Ok, I'm actually starting to prep the body for painting later this spring. Do I need to strip the body down to bare metal, then start all new? Or just take off the top layers and start from there. Thanks, Dan :3gears:
Strip it to bare metal and your probably gonna wish you never started. Anyways it all depends what you are looking to spend in time and money.I always strip to bare metal on the old Buicks because you never know what your going to find underneath the paint of cars around here. What are you equipped to handle is a question you should consider. Some people get into a project and sell before they finish it because it looks so hopeless. So all in all it's up to you. What you want and what you can handle. Good luck with it and I hope you stick with it to the end either way.
You might as well do it and get it over with. You'll thank yourself later as you sip an ice cold long neck admiring your new finish. Today's paint systems are designed to be used as a system. Old paints (lacquer, enamels, etc.) are not apart of that system. Every refinish procedure guide ALWAYS starts with a raw substrate(bare metal) and works its way up from there. You can seal the existing finish, but no guarantees on how long it'll last or if it won't lift(blister) immediately or die back after it dries(leaving obvious signs of body work). Grandma made bisquits from scratch, not adding to Pillsbury's recipe!
Well I got 1 fender stripped down @95% to bare metal. Only have the small spots left. I sanded it all off, but might look into some paint remover for the rest. It will take weeks just to get the paint off with the sander. Plus all the dust. But I am gaining :Brow: Dan :3gears: