[penguin]

I am stripping my 68 gto down to metal on my frame up restore project. My question is what is the best primer to use prior to body work. I have small dents and minor body issues to repair but before I begin body work I dont want the metal to begin rusting. I plan on using PPG products for base primer paint and clear. Any advise would be apprieciated. Thanks.

[crider]

I think ppg dp-40 is about the best out there IMO

[RASK]

Ditto on dp 40

[az67goat]

I used dp-40, actually it has a longer name now is it dpnl40? No lead or some thing. It is an epoxy primer. Some people will swear that an etching primer is better. It will work fine too. I don't know what PPGs etching primer is called. You cannot spray etching primer over anything but metal. I did some filling first, before primering, so I prefered the epoxy.
I have also heard that it is best not to fill on metal. I used metal to metal(same as all metal) which is a filler that can me used on bare metal because it is water proof.
When you start filling, primering, and sanding, you will need a primer surfacer, not dp40.

[carcrazy]

I use PPG's DP and have been very happy with the results.

[400 4spd.]

DP for me, too.
FWIW, the etching primer offers no moisture resistance, so if you use it, you still need an epoxy over it.

[penguin]

Got it guys, etching primer over metal, dp-40 over etching primer then body work only after dp40. Thanks.

[JDHolmes]

Epoxy primer after sanding off original finish. Body work, filler, then 2k primer. You can use the epoxy primer reduced as a primer sealer also. Epoxy is especially good if you use any type of rust converter and you cannot use rust converter under any type of etch primer.

[penguin]

I,m down to bare metal. Are you saying epoxy primer over bare metal, etching primer is not needed. I know that etching primer is to be used only over bare metal and not over anything else. So the etching primer step is not needed, just epoxy prime over the bare metal then begin bodywork.

[400 4spd.]

Penguin, if you use any type of metal treatment (acid) DO NOT use etching primer. Just epoxy, followed by a 2K later. If you are NOT treating the metal, you can spray a coat of etching primer, followed by epoxy.
When using PPG etching primer, I reduce it by 10% so that it will lay down slick. Otherwise it will have a fuzzy texture. After the etching dries for about a half an hour, I lightly scotchbrite over that, tack it, and apply epoxy.

[penguin]

Got it, Thank you.

[brianberes]

Hey guys,
It's been taking me awhile (@ 1.5 years) getting all my 70 GTO down to bare metal and then spraying each bare metal panel with epoxy primer and taking each panel or area and applying bondo to the visible low spots and also fixing the areas that were rusted. So now I'm about to the point where I believe I need to spray the filler primer to the body to start board sanding. Do I need to do anything to the older epoxy primered areas and the bondoed areas before I spray the filler primer to start the board sanding step??? I've heard that I have to reapply a fresh coat of epoxy primer to the whole car since alot of the areas of the car was sprayed on the body way back awhile ago like maybe 1 year ago. Also what is this 2K primer step? Is this another primer that you apply before painting? One last thing, I've heard that I should use a white tinted primer as the last primer before painting the car with Orbit Orange. I heard the reason for the white primer is that it will make the Orbit Orange color pop and be bright??? Any truth to that?
Thanks in advance guys. I'm learning this stuff as I go.
Brian

[tom bryner]

dp40lf, your right the lf means lead free. it also comes it other colors, 50 for grey, 90 for black and red and one other color I think. great stuff.