Feb 2005
//////// NOS Fender - what do I do////
1) Remove ALL the old primer. It's laquer-based, and "sometimes" may be a problem with compatability with new solvents. Better safe than sorry.
2) Paint the entire inner fender area with POR-15 or a similar coating.
    **When I use POR-15, and am going to PAINT the underside of the fender, I recoat the POR-15 with an EPOXY primer within 24 hours. Otherwise, you will need to scuff/sand the POR-15 to get good adhesion of the topcoats.
         .....After it is THOROUGHLY dry (a week).....
3)Fill/seal the seam areas with 3M SUPERFAST URETHANE WINDSHIELD SEALER. This stuff will not chip, peel, or crack. It stays pliable with changing heat and metal expansion.and the finish "looks nice"
4) If you want it to look "original" under there- you can use 3M BODY SCHUTZ undercoating to build up the undercoating to look original. This stuff is pretty expensive.... ~$15/quart, and you will need 6 quarts to adequately do the underside of the body

Visible areas of the fender:
1) Sandblast or otherwise strip the old primer.
2) Treat with a metal-etching solution OR use a Self-Etching primer
3) Spray the fender with an EPOXY primer
4) Do whatever bodywork needs done- final-finishing the body-filler with 320 grit sandpaper
5) respray any bodywork with epoxy primer to seal it
6) spray 3-wet coats of high-build URETHANE primer/surfacer, spray "guide coat", let dry, blocksand (dry) with 80 or 100 grit sandpaper, repair any imperfections, seal the repaired areas with EPOXY primer,
7) Spray 3-more wet coats of High-Build, guide coat, let dry, blocksand (dry) with 180-240 sandpaper, repair any imperfections, seal the repaired areas with EPOXY primer,
8) Spray 3-wet coats of High-build urethane primer, guide coat, let dry, blocksand (dry) with 320 grit sandpaper, lightly guide-coat again noting any problem areas, WATERSAND with 400-600 grit sandpaper.
    **IF you happen to find any problem areas that now need repaired with body fillers, do so, then seal with epoxy primer, and respray that area with high-build primer. No need to do the entire fender
    **400 grit for Basecoat-Clearcoat
    **600 grit for single-stage Urethane, or enamel w/hardener
9) WASH THOROUGHLY WITH HOT SOAPY WATER- paying particular attention to seams and other areas where dirt/dust and sanding residue will collect.
10) Wipe the surface down with a pre-paint cleaner- use LOTS of lint-free towels, 1-towel per panel (wet) for oil/fingerprint removal, 1 towel per panel to dry the area with
11) Tack the surface with a tack-cloth
12)Use an epoxy sealer before starting finish-coats
    **A wet coat of epoxy sealer should show you any imperfections you may have missed. If you can't live with them, now is the time to STOP, wait for the sealer to dry, and repair the imperfection


Ray

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