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Thu Apr 10, 2003 1:00 pm

I have a '65 Notchback that I've owned for about 12 years. This car spent most of it's life in Roswell New Mexico and the original paint is getting real thin. There are a number of spots where the paint is so thin the primer is showing through and other spots where surface rust is starting due to the thin paint. I have much work to do on this car and new paint is at the end of the line (probably another 10 years before I get to that). I am currently working on rust that is starting in some of the non-visible areas using POR15 but I need to do something to stop the surface rust on the visible areas (ridge on the hood, entire roof, some body seams). The car is white and much of the original paint is still good. I don't want to cover these bad spots with primer and end up with the patchwork primer look. I'm thinking of spraying clear over the thin spots to stop the surface rust but wanted to get some feedback. Any advise?

Thu Apr 10, 2003 1:39 pm

Dont shoot clear over the surface rust. If you do your just locking the rust in to do its work.
If it has no place to go but thru the metal that is where it will go.

Thu Apr 10, 2003 1:41 pm

Primer does not stop rust. Lots of people think just putting primer on the metal is going to stop the rust. water will soak through the rust and the rust will grow unseen under the primer. And if you paint over the primer the rust will continue to grow and eventualy bubble up your paint. Id say if you car is already showing surface rust, theres probably rust under other places. It toataly sucks I know...but I just got done spending alot of money on body work because the previous owner of my bus thought that putting primer on bare metal stoped rust. After the bus was stripped there were several spots of rust that were growing under the primer coat. If you want your car done right you will spend the time and or cash to repair the body correctly.

Thu Apr 10, 2003 1:42 pm

(correction)water will soak through the primer I mean

Thu Apr 10, 2003 5:48 pm

eliminate the rust. then you can spray a poly sealer over it. this will provide better protection against rust. I'm pretty sure you can pick some up from an auto paint supply store. I think you can pick it up in the aresol can <rattle can> I know you can get etching primer and standard primer. I used SEM and had no problems until I was ready to paint.
hope this helps

Sat Apr 12, 2003 7:55 am

i saw a car like this at a goodguys rod show. i think it was a 50s cadillac. it was original paint and was surface rusted in spots. the surface rust was very light. it looked as if the owners buffed off the surface rust and prepped the rest of the car and then cleared the whole thing. it looked pretty good although im not a fan of clear coats. the point is if the rust is light i bet you could wet sand or buff it off with an agressive polishing compound and then clear it.