newb painter have questions

[ryaneddy16]

Hey guys I was just recently in a accident with my 83 fj60 and i have to replace the whole front clip. the truck was originally a sky blue but the PO repainted it a white (which white i don't know). It looks like a one stage paint cuz I dont see any primer. Looks like they just scuffed the old paint and shot over it. It was a great paint job and was beautiful but after numerous trail scratches and rust in the rain gutters AND NOW A FENDER BENDER Im going to have to paint. I cant find what color this white is. I kinda want to repaint it the factory color but what would be the easiest way that will come out the best? I want it to look like a factory paint job. Can I get away with just scuffing the surface and spray or should I lay primer down?

 

[ryaneddy16]

no one has any info?

 

[carlosfj80]

no one has any info?

Give it a bit, knowledgeable folks will chime in! I think primer is vital to a good and lasting paint job.

 

[Leaping Deer]

It looks like a one stage paint cuz I dont see any primer. Looks like they just scuffed the old paint and shot over it. It was a great paint job and was beautiful but after numerous trail scratches and rust in the rain gutters AND NOW A FENDER BENDER Im going to have to paint. I cant find what color this white is. I kinda want to repaint it the factory color but what would be the easiest way that will come out the best? I want it to look like a factory paint job. Can I get away with just scuffing the surface and spray or should I lay primer down?

I'm a noob painter too. Two stage doens't mean primer and paint. A two stage paint requires a base (color) coat and a clear coat to protect the paint. A single stage doesn't require a clear coat.

Its common pratice to scuff old paint with out priming assuming the underlying paint is okay. If you have rust you will want to repair the rust and any bare metal should get an etching primer and a sealer before laying down new paint. Don't expect to get factory looking results with your first paint job. Not that it can't happen but there are a lot of mistakes that can be made. The better your prep the better you paint job will come out.

There is a lot of other info on the web. Do a search and you will find a lot of good info.

 

[ryaneddy16]

I think i want to go single stage. My goal is not to have runs in the paint. There is a couple of surface rust spots that I will address. I will definitely use etching primer and sealer. Do you lay it down in that order or dose it matter?

 

[FJsnoozer]

There are tons of ways to do it.

Reading the hotrod forum will help.

I am going epoxy primer, filler skim coat, block sand, epoxy, hi build, block sand, epoxy sealer coat, single stage paint.

There are many ways to do this. If your body is straight enough you can do less. Are you going to bare metal?

 

[ryaneddy16]

I would like to just sand it down to original color, but there are some surface rust spots that I will address so those will go down to metal. Now can I just shoot those areas or do I have to completely cover the whole truck so you wouldn't see the spots after the final paint?

 

[FJsnoozer]

You want to do a sealer coat so it is uniform. This can be done with reduced epoxy primer, or a sealer coat of some other type.
You will see the spots in full sun!

 

[ryaneddy16]

Okay gotcha! Forgive me if im asking obvious questions just want to do this right the first time around. For sanding, what grit should i get to sand the old paint off and which to prep the truck for sealer and then finish paint?