Questionhi my name is Ryan im 20 years old and from Australia. Over the past few years i have acquired 4 of the same model cars of the same shape, so i have an abundance of parts and panels in varying conditions. Build dates range between 77 and 79 and living on the coast theres a fair bit of rust. I have decided i don't have the skills or equipment to weld panels however i want to do most of the prep work myself. I also have no space in which i could spray a car although i cold borrow a compressor gun etc. Which brings me to my question how to treat the paint that is in ok condition and removing small dents in the doors. i should also mention that im changing the colour of the car.
AnswerI would do all the body work myself...by hand, then take it to a paint shop...I use to mask it off myself for two reasons: 1.) Because I would do it right (no overspay on anything), and 2.) To save money.
If you have rust holes...in lieu of welding them shut, indent the holes around the edge with a hammer so you can fill the area with fiberglass. Fiberglass isn't made for molding and shaping...just fill the areas with it, but not over the flush point, as you'll fill in any remaining depressions with bondo, sand, then fill the deep scratches in the bondo with top coat (a two part paste like product that mixes and goes on like bondo, but sands off easily so you don't disturb the contouring you achieved with the sanding of the bondo), prime, wet sand the primer, mask.
As for existing paint...same thing as primer, just wet sand the gloss out of the paint so the new paint will stick to it.
