I'm starting to look towards doing some bodywork on my car, so I decided the first step was to stop the body from getting worse. The paint was chipped off here and there, in some places to bare metal. I started to chemically strip the hood, but it takes forever so I decided to sand everything smooth wiht 80&120 grit. I'm just using spray can primer right now so for the next month it won't get worse until I can slowly do the bodywork.

The question I have is did I choose the right one. It's plastikote's sandable primer. I didn't see the etching kind there, and in a couple of spots there is bare metal, but I'd say a good 80%+ is over existing paint. This is the kind I bought: http://www.plastikote.com/auto/template.cfm?product=sandableprimer
Every bit of this primer will come off before a real paint job, but I just need something to protect it now, and spray-can primer is my only option right now. I figure it's better than exposed metal. I didn't see the etching primer at the particular store, but is etching necessary to get primer to stay in place for a little while?

Actually along the same line, should i wipe down the body with acetone before spraying on the primer?

Thanks,
Tony
'68 Chevelle 400 (slowly getting there)

Well anything is better than nothing... Your local auto body supply store will sell etching primer in spray cans... If you still have paint on the panel I wouldn't wipe it down with acetone or anything like it.. Just use a good perp cleaner, or wax and bug remover.. if it's all going to come off anyway it's not a big deal either way.. Good Luck

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X-Ray View of my Chevelle :D (http://www.normieschevelle.com/sideview.jpg)
Getting Closer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/passfull.jpg)

It's better than nothing. Nothing out of a spray can works. It'll still rust, but not as fast. If you can mix primer or sealer and shoot one coat, It'll hold up better.

i have used this before for a patch job on a 1/4 panel. So far it has held up for about 5 years without problems. It's not the "professional" fix, but seemed to be okay. I would recommend the etching primer though, that iwll adhere to the metal better. Otherwise, you'll have to sand the panel down again.

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I was hoping this spray can primer would be good enough so at least all the metal is covered now and ready to start bodywork.

I just got finished putting on the primer today, and you can tell the paint underneath wasn't all stripped, but it looks a ton better than it did. I used laquer thinner and dried it before applying the primer and it came out pretty even. I plan on doing the bodywork little by little, and then stripping and applying primer right later on.
I started getting surface rust on the roof and I'm glad I was able to halt it early.

It looks kinda neat in the flat black primer look, and I won't be embarassed by the missing/chipping paint anymore. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif It'll make cruising/racing much more fun http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks,
Tony
'68 Chevelle 400