Feeling a bit overwhelmed. Where do I go from here?

[Mach Par]

I have my Lemans stripped down to bare metal but I haven't a clue where to start after that. I've bought my filler and primer as well as all the other materials but I have to deal with some rust issues. The car was originally a vinyl top car and has some pitting where the moldings used to be. After removing the rust from the pitting do I use the filler on it first or do I primer it first?

What about the rusted parts of the panels, can I just prime over them until I'm ready to tackle them down the road? Should I prime the entire car at once or can I do one section at a time? Feeling that I'm wasting my time just staring at the car not doing anything.

I can post pictures if we need to see what I'm dealing with.

[THE TECH]

Filler first. Primer is the last item before paint.

You cannot prime over rust unless you want the rust coming through down the road. Get rid of the rust and use a good product like POR15.

Is the car inside or outside?

[Mach Par]

Filler first. Primer is the last item before paint.

You cannot prime over rust unless you want the rust coming through down the road. Get rid of the rust and use a good product like POR15.

Is the car inside or outside?

Inside.

[THE TECH]

If the car is inside, then you can prime at anytime without the worry of exterior conditions making it a waste of time. You can prime in sections if you want but I would just do it all at the same time. Are you planning on doing all the body work yourself? Paint too??

[Mach Par]

If the car is inside, then you can prime at anytime without the worry of exterior conditions making it a waste of time. You can prime in sections if you want but I would just do it all at the same time. Are you planning on doing all the body work yourself? Paint too??

Going to do the smaller pieces of the body work and try to farm the rest out.

[THE TECH]

Going to do the smaller pieces of the body work and try to farm the rest out.

If you've never done body work, then you might end up costing yourself more money in the end than just having a good place take care of things.

[Mach Par]

If you've never done body work, then you might end up costing yourself more money in the end than just having a good place take care of things.

That's why I thought I would do the small stuff first. :) I'm decent with a welder and have a good imagination.

[THE TECH]

Give it a shot. Prep is everything, so if you end up doing things yourself, take your time and make sure it's done well. The best paint job in the world can't hide bad body work.

[Denvervet]

I would suggest priming it all...except the rust to be cut out.....with epoxy primer. Then apply filler over that primer. Cut out and weld your patch panels and epoxy prime after all those areas.

[dhutton]

I don't think filler should be applied over rust of any kind even if it is minor pitting and blasted first. Filler absorbs moisture and will accelerate the rusting process. Seal it with epoxy primer before applying filler. Then seal that filler with another coat of epoxy.

[mopar_freak]

Id go with Denvervet and dhutton's ideas. A friend who does body work told me the same thing when I was doing my fenders, I bare metaled 1 then got out the hammer and dolly then applied filler...got it looking all g and he told me bare metal it again and shoot it with epoxy primer to seal the metal first, then filler, then prime again. Just my .02

[72chevellephil]

Get rid of the rust and use a good product like POR15.

por15 sucks and is not that great.a better product would be rustmore or the kleen strip product you get at home depot with phosphoric acid in it i think its green in color,spray with spray bottle scrub with red scotch brite rinse with water and baking soda and prime right away.id suggest you do one panel at a time you may get burnt out jumping around panel to panel,i know i do body work as a side job.phil

[Jim Nilsen]

Get rid of the rust and use a good product like POR15.

por15 sucks and is not that great.a better product would be rustmore or the kleen strip product you get at home depot with phosphoric acid in it i think its green in color,spray with spray bottle scrub with red scotch brite rinse with water and baking soda and prime right away.id suggest you do one panel at a time you may get burnt out jumping around panel to panel,i know i do body work as a side job.phil

POR 15 doesn't suck, only inproperly preped POR 15 sucks. Done right POR is very good to keep the rust sealed. However POR is tough to get paint to stay unless you do it right. There are several other products out now that are way better for your roof and much less work and way more compatible with the choices of paint you may use. Do it all as a whole system and not just a patch and learn as you go. POR is excellent for frame and suspension parts that need the most durable finish it can get and the cost is less than having others do your work, like having things powder coated.

You have to absolutely make sure that the rust is altered if possible and then sealed no matter where it is or time will send you a little bubble to remind you where you slacked off.

Don't fear it all, paint doesn't care how it gets there as much as it cares about infectious, oxidized,contaminated, filmy,gritty, dusty, scratchy, oily, surfaces to try to adhere to. Do good prep and you will be good to go and if you do it yourself you can take the time to do it right instead of paying someone on the clock to try to give you all you can barely afford.

Have fun and may paint jail only be a year or two.

Remember to bring bail money if you want to get out of paint jail !

[nekkidhillbilly]

I would suggest priming it all...except the rust to be cut out.....with epoxy primer. Then apply filler over that primer. Cut out and weld your patch panels and epoxy prime after all those areas.

im with him

[Procharmo]

You sound dejected. Have a good look and read of some of the build projects at the rusty rotten stages. It'll give you some inspiration. Get some power tools and remove and cut out as much rust as you can. When you can't go any further get someone over to assist with welding as you continue the project. That's what I plan to do....I may even learn to weld.....But that's just a pipe dream!!!