Advice on sanding down the car and priming...

[68converted]

I was going to tackle sanding down the car this week, so that I can get in one color... Primer... no money for paint right now but I should have the car running by the 15-20th-ish, and I want it to look less like a Calico/multi-color mess. How long do you think it would take to sand an entire exterior of a convertible?

One last thing, should I sand down the NEW original tooling fenders and start with at new base primer coat?

Thanks for the advise

 

[zookeeper]

If I could offer one piece of advice it would be to use a very good quality epoxy primer. Epoxy is water-resistant, so it'll hold up to a weather, whereas plain old lacquer primer will allow the car to rust under the primer. As far as how long it'll take, how fast can you work? Seriously it all depends on your equipment (air sander or strong arms?) and your ability.

 

[jikelly]

Well, I'll tell you it takes a while to sand down a whole car depending on what tools you've got.

That aircraft paint stripper stuff works real well and removes the paint in about an hour, but it's caustic as heck and messy.

If you use sand paper buy the good stuff because you will just use the cheap stuff up faster without removing much material.

I stripped my car over the course of a month, but I could let it sit in the garage somewhat safe from the elements. I used 60 grit sandpaper on a electric drill to do it.

 

[bbarber275]

How much putty does the car have?If you do not have much putty then sanding down with a air disc sander would only take a could hours.I would air sand it,then when down sand it down by hand with a 400 or 600 grit paper, then, you can run your hand over it and feel all the bumps.Another thing to use are scotch brite pads, just to rough up paint.I painted the black on my old 83 gt hood and just used black primer and clearccoated it, it looked better then paint.It was almost too shiney on the car.

 

[68converted]

Well I started last night. I got a quarter panel and part of a door finished. Do I have to spray it down as I go? That seems like it would be a PITA if I do... I figure I can have the entire car sanded down by Friday night, and then spray it on Saturday.

It has been 100 degrees and dry here (Colorado) so it should not get any flash rust. I hae a gallon of Omni Primer (Epoxy). Is there anywhere to find the red oxide primer? That stuff seems like it held up pretty well over the last 40 years. I am sure the new stuff is better, but sometimes the old stuff simply rocks!


Anyone have an opinion on the electro plated paint on the new fenders... remove or just lightly sand an prime over it????