[Lizer]

Based on your pictures I would have zero issues with a scuff and shoot. The last time that car was repainted it was taken to bare metal. It’s done all the time.

I’d scuff the entire car with 180 then go 2 coats of epoxy. It probably would not need much blocking as it’s already blocked. You’re making more work for yourself and could be erasing work already done by a pro, meaning your new work won’t be as good.

 

[Lizer]

Hey Lizer, thanks for your input. As a non-body guy I really like the idea of not intentionally messing up potentially professional body work. I'm happy with the current finish on the parts, there's no bubbling or other major issues on a surface level, so am 100% okay with a scuff & prime.

On the note of primer, I know everyone has their favorites, but I'd be curious on opinions of the Eastwood vs Speedkote epoxy primers. My Eastwood rubberized rust encapsulator and gun just got delivered and I'll be spraying the underbody sometime in the next couple days, but I'm not married to the brand.

Any strong opinions one way or the other for primer?

I don't want to sound like an opinionated paint elitist *******, but to pretend I wasn't would be a lie. Eastwood is consumer-quality DIY **** and you don't see any pro's using their stuff. There's a reason for that. One of the best epoxies available is made by Southern Polyurethanes (SPI), it's at a good price point too and that's what I'd recommend. A lot of the majors have tried to get SPI to formulate an epoxy for them but they won't.

I'd take a hard pass on the rust encapsulators as well, unless you're not actually painting over any rust. I hate anything rubberized unless it's in wheel wells to deflect rocks.

 

[Lizer]

I’m no pro, but laying two coats of epoxy, and then new color, on top of original color seem like a lot of paint.

It’s done all the time and I’ll do it too, especially on late model car panels. I wouldn’t do it if the car already has several paint jobs on it but that car has been completely stripped previously, so you’re only going over one existing paint job.

Epoxy and color doesn't have that much mil build.