[1Gary]

Ole Yellar is a 1989 custom Cargo conversion top SBC 383 Astro van.It's intended use is over the road towing van mainly and then a clean good looking toy as well.I have a second front sub frame that I stripped down to the bare frame and I said on another forum that I wanted to powder coat it.Everyone said not to do that because powder coating was so hard it would chip and was hard to repair once that happens. Opinions please.



This sub frame will be easily seen because it is going to get a 3" pipe lift for larger tires and to make working on the V8 easier.

[sunsetdart]

You will be better off by just putting on a good base of epoxy primer and then topcaot it in a chassis paint like one from Eastwood.
Since this is going to be a daily driver, save the money and just paint it.

[deadbodyman]

I kike epoxy primer and paint because I can do it all myself ....

[1Gary]

I want to paint it the same color as the body like a Case yellow and have a-frames and other components a contrasting color.If there is a weak link in Astro's steering it is surely the idler arms so a consideration for a R & P is being thought about.But I etching primer I don't know if that would work well with the paints used on like the Yellow Case backhoes.
This at 65 yrs old will likely be the last project in my life.So I want super clean but practical.

Thanks for the replies and please keep them coming.Paints and stuff I am not too knowledgeable about.

[sunsetdart]

Get the frame blasted then get an epoxy primer like Dupont . Your local body shop supply should carry it. Put 2 or 3 good coats on and your done. The primer will need to be sanded if you wait more than a day to topcoat with paint. You can shoot all the front end parts with the epoxy as well. Just make sure they are also down to bare metal and clean of grease.

[66GMC]

Up here in Canada, they sell a polyurethane 2K paint called Endura Ex-2C

It's available in about 40,000 different colors and has excellent resistance to abrasion. (i.e. gravel roads)

I painted my frame in about 3 different colors, and also plan to use it on the underside of the cab and the inside of the pickup box.


This stuff is hard as nails, but if it ever gets scratched, it CAN be touched up!

[1Gary]

Thanks for that link.I'm going to look into that.Nice looking frame parts.