Surface rust?

[unbludictable]

As you can see on my picture! I got a little surface rust on the bed.

Do I need to wire brush it, grind it, or sand it? Or all of the above?

[Blazin]

I would sand it with 80 then 180 grit DA. Then use POR 15 or what I use cheaper version of POR 15 Chassis saver. BAout half the price. Spray or brush it on then prime right over it.
http://www.streetperformance.com/writereviewsp.php?sku=311
The roof of my 55 looked like that. I used Cjhassis saver, then 5 Star three part urethane high built primer. Sanded the primer, then top coated it with Omni Single stage Acrylic enamel.

[Dragon]

Dang Blazin Great Toy you got there   Very Clean and Subtle!!

I too agree with Blazin, if it is just Surface Rust with no or light scale, 80grit followed by 180grit should be more than enough to get down to a level of it being treatable...   Would also suggest a DA(Dual Action) Orbital Hand Sander, just to make it easier, since there are fairly large/long surfaces you are going to cover... By Sanding by hand, it would take you way too long, and you would probably lose interest in your project fast!!    When using an Orbital Sander, I would recommend keeping your movements in an X type Pattern, towards the front or rear of the truck, as it would make your sanding less noticeable when your new Paint Job is dry(Trust me, nothing looks more frustrating than seeing swirl sanding marks in a new finish, especially when they are in an up and down pattern that really makes them stand out!!!)...

[unbludictable]

Does it matter if I have a few small holes along the side where molding screws were removed and a few small dents?

[Blazin]

You need to weld the holes up. Pull the dents if big enough, if just dings make sure there are no high spots around them and hit them with a touch of body filler. If the dings have rust in them you need to sand blast them first before grinding and filling them.
 I agree with Dragon on the x pattern of sanding.
 Thanks for the compliment on my baby. Its a daily driver in the warm weather. I drive it like I stole it pretty regular too. Its a 30 / 30 paint job, looks good from 30 feet at 30 MPH. I did the whole thing start to finish in a weekend,& a half plus a few sleeplees nights! Started it on Fri. night, worked till about 12:00 AM Sat., back at it again 9:00 AM Sat. till about 1:00 AM Sun., back at it again around 11:00 AM Sun. till 7:30 AM Mon., Worked all day Mon. got it in finish primer by 6:00 PM Mon. evening, went home showered and mad it to a Skynyrd concert by 7:30, got home from that at 2:00 AM Tues., Got up at 8:00 AM and made it to two 4th of July parades, did the fireworks thing until about 11:00 PM Tues. night. Then I slept all day Wed. Sanded, & masked it the next Fri. night, Sprayed it Sat. morning.

[Dragon]

The only way a car like that should be Driven Blazin, Like Ya Stole It   No Problem with the Compliment Bro, and no worries on how the Finish looks, cause It's driven, and not on the back of a trailer or carried around  in a box

[choptop]

I've always been a fan of the phrase "Drive it like you stole it" but one day I said it to my Granddad who hesitated, looked at me with a puzzled look, and said " If you drive it like you stole it, then you're liable to hafta walk back to where you got it"  Makes since........So I carry my sneakers in the tool box

[Blazin]

I have owned it 97. The only time it let me down was Haloween night 3 years ago was on my second rearend. I blew two of the most perfect donuts ever known to man. Came out of them when it banged second gear it blew the rear end apart. The bridge that holds the carrier in place broke out. Left the bolts with the rest of the bridge in place. Basically the carrier fell back away from the pinion. First rear end developed a crack in the third member and was replaced before it broke. Only other things I have done to it is swapped the junk 725 Holley for a 500 2 barrel. I think I will be putting a 650 on it this summer. Some home built 2 & 3/4" exhaust that exits in front of the rear tires ( Glass packs ), 84 Dodge Charger seats, and oil changes. 355 TH 400 now.
Someday it will be a 409, 6 speed, quick change rear end, full manual disc brakes with a balance bar instead of a perportioning valve and vacuum booster, a full cage, lowered about 2", with old school looking 17" Torque Thrust rims. Fiber glass three piece nose, Black, all chrome / stainless black, with some purple ghost flames.
 I will still drive it the same way though.

[unbludictable]

Man!! That's rough!

But, she dose look good!!

I like solid colors and chrome!! Solids colors, to me, show off the paint job!! And chrome is just the icing!!

[choptop]

I will too