2000 International Background Info
The 2000 International Vibe
Welcome to the year 2000, where the "Y2K bug" didn't actually crash the world, but your International Truck was definitely out there working overtime. This was the era of the 4700 and 4900 series-the absolute backbone of the medium-duty world. We've kept our database lean to focus on the survivor that truly defined the fleet look of the new millennium: Beige. It wasn't about flashy metallics or screaming reds back then; it was about a professional, dirt-hiding neutral that looked as good at a construction site as it did at the depot. If you're looking at one today, it's likely seen more miles than a NASA shuttle, but that Beige still holds the soul of a workhorse.
Paint Health Check
By 2000, we were deep in the Peeling Era. The industry had fully committed to the basecoat-plus-clearcoat system, but the chemistry hadn't quite figured out how to stay bonded for twenty-plus years of sun-scalded shifts. On these Internationals, you're likely fighting "delamination"-that's when the clear coat gives up the ghost and starts flaking off in sheets like a bad sunburn. Once that clear starts to lift, moisture and road salt get tucked right under the "zipper" of the peel, and that's when the real trouble starts. If your hood looks like it's shedding its skin, you're not just looking at a cosmetic issue; you're looking at a basecoat that's lost its armor.
Restoration Tip
The golden rule for this era: Seal the edges before the clear lifts. If you spot a small stone chip on your 2000 International, don't wait for it to become a six-inch crater. Take a fine-grit abrasive to very lightly "feather" the edge where the clear coat meets the chip, then get your touch-up paint on there immediately. You're not just adding color; you're "glueing" the surrounding clear coat back down to the panel. Once that factory clear loses its bond, it wants to keep peeling until it hits a body line, so treat every chip like a structural leak.