I am probably going to use the M/S line to paint the Elco. My question is, does anybody know this line very well? My NAPA guys do not. I was thinking of using 8827 etch prime over the bare metal and 15222 2K high build as primer/surfacer base. Then I could do whatever filler work needed to be done and use TP525/TP522 primer/surfacer for blocking. Does this sound OK-i also read on some cans to NOT use a etch wash first and on some you SHOULD use an etch wash first? Does that mean if you should then the primer is not an epoxy primer? My primary objective with the base coat is to stop and treat any flash rust that has developed(thank you jack ass neighbor for watering my bare metal 1/4 panels).

Well,
I don't know the M/S line at all, but I did use the SW line for years. (MS is SW with a different label) Maybe check the MS web site?
What I would do, is this.
Clean up the bare metal with 120, or something close, wipe it down well with wax & grease remover, and spray 2 coats of the etch primer.(whatever the number is)
Then, where you need to do any bondo work, you need to sand off the etch primer. (the ONLY Primer you can do mud work over is EPOXY..period!)
After the mud work is done, you can spot prime any bare metal with the etch primer, then follow that up with 3-4 coats of the 2K high build surfacer.
Guide coat, and block the surfacer as needed, and re-prime if necessary.
Finish sand with 400 - 600 wet, and ready for top coat. Some painters like to use a sealer prior to top coating, and some don't. If the surfacer wet sands out nice, and you have NO sand through, then there is no need for sealer.

So what about a couple coats of the etch primer followed by a couple coats of epoxy to mud over then a coat of 2K surfacer? Not looking forward to covering the car in etch primer and then sanding it off to do filler work.

The Napa stores around here are getting out of the paint business, but the SW stores are still here.

Originally posted by dennis68:
So what about a couple coats of the etch primer followed by a couple coats of epoxy to mud over then a coat of 2K surfacer? Not looking forward to covering the car in etch primer and then sanding it off to do filler work. That would be over kill....use one, or the other.
Sounds like you have a bit of mud work to do, so Epoxy would probably be the best way to go.

Overkill but OK right? The prevoius owner didn't do me any favors, lots of overworked metal that needs primer build to straighten out. Don't need "glass" finish but better than the 10' test would be nice. I'm going overkill on the rest of the car so an extra coat of primer or two won't upset me-just confirming that spraying epoxy over etch is OK(I know, let the etch flash for a week or so before spraying over it)?

I used the MS product (purchased from NAPA) on the last car I did. Your best bet is to etch the car with a "etch wash" (bare metal) then whole car in epoxy. Do the large dents, etc. with filler, then 2k over top for a clean finish.

YES spraying etch under epoxy is fine. Just make sure that the two products are compatible, not ALL etches and epoxies like each other, so make sure you read the tech sheets on those products.

For ex PPG's dx1791(etch) can be topcoated with epoxy. DPX170/171(etch) CAN NOT be topcoated with epoxy. So make sure the products can work together.

When I do filler over epoxy I spray 1 coat of etch followed by 2 coats of epoxy, its far from overkill.

READ the tech sheets on ANY product you plan to buy. Understanding them is the KEY. No etch primer I know has a flash time of a week before topoating. Most are after 24hrs you must scuff and or respray with etch. PPG is scuff and respray, dupont is scuff S-W is scuff. Allow your etch to flash about an 1hr before topcoating not a week.

If your paint supply store doesnt have tech sheets then you find a new store to deal with PERIOD...Eric

Heres the link

http://www.martinsenour-autopaint.com/refmaterials/refmaterials.html

Scroll down to PDS catalog and click on it, all the automotive paints come up, click on each BLUE number and you get the paint info along with whats compatible etc.