after stripping to bare metal what is the best way to prep metal before primer?

da with 80 grit all over keeping the da as flat as possible then spraying with a good etching primer and then moving into a high build urethane primer for blocking.

Make sure ALL rust is removed and like Thumper said, DA sand with 80. Then you have two choices;

1) Use a self-etching primer and follow up with a good two coats of urethane primer surfacer.

2) Use an etching solution. Then apply two good coats of urethane primer surfacer.

DON'T DO BOTH. The self-etching primer and the etching solution are acid based and don't mix. The solution is cheaper and easier, but if I were doing a whole car I would go with the S.E. primer.

thanks for the help,i am not a body man but i am going to give it a shot,i plan on going b/c c/c for the paint but it won't happen till later this year.thanks again.JIMK