2 weeks ago I did an exhaust job for a customers rx-7, well the SoB left his resonators behind for me to dispose of at my expense. Well as fate has it one of thre resonators is made of 3 thin layers of stainless steel. Which is actually quite perfect as I need to repair the door skin that has seperated/rusted on my buick. The problem now lies in getting the paint to stick to the stainless steel. The replacement OEM for the rx-7 had painted the resonator and it was already starting to peel off the metal. I'm guessing the same thing will happen if I try to shoot automotive paint on it to. So does anybody make a primer that will stick to stainless, or do I have to get some of that toxic stuff that turns the metal yellow and makes it paintable (assuming my lungs don't shut down first). Thx in advance
Yes you can paint SS. Sorry, but I don't know if you need a different primer, and my guess would be no special primer. :bglasses:
I do not think you can use the stainless for your problem. Stainless requires different welding wire than steel and you will probably have a corrosion/welding problem with the two different metals. You best bet is to get an old trunk lid or hood and use air shears or a nibbler to cut out and fabricate your repair panel.
Ditto what George said. Welding the dissimilar metals is possible and you could paint it, we do at the shop I work in regularly. But the two metals will have a very high tendency to crack along the weld. Follow George's advice and try to use some mild steel from a fender or something, you could even get a piece of body metal from the local auto paint store. That's what I did just recently. Sal
Well Considering most of the need repairs are on the inner part of the door I don't mind so much being unable to paint them. But I don't quite get why the welds would be more inclined to crack? Afterall your essentially fusing the 2 metals together and at those temps, you'd have one sold piece of metal. Granted that weld is now composed of 2 different metals, steel & nickel (stainless), but they shouldn't "react" and try to seperate. If it matters, I'm just using a standard MIG but with FLUX wire, instead of copper and a tank of nitro. As for the few holes in the door skin, is there any reason why I can't weld some of the stainless to the inside of the door (ignoring the possible cracking issues) and lay fiberglass or bondo on the outside? I'm on a very tight budget right now and the $30 for mild steel (or sheet metal) will break the bank. About the only pile of scrap metal I do have is galvanized aluminum, the stainless steel and an 87 honda accord :laugh:
well what do you know.... sheet metal came on sale today, so I caved in and bougth some. Thx everyone for the info though!
