Novice needs help w/firewall chassis paint

[64skylarkls1]

I need some quick opinions/help. I'm doing an LS swap, have finished the mock up and now am in the middle of preping the firewall and frame for paint. I've welded in a block off plate for the heater and a few other areas. I am buy no means a body man but am a good fabricator and very fussy about getting things right.

As long as I'm at this point I would like to smooth the firewall. I've already spent way too much money and want to take care of this myself. My questions are very basic. I'm assuming I sand down the high spots - ridges of spot welds and so on, and then use a thin layer of filler to smooth out so....

To do this work, should the entire firewall be sanded to bare metal for the filler to stick?

This will be a rattle can job, what primers, paints are recommended for the firewall and chassis. I do not want a gloss finish.

I've done a few searched with limited results. Your quick response is very much appreciated.

[elitecustombody]

"rattle can" and "doing it right" don't go together

[64skylarkls1]

Originally Posted by elitecustombody

"rattle can" and "doing it right" don't go together

Well... I asked for opinions and I guess I got one. Not everyone is capable of spending 30 grand on their pro-touring transformation, if it was limited to those who could only do it perfectly or not at all this hobby would be dead.

Let's see.. I spent 8 G on the car, 2 g on brakes, 3 g on rims and tires, 2 g on the suspension. 3.5 g on the LS donor and much more. I can't pay a body man this year too.

There's got to be middle ground here guys. I would really appreciate some help here besides carting the car to the nearest body man. If it means buying an inexpensive paint gun then so be it, I'm capable. I just need some of the wealth of knowledge easily shared on this forum.

Thanks again in advance.

[BBC69Camaro]

I had pretty good luck with Por-15 and their chassis black paint and brushing it on with 25c foam brushes from Osh.

Before:


After:


Just did my interior floors as well:


(Before shot)


Also painted my trans and rear end the same way:


Engine block:


Trunk is next at some point.

For the do it yourself guy w/o access to a good air system and spray gun, Por-15 is a nice alternative (can also be sprayed).

One thing thou prep is key and killer don't bother if you aren't going to follow the directions to the letter and make sure everything is perfectly clean. The slightest grease and it will peel off in sheets. Nice thing thou when done right its bullet proof similar to powder coat. Solvents and hammering on it won't phase it.

Another option might be Eastwood's Rust Encapsulator and Extreme Chassis Black in aerosol had good luck with small parts done up that way.

[64skylarkls1]

Originally Posted by BBC69Camaro

I had pretty good luck with Por-15 and their chassis black paint and brushing it on with 25c foam brushes from Osh.

Before:


After:


Just did my interior floors as well:


(Before shot)


Also painted my trans and rear end the same way:


Engine block:


Trunk is next at some point.

For the do it yourself guy w/o access to a good air system and spray gun, Por-15 is a nice alternative (can also be sprayed).

One thing thou prep is key and killer don't bother if you aren't going to follow the directions to the letter and make sure everything is perfectly clean. The slightest grease and it will peel off in sheets. Nice thing thou when done right its bullet proof similar to powder coat. Solvents and hammering on it won't phase it.

Another option might be Eastwood's Rust Encapsulator and Extreme Chassis Black in aerosol had good luck with small parts done up that way.

Looks great! Thanks for the detail on your response. Sounds like both POR 15 and the Eastwood product would work well on the floors and chassis. As I mentioned though I am going to smooth the firewall, will these products adhere well to a little filler as well?

Thanks again.

[BBC69Camaro]

Originally Posted by 64skylarkls1

As I mentioned though I am going to smooth the firewall, will these products adhere well to a little filler as well?

Thanks again.

I usually rough up the parts I paint with some steel wool or 400 grit emery cloth, should be fine if you are willing to do the same.

[awr68]

Get yourself an affordable HVLP gun and single stage paint....you will be suprised how well you actually can do! And it will turn out a lot better than a spray can.

I would strip the firewall to bare metal first, finish welding up your holes...then move to filler. Probably start with a thin layer of Bondo and then move to a glaze...and finish with blocking out primer, clean it, tack it off and paint it.

There are like a million magazine articles covering this stuff...I think Hot Rod has a good paint article this month. You will be fine, just get a plan together and don't rush it!

[The T-man]

Eastwood Chassis Black