[INchief]

I have a 1955 Chieftain that was painted before I bought it (probably 15 years ago). There is paint peeling by the rear trunk lid and where the roof attaches. It looks like there is lead underneath since it isn't rusting. I'm getting the car painted and researching how to prep the areas like this so the paint will stick. I did a search of this forum and it sounds like epoxy primer is the answer. Is that the best way to go?

[400 4spd.]

Epoxy primer is the answer. At my shop we encounter lead on almost everything we restore. Because the lead sometimes has open air pockets/pin holes we don't use any chemical paint strippers or acids over it, machine sanding only. If we have concerns about the surface being clean or having a good "bite" for epoxy, we will sweep it lightly with a hand held sand blaster to make sure no contaminants are on it.
We also never use any filler directly over lead, as it will turn loose like your paint has. We always have a barrier coat of epoxy primer over lead, then filler over the sanded epoxy.
I've done it this way for decades and it hasn't failed me that I know of.

[INchief]

Originally Posted by 400 4spd.

Epoxy primer is the answer. At my shop we encounter lead on almost everything we restore. Because the lead sometimes has open air pockets/pin holes we don't use any chemical paint strippers or acids over it, machine sanding only. If we have concerns about the surface being clean or having a good "bite" for epoxy, we will sweep it lightly with a hand held sand blaster to make sure no contaminants are on it.
We also never use any filler directly over lead, as it will turn loose like your paint has. We always have a barrier coat of epoxy primer over lead, then filler over the sanded epoxy.
I've done it this way for decades and it hasn't failed me that I know of.

OK, thanks. Like you are saying in your reply, there are tiny bubbled-up areas all around where this is occurring. Thanks for the info. This should solve those issues.