Getting started! HELP!

[gsauto63]

I'm just getting started on building show cars!
I have a 1978 Malibu wagon that's been turned into a 2 door sedan delivery.

I want to build it right from the start. It had been painted four times already so, I've removed all the paint and its in bare metal right now.

Here's the way it looked when I got it.

Here's what it looks like now.

And here's what it's going to look like.

So, my next step is to prime the metal... then what?

I've done body work before but not that of show car quality.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Get the metal completely rust free, wax and grease free, and then shoot 2 coats of unreduced epoxy. I like black for this since it helps me to see when block sanding.
From there you will have a number of different options:
1. Wait at least 24 hours and lightly block sand to reveal any low spots needing filler. Fix and the reseal with epoxy.
2. Shoot 2 coats of some Polyester Primer like SlickSand or Featherfill and block sand
3. If the metal is decently straight you could go with Turbo Primer and shoot a few coats and block sand
4. If the car is really straight you could use nothing but epoxy primer.

 

[gsauto63]

Well, unfortunately, the body isn't all straight. There's quite a bit of metal work to but in the meantime I need to prime the bare metal.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

2 coats unreduced epoxy then option 1. The epoxy will work like a guide coat when block sanded and show you all your trouble spots.
If doing any patching sand off epoxy in spots where you'll be welding, other than that you can apply filler right over the epoxy.

 

[gsauto63]

Kool! Thanks! Haven't been able to get out and work on it this week. Been having a bout with a kidney stone!

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Ouch, I hear that is no fun at all.