I decided to give it a shot and restore the paint on my early 90's Mustang. I have included some pictures and wanted to ask for advice to make sure I am doing this right. I plan on sanding the bond areas with 80 grit and then fathering each area out with 150 grit and then 320 grit. Those areas will get primer. Then 600 grit out further for areas that will receive base coat.
As you can see, there are a bunch of small dents and dings I filled with Bondo. I have included pictures and a Diagram. The last picture is an area near the hood closer to the windshield. I sanded out a scratch with 600 grit. I sanded past the clear coat. I am planning on using 800 grit and just clear coating the large area towards the windshield. The scratch in that area that I sanded the clear coat off of with the 600 grit I am not sure what to do with? Can i add base coat and clear over it? I am just looking for advice to make sure what I am doing will work.
OK, first off. the body filler will need a coat of primer, and a good block sanding. The area that you are most concerned with, where you sanded through the clear, you may be able to just "fizz" a coat of base over it and be just fine. But, That being a 90's car, You may or may not run into trouble with the clear edge "lifting". I think you will be ok, but be prepared for the worst. You should be able to sand the entire car with 800, and spot the repairs, then clear the whole car.
But, for the life of me, I cannot figure out why anyone would want to clearcoat white. Bein's how you're planning to spray the entire car. And this being (I assume) your first time. I would simply prep and paint, using a good quality single stage urethane. And forget the clearcoat.
Thanks for responding. I am not painting the entire car, just certain areas. There was a lot of work on the hood so I am pointing the repairs and clear coating the hood near the windshield because the hood and car are clear coated. I will do what you say on the spot where I sanded through the clear.I am about to put primer over a small area where I used filler.I was going to lay 3 coats of primer and then sand/correct if necessary. Or should I lay one or 2 coats of primer first?
How much primer to put on your filler depends on the condition of the repair. For smaller areas where it's good and straight, I would give 2 coats. (enough to sand without going through). If it's a big repaired area that will require significant blocking, I would go with 3 or more. Sometimes, I'll just shoot a coat of epoxy sealer over the repair, and paint. If it's a small spot, and sanded slick.
I understand the spot painting scenerio, and that's fine. But be extremely careful to have everything clean, even your clothes need to be lint free. Every speck of contamination under the clear will show up against the white. A black hair, in any darker color, will virtually dissapear when sanded flat and buffed out. But that same black speck in your white hood will surely stand out.
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