I have recently picked up a '79 Malibu Station Wagon that I want to make a traditional style rod out of. I am planning on Blitz Black, painted red factory wheels, ground wide white walls, Mexican blanket seat covers etc.

I am pretty new at body work and I need some suggestions on the procedure that I should use. I have most of the needed body tools. The body has only a small amount of surface rust and mainly some door dings and a couple of minor dents. I want to practice my body work and painting skills on this car because it really isn't worth a whole lot of money!

The paint is cracking mainly on the hood and upper body so I am assuming it will have to be stripped or sanded down to bare metal there and where I have to work on the dents but hopefully not the whole car.

I am wondering what grit I should use (and when in the procedure), what primer to use (hopefully I can get by without epoxy primer that would cost more than the BB), and just the basic procedure you guys would use. I know there are many different ways to do it but I value your opinions and I want to get as many ideas as I can before I start. I want to lay out a step by step procedure.

Again, this project is low budget and a learning experience! I want to get it as straight as I can for practice.

Thanks in advance for your ideas,
Rick

OK, I see lots of lookers but no replies. I will break it down to a smaller request.

First of all, I want to do this right and I will spend what I have to so it looks good and lasts. I just don't want to put a lot of money in expensive products on a car that is not that valuable - that is the reason for the Blitz Black (and it looks awesome!).

Should I sand it all down to bare metal? Should I sand it down to bare metal only where I need body work? Can I get by sanding (not down to bare metal) the rest of the car with ??? grit paper and prime?

I would like to use the John Deere primer unless you think it is a total waste of time and money.

Thanks,
Rick

Ricky, you do NOT want to sand it to bare metal. That is a HUGE job and seriously overwhelming if you were doing a full on restoration let alone a "john deere black hot rod".

The top surfaces, yeah it may need to be stripped. Do so with 120 on an orbital sander or if you have some experiance with 80 first, then the 120. Urethane prime the area. There is no need to prime the whole car. If it is covered with primer spots, just seal it and lay on your black.

Get yourself some polyster putty to fix the dings. Sand the original paint down a little with 180 in and around the ding where the putty will go. Block the putty down and prime the spots with a urethane primer. Sand the whole car good with 320 and Blitz black it.

Brian

Thanks Brian,

That is exactly the guidance I was looking for. Is the JD BB primer a urethane or should I use something else?

Thanks,
Rick

I am not sure but I would bet a donut and a cup of coffee that it is synthetic enamal, the bottom of the barrel in technology and sixty or seventy years old. But for that matter, isn't the "Blitz black" the same thing?

Find out for sure, like I said, I am not certain.

Brian

Blitz Black is definitely synthetic enamel it says it right on the can.