSeal is KBS’s flagship rust-prevention coating, designed to encapsulate rust and create an extremely hard, chip-resistant protective barrier.

BlackTop

BlackTop provides a durable satin-black finish that works great as a topcoat for frames, suspension parts, and underbody components.

RustBlast

RustBlast neutralizes rust, etches metal for better adhesion, and preps surfaces before coatings are applied.

KBS Klean

KBS Klean is a water-based degreaser designed to strip away grease, oil, dirt, and contaminants before prep and coating work begins.