Primer or Wait for Paint?

[h76]

How many people here did have or do have a charger they drive/drove with body in just primer? Is it all that bad to have a good driving charger and drive it for a while with it just in primer?I'm thinking black primer wouldn't look all that bad?A good paint job is expensive?Any thoughts?

[terrible one]

Many people go that route. I think primer looks bad-ass in most cases. But are you talking about driving it in the primer and then painting it over it? That's where I think you might run into some trouble because the primer does wear pretty easily in the elements.

[h76]

No-I was just asking because I've noticed a few cars(different makes) being driven around my area that are in black,gray,etc.primer.Could be a flat paint they are using?

[terrible one]

Most likely it's just rattle can primer. I've seen them around too, and I sure wouldn't have any problem going that route. I was going to paint my Charger in flat black spray-paint primer until I decided to paint it with red Rustoleum!

[bull]

Primer offers very minimal/temporary protection against sun, rain, etc. If you need to wait I would paint it flat black rather than drive around in primer.

[squeakfinder]

Just as long as it seals. As far as automotive primers, I think most absorb moisture. Unless it is called primer sealer, then you probably have to add a catalyst. Its my understanding that most of your rattle can paints do seal, but they don't hold up to the elements real well, plus, when you finally get around to putting a real automotive finish on you'll probably want to remove all that oil based paint you spray bombed onto your car.

[The70RT]

Eastwood has a paint that is a semi gloss and is used for that primer rat rod look. If all your body work is done and is almost ready for paint I wouldnt want the elements messing the work that is already done.

[Charger1973]

Mines rattle can primered, but I didnt sand the original paint off, I just scuffed it up a little so the primer would stick.  I didnt want to drive it with 10 different colored body panels.     The body of my car was gold, drivers door was green, rear valance was yellow with brown under it, passenger fender was white, hood was purple with yellow under it, front valance was green...   


The hood was primered 3 months after the car with the same spray can, so you can see how quickly it fades out. 

[squeakfinder]

Alas, I to am guilty in indulging in the unethical use of Rustoleum.........

[squeakfinder]

But.. I did apply it with a paint gun.

[BlueSS454]

If you use an epoxy type primer, you can leave it out in the weather all you want, nothing will happen to it.  Plain old rattle can primer is porous and allows moisture to come through and attack the metal.  Epoxy seals it from moisture.

[tecmopar]

As stated above you'll need to use a Primer/Sealer or an Epoxy primer. The others absorb moisture and so does any body filler you have under it so it will start to lft and ruin the work you have already done, good luck.

[skip68]

Just stay out of the rain. 

[bull]

If you use an epoxy type primer, you can leave it out in the weather all you want, nothing will happen to it.  Plain old rattle can primer is porous and allows moisture to come through and attack the metal.  Epoxy seals it from moisture.

My car is in epoxy primer right now and my body guy specifically told me that I should not expose it to the elements more than necessary. I'm just relaying what he said, not really looking for an argument because I don't know what is right from my own knowledge. Better safe than sorry though and this guy knows his stuff so I'm following his instructions. If it were me I'd go with paint because it's designed to protect whereas primer has an entirely different function.

[hemi-hampton]

I would not recommend letting any car no matter what the Primer used sit outdoors exposed to the Elements for long periods of time. Just get it painted soon after. Or do you think the Primer look just looks cool & plan on keeping it in primer for next 10 years 

[1BAD68]

I did the primer on my 68 and a year later it was surface rusting, so now its sits in flat black acrylic laquer until I finish the body, it offers more protection than primer against moisture and doesn't look too bad either.

[Lord Warlock]

Maybe not 10 years in primer, but i've driven several cars around in primer before, usually we do it to keep the bare metal from starting to rust while we get around to painting it for real.  My chargers been in primer now for about a year, but mine's garaged so it doesn't sit in elements. 

The good thing about primer is that once it starts to look bad, you can always sand it down and then respray the primer on it again.  I will say that while I'm as guilty as the next guy for using rattle cans for small spot repairs, i always coat it with a real spray gun primer when i get ready to spray a topcoat on the car.  Cleaning the guns afterwards is always a pain, which is why i always use certain cheaper spray guns when using primer and save the real guns for topcoats and clears.

[hemi-hampton]

I paint cars on a Daily basis, So it's hard for me to imagine why a car would sit around in primer for a long period of time waiting to get painted, unless it's just procrastination.

[squeakfinder]

I have since painted mine with a flat enamel. I didn't want to put anything expensive on it until I'm done with the bodywork.

[Joshua]

I drove my car around for 4 years in Dupont etching primer.....that ugly yellow/light green stuff....it held up OK, but when it came to paint it, I had to redo all of it...primer, even epoxy, will soak up dirt, grease, etc also will fade....

I prefer to paint a car right after primering it, since you're already masked and done all the bodywork......but I do understand that's not always in the cards.....

I almost enjoyed my car more when it was in primer, people don't "pick" it apart, as they see it "in progress"......and I didn't worry about door dings, scratches, etc.... still don't really.....

[HITMAN 149]

hey joshua...
is that a metal hood w/ the scoop molded to it..or an all glass hood???

[Joshua]

hey joshua...
is that a metal hood w/ the scoop molded to it..or an all glass hood???

It's a steel hood with a glass scoop bolted to it.....I got the scoop from MAS years ago....it has 4 molded in metal tabs for bolting it on. I added an upright in the middle like on the Hemi Darts/Barracudas to keep it from 'flapping' at speed. I used thin, black edging along the edge where the scoop meets the hood....
The quality of the scoop isn't the greatest.....but has held up fine for @ 8 years.... it does fit a Charger hood nice, because of it being totally open in the front, so it doesn't interfere with the hood impressions like a six-pack scoop.

[69bronzeT5]

Mines in primer

[squeakfinder]

Looks like two shades of red oxide  Well, screw everybody if they don't like it!

This flat black 68 gets more attention than the bright red 68 I had 4 years ago.

How times change.

[The70RT]

Mines in primer

Are you replacing that pass. side quarter?

[69bronzeT5]

Mines in primer

Are you replacing that pass. side quarter?

Yup, Im replacing BOTH quarters. As well as the rear valance, rocker panels, front valance, front floor pans and left front fender.