ultrA_Cowboy

Hello,
I have an 80 vette w/ a shot paint job. I am sanding it down to the gelcoat with 150/220 grit paper.

Once I am at the gelcoat, is there a rattle can primer that I can use to primer the car or do I need to let it sit at gelcoat level and have it primed when painted?

My problem is that a paint job could be a year or so away.

Thanks..

speedracer27

Be very careful, if you get any contaminents such as water or anything into the fiberglass you will get bubbles in the paint after it sits in the sun for a while. A good paint job is everything. why not wait until you are closer to painting to strip it?

ultrA_Cowboy

I work for the local school district and I have summers off.
So I have the time to do it now I just dont want it sitting too long w/out primer. It's garaged.

I called the local auto paint store and the told me to use an epoxy primer. The only problem is that I dunno have an air compressor or painting set up.

I might be able to purchase a reusable 8oz co2 powered spray can that you can mix your own paint and spray it on to your car.

jcswm

I've stripped mine with razor blades, it went pretty quick and didn't harm the gel coat!!!
You'll need to get some epoxy primer on it pretty quick if you've got exposed fiberglass!!!
you can rent a compressor pretty cheap for a weekend

ultrA_Cowboy

Is it pretty easy to paint w/ a compressor?

If I had to I could go a buy a little compressor. What size would i need?

I am trying to leave the primer that is under the paint on but I have gelcoat spots showing through.

Do I have to do anything to the gelcoat before I apply primer?

jcswm

I've got a 30 Gal compressor that just barely keeps up when I'm shooting the entire car, a smaller one will work but you'll wind-up waiting on it.
when your ready to shoot ANYTHING on your car, wipe it down with Prepsolve first. it pulls moisture, hand oil and everything elese off the surface to be painted.
If you don't go through the gel coat get a good 2K sandable primer on it to fill in all the little imperfections
Good luck!

ultrA_Cowboy

here are a few pictures.

http://home.comcast.net/~aldenclark/vette_strip1.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~aldenclark/vette_strip2.JPG

What do you think I should do from here,I still have to sand the rest of the car but this is what it looks like. I can see the gelcoat in spots. I try not to sand downto it at the moment but it pops up from time to time.

By the way I am using a little black and decker 1/4 sheet vibrating sander.

lbell101

Definately use the wax and grease remover before you do anything.
Strip it by whatever method you would like.. sanding, razor blade....
No matter what, it's not a fun job.
You'll have a hard time getting down to gelcoat since there isn't any on your car. It's just bare fiberglass and then primer. Just like any other Vette ever built. I've had several people call me in a panic because they went through the gelcoat and can see the fibers. So don't panic it's easy to go through because it's not there. (I should clarify that if it was repainted before, the shop could have used some gelcoat).
The local paint shop is correct. Once it is down to bare glass you should seal it ASAP (if it was gelcoat, you wouldn't have too). Epoxy primer is a good choice. If you can find an epoxy in a spray can, don't use it. Borrow or rent a compressor and a cheapie spray gun to spray it. Then you can let it sit but it will need to be scuffed before you continue your work.

Good Luck!

ultrA_Cowboy

Under the primer is a nice white/gray fiberglass. I didnt know If I should sand all the way down to it or what. So it sound like its the way to go.

Is anyone familiar with the little spray cans you can buy at the auto paint places that run off co2 and you add your own paint/primer?

I would be great to do a panel at a time.

lbell101

Yes, they are called Preval kits and they will work for what you are doing. You'll need a bunch of them. You can buy just the propellant too.

Larry

ultrA_Cowboy

How many coats of the primer should be applied?

The more the better?

lbell101

You just want to put enough on to seal and protect the fiberglass. Excessive build is always bad. So a coat or two should work. You'll be able to tell when you do it. If you can see through it, put a little more on.
It will difficult to control the consistancy with the Prevals but it won't matter because you'll be putting build primer over it later.

Larry

jcswm

The Epoxy primer is VERY thin & runs like water.... it took 3-4 VERY THIN coats before I couldn't see through it.

motown 71

Priming is very simple. If you have a garage you can prime yourself.
Local paint store will help you with your primer requirements, just tell 'em what your up to.
Your should be using a primer surfacer that should be wet sanded to ensure your color coat is smooth. several thin coats are better than a thicker coat, but spray enough to sand it.
Just be sure the car is CLEAN before you start.