Dave,
I am just completing repainting my whole spit. I did all the work myself. This
is the third car that I have painted. Your answers depend on what you want when
done. I would be surprised if you don't wind up bondoing more than two spots.
You should at least sand down to the first or original layer of paint. If the
bottom layer of paint isn't original then I suggest sanding down as far as
possible. You didn't say if you would be removing all parts and painting each
piece separately, that is what I do. To get started easily you should first
tackle one of the two previously bondoed areas. I suggest using a 80 or 40 grit
with a bondo hog or DA sander and taking out the bondo on the nose. Go to bare
metal as much as you can and take the paint off at least 5 inches further than
their bondo went. Bondo in the gallon is cheap, buy a gallon. I suggest going
to your local auto paint store, they will tell you what brand to go with. Make
sure it is a two part or catalyzed bondo. Go to your bookstore and read up on
body and paint - don't put the bondo on too deep, hammer out the metal if it is
too deep. Also buy a 1/3 sheet sanding block, 1/2 sheet soft sanding block, 180
grit dry paper, extra long sanding block and some stick on 120 grit paper,
cheap black spray paint for blocking/guide coat. Put on the bondo, DA sand it
to shape, put on more bondo, spray a guide coat, go at it with your extra long
block and 120 grit, or 80/40 grit with an air flat sander or your extra long
board. When you think you might have it close then mask off the area and shoot
a primer surfacer on the nose, guide coat, then go at it with the 180 grit.
Likely repeat the steps. That will get you about 20 working hours into the job.
Once you get that far you will have an idea of the rest of the job.
Rob
-----Original Message-----
From: spitfires-owner@autox.team.net
[mailto:spitfires-owner@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of David Mayer
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 2:37 PM
To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Body work suggestions?
Hello all,
Well, after searching around for a paint shop that will spray the Spit for
the amount of money i want and being shot down time after time, I have
decided to do more of the body prep work myself than i had originally wanted
to do.
That being said, i was wondering if i could get some lister knowledge on
different body prep techniques.
- Body filler: I only have a couple places that need bondo to smooth them
out (rear end of the rocker panels where the guys welded them in). I also
found out that the DPO decided to fill in the whole front end of the hood
where the letters T-R-I-U-M-P-H are because it had been smashed in, Should i
attempt to undo that? or is undoing body filller a no no? Any name brands
that I should stick to or stay away from?
- Sanding: 180-grit ok for the whole car before priming? Or should i go
finer than that? I am not planning on taking the whole car down to bare
metal
- Priming: Spray it myself? Or leave that to the painter? Again...Brand
names to use or not use? I figure i will at least try my hand at it in some
un-noticable spots (trunk, underside of bonnet). Than sanding the primer?
how fine should i go for before paint?
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