I'm thinking if you don't have an epoxy primer applied to the metal prior to applying the undercoating, you're liable to have a corrosion issue but I could very easily be wrong. Either way, I like the project. Keep us up to date please.

 

The undercoat on frame looks good the day you put it on but that's about it. I would strip outside panels to bare metal and sand as much as possible off the jams. Then epoxy every thing and work from there. good luck with project.

 

Thanks for the tips. I will keep everyone posted. I've assisted on projects like this before, but never solo. So sometimes it's a bit unnerving. Epoxy is within the next few weeks, or few months. No later than the middle of summer. I was asking the lacquer question because when I first got the car, I inquired on how much work and cost it would be for a repaint at a shop, and the guy told me the car had to be rid of every bit of lacquer.

 

That's why you want to strip outside of panels. The old paint on these old gm's will crack your new paint job[maybe]. I would strip it with a 8" mud hog or 6" da with 80 or 40 grit.Just keep it moving and don't stay in one spot too long or stand it on end. If you just sand really good in the jams you should get the paint thin enough to not be a issue.

 

That's why you want to strip outside of panels. The old paint on these old gm's will crack your new paint job[maybe]. I would strip it with a 8" mud hog or 6" da with 80 or 40 grit.Just keep it moving and don't stay in one spot too long or stand it on end. If you just sand really good in the jams you should get the paint thin enough to not be a issue.

I bought a 6" DA, with some 80 grit disks. I have some experience in getting lacquer off, but this project will be quite an experience for me.

The last car I helped on was with my dad's Camaro. It had some nasty black lacquer on it. We used a DA on it, but he got impatient and used a pressure washer that was hooked up to a boiler that blew the paint off in great big sheets. Oddly enough, it didn't warp the metal!

Thanks for the advice! I have a ton of pics on this project, but most are the boring "how this tube was bent" and "where that wire is connected" stuff.

 

Okay, I am full steam ahead on my project that has been otherwise sitting for too long. It's my 1979 Trans Am that is covered in canary yellow lacquer paint. It's faded after 32 years of life, and I don't like it anymore. So my first question is; do I have to remove every square inch of

This is the current state of affairs on the project:

And here's what the coating looks like on a section of the frame:

aftermarket parts

Should I keep it?

If you decide to finish it up post some pictures after, I would love to see the finished product.

 

You can use razor blades to remove the lacquer paint. It has to come off of there if you use urethane paint. The factory primer can stay, that is some tuff stuff. Urethane paint can cause what is called a lacquer reaction. It can cause the lacquer under the urethane to wrinkle up.

 

if your using the rattle can undercoating be sure to use "paintable" rubberized undercoating, it'll dry ,that other stuff wont...its a pretty good quick fix until it can be blasted and painted or powder coated..