I am going to start the body work on my 87 this weekend but not sure which primer to use and where to get it. I have heard that the duplicolor primer you get at kragens does not keep out water well. I dont plan on painting my car soon I just want to get it straight. There is a auto painting shop near me that probably has some stuff. I also dont have a spray gun so do they sell the good stuff in cans?

 

Rust-oleum is badass. I sprayed the floor of my '66 2 years ago with Rust-oleum auto primer and there isn't a spec of rust, and it's been sitting in an unfinished (just wooden walls) garage.

 

You could rent a gun

 

You don't need it...The rattlecan stuff is more than sufficient....Plus it's like $3.00 a can at Wal-Mart. You can't beat that with a stick.

 

you dont think the metal will rust under it?

 

Not if you sand it first and do a couple of coats. My floorpans are still as solid as the day they were stamped.

 

should I sand down, primer, bondo, and primer again with multiple coats?

 

I assume your painting the whole car. Yeah, I would go visit your local auto body and paint supply store. They'll be able to point you in the right direction. Primers and paints are a whole new world. There are primer surfacers, polyester high-build primers, epoxy primers, primer sealers. All serve a specific purpose. Sounds like your first crack at body work and painting. I hope you don't plan to paint the whole car with cans. Don't do it. Be patient and read the paint labels or P-sheet(tech sheet). Your auto supply store will have it.
If the original paint is still in good shape, you can wet sand the whole car with 400 and paint. If you have small areas to repair you can spot prime with Transtar 2 in 1 primer. I've had good results with this. If you're going to prime the whole car I would seal it. PPG makes an epoxy primer that when reduced with one of their DT reducers acts as a sealer. There are RTS(Ready To Spray) sealer available. Use degreaser often. PPG makes DX330. If the car is prepped and ready for color, I'll spray it for ya.

 

What are you doing, just patching holes? I should have asked. If you're doing the whole car, then don't rattlecan it. If you're patching spots, well that's a different story.

 

Use a good quality primer, not some rattle can crap primer that you buy for 98 cents at Walmart.