Hello "Bodywork" forum! I usually hang out in the '48-'60 forum, but this one requires the experts' advice:

I am installing an IFS on my '59. I have found a donor IFS, stripped it down and had the parts professionally dipped/pressure cleaned. However, when I went to pick them up, they still had some paint, a bit of oxidation (rust?), etc on them. I guess I was expecting them stripped bare and ready for primer/paint.

Two Questions:

1. do I need to strip them all the way down to bare metal? If so, is sand-blasting the best way at this point?; and

2. what primer and paint should I use? I have Rust-Oleum automobile primer and Rust-Oleum Industrial Enamel spray paints, are those ok? (I just want a clean look; primary importance is on rust prevention and durability, not a Trailer Queen truck!)

I'm just looking for durable coverage with a nice, clean look. Again, I am not building a show-car Trailer Queen, but I would like the suspension to clean up nicely when I'm motivated to give it a good once-over!

Thanks for any/all help...

Daryl
(please feel free to check out my truck via the blue "view users gallery" under my DS59F100 name on my posts!) cheers!!!

 

Sandblasting is, in my opinion, the best way to strip paint and rust. I am like you though, I would have thought after chemical dipping it would have been ready for primer.

Epoxy primer is the best for your application. I would have my topcoat paint ready before the primer fully cures so that I could spray it without having to sand and then paint. If you wait until the primer fully cures, it is suggested you skuff and then apply the top coat.

 

Tom,
Thanks for the info. With the epoxy primer would I then need an epoxy paint? Sorry if that sounds like a dumb question, but this is new to me!

Thanks again,
Daryl

 

Daryl,

I think you should be able to use urethane paint over the epoxy but to be safe check with the people you buy your paint from or check the paperwork on the epoxy. Everything seems different with paints, even the same kind of paint, from different manufacturing companies.

 

Rustoleum (sorry if i didnt spell it right, thats why I work on cars) is a pretty good product. We are currently using some to halt the rust on a restoration of a (sorry) Chevy Nova.

My choice however would be to use POR 15 over the bare metal and rust spots (just have to knock off the loose stuff with wire brush) Then prime and paint the parts. Will last much longer than just rustoleum or even epoxy primer, since the parts are Soo close to the road and prone to rock chips and the like.

IF you decide to just primer and paint, the RustO products that you have should work very well. Althou the primer is a bit hard to sand, but so is epoxy. If you use epoxy primer you can use basically any brand of paint you want over it, in the automotive line anyway (single Stage and BC/CC systems). I would try other paints on a small test area first. =)

Hope this helps!

 

Thanks everyone! Tomorrow is Monday so I'll explore my options and let you know!

Daryl

 

Before I srtarted reading in this bodywork forum I really liked rustoleum paint for chassis, the red oxide primer with a black topcoat.
I painted a raw steel utility trailer with that combo many years ago and it held up for a long time, especially the primer, but the topcoat did come off in places after a while.
Just the black would be better for a truck frame I guess.

Some knowledgable painters say por-15 is a superior product, I bought some and may try it on my 71 frame. It is expensive paint, but think of the time to prep a surface properly.

A lot of chassis are overrestored on user trucks, I don't think the factory did much sanding on the frames- 8)

Alan P