I don't have a ton of money to play with for a new paint job, but I've got skills and patience, so I'm thinking I might, one panel at a time, take my car to bare metal, fill and sand, then prime it. I will probably paint it black or something dark in the end, so I'll go with flat black primer. BUT, will this surive rain, heat, and cold? for how long? Will it wick water to the steel and cause rust, or will it deteriorate so it has to be reprimed again anyways before it can be painted? What kind of primer can I use? (think driveway&spraycan budget).

Also, I've use bondo elsewhere on my car, and I'm happy with the repair, but everyone says never to use it... why? is there some reason I should avoid it?

Thanks!

Cam

Unless you use an epoxy primer you will have rust showing in a couple of months. Been there done that. Now I'm back to bare metal and starting over.

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Elcaminos are special!

I'd rather walk around with a Chevrolet hubcap in my hand than drive a Ford


work in progress
Big James Elky(AKA Ol Paint) (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Big%20James4XL-Ol%20Paint1.jpg)
another shot of Ol Paint (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Big%20James4XL-Ol%20Paint2.jpg)

Don't suppose epoxy primer's all that easy/feasible to put on in a driveway either huh?

What about a good epoxy primer or some of that red stuff that promises to not rust for 10 years, and then my high solids stuff... would that work?

Cam. I have been reading these posts for almost 2 years now and have read many times that all primers do absorb moisture. You might consider using a party tent to keep the worst rain away, but remember the air always will be humid.
In this respect bondo is even worse. Cover it as soon as you can.
Be sure to let the primer damp out before putting the final paint on, or you will end up with bubbles as a result of the water trapped underneath.

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www.si.hhs.nl/~rob (http://www.si.hhs.nl/~rob)

Ok, no primer it is then http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif I had thought as much before, but I see guys talking about just primering the car for a while, so I figured I'd ask. Any thoughts on a one panel at a time paint job? seriously? It'd be spraycan, gloss black or something, or might I be better to just fix the rust and not worry about the mismatched colors until I can find the cash for a full meal deal?

80Classic,

I have the same idea as you--a little bit at a time. The sense that I have from reading the numerous posts is that epoxy primer is pretty impervious to rusting from moisture. The problem I would have is how to apply it. I'd brush it on if that were an option.

my $0.02

Did you know you can buy a product called "pre-val".
This is a self contained spray bomb you put the paint of your choice into. You can buy them at Home Depot for about 3.00.
hope this helps?
T.C.

Remember one thing my friend, anything that you put on that body will impact the final paint job. If you use spray bombs, get that junk off of the car before the real prime and paint. As for bondo, filler is a need but not a replacement for good metal/panel work. Make sure that you have a mig (HTP 140 recommended). Bondo and its brethen are sponges. Use sparingly.

Also, might suggest saving your pennies and finding a body man who will "side job" your project. Driveway restorations are not the best way to go.

Got a '68 coupe basket case in the garage right now. It has been painted with what looks like Rustoleum by the previous owner, but I'm not gonna mess with it until everything else is done. I gotta fight the urge to strip her down to bare metal before it's time to do the real paint job. That's the last thing I'm gonna do. You might wanna wait until you got every thing else done before you start stripping and stuff. Or wait till you got enough $ saved up to do it right all at once the first time.