Hi Guys,

I'm new here. Just a few questions maybe someone can help me with.
I'm restoring a 1970 SS396.

Quick background info;

Started restoration in 1994 and worked on car weekends only in the bodyshop of a friend of my dad for about 3 or 4 years.

Removed body from frame, sandblasted and painted frame, replaced bushings, fuel, brake lines etc. Hung new quarters, new trunk floor, various patches in floorplan.

Got a new job which required that I work weekends and the car sat indoors until bodyshop closed one building and car was moved outside where it sat for 5+ years.

I picked up the car few months ago and now have it in my garage where I will try to complete the restoration.

My main question now is in regard to paint.

I've sandblasted the firewall to bare metal and was wondering if Sherman Williams DP800 epoxy primer is an appropriate material to spray on the bare metal. Also, some of the sandblasting was done a few weeks ago and there may be very small dots of rust. What preparation should be done before spraying to ensure good results? My plan is to blast sections at a time and then prime them. I will then patch the sheetmetal as needed. Also, can anyone recommend a good source of information for what surfaces should be painted what color and degree of gloss? My car happens to be Canadian as I think this matters. Thanks for any help.:beers:
-Pete

Heres this, for getting rust pits out, http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225831&highlight=naval+jelly unless your going to blast it again, but sandblasting hoods, fenders, quarters, roof and decklid can warp the metal, anyway, just in case you didn't know this.

As far as epoxy, I would wait to spray it, not sure of the brand your using, hopefully one of the more knowledgible guys on here will help you out on what paint and primer, you want to be sure what is compatible with what.

Rob

Heres this, for getting rust pits out, http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225831&highlight=naval+jelly unless your going to blast it again, but sandblasting hoods, fenders, quarters, roof and decklid can warp the metal, anyway, just in case you didn't know this.

As far as epoxy, I would wait to spray it, not sure of the brand your using, hopefully one of the more knowledgible guys on here will help you out on what paint and primer, you want to be sure what is compatible with what.

Rob

Thanks, Rob.
So far I have been able to avoid any warpage by keeping the pressure between 90 and 110 psi and by using a mild angle of attack (not blasting perpendicular to the panel), but I am worried about the roof. This Naval Jelly sounds like it might be a good idea to try.

I'm anxious to get some primer on the blasted surfaces and there is a Sherman Williams Automotive Finishes store 5 min from my house. That is the only reason I thought about using the Dimension DP800 epoxy primer. If there is something better to use, please let me know. Any input is appreciated. Thanks guys.

Your welcome Pete, a lot of guys have been using this http://www.southernpolyurethanes.com/SPI%20News.htm but I would make sure you find out for sure what urethane primer works good with it and a compatible base-clear, in other words get all the filler, primer etc. set before you buy anything.

I have never used SPI, but I hear all the time on a lot of car forums how reasonably priced and how well they like it.

Get all the tech sheets for everything your going to use and make sure you know whats compatible, if they don't have a tech sheet have them print you up one.

If there is only a few small, light spots of rust then take a wire wheel hooked to a grinder and run over all of it real quick. Give everything a good wipe with some solvent then spray some etch primer down. The etch primer will kill any remaining rust that is left and then spray your epoxy on top of that, wet on wet.