Anybody know a good book, or website to learn from? Or mind telling me the basics after scrubing off paint and rust? My parents are wood finishers, and I've won competitions with my model painting so the basics of painting anything are known.

 

If you have gotten rid of all the rust, and have bare metal, you should spray epoxy primer on it to protect, and seal. Epoxy primer is the only primer that is non porous, but if all rust has not been removed or replaced, it won't do a lot of good. bodyfiller work can be done over epoxy primer, without sanding first if within a few days, or after scuffing the epoxy primer up with some 180 first if its been past a few days. Over bodywork areas, I usually spray a coat of epoxy, leave the epoxy sit at least an hour, preferably overnight, and then a few coats of 2k urethane filler primer (don't have to sand the epoxy first after this amount of time) Which has more build and easier sanding then epoxy. Then you block sand the urethane( I use 180) to get bodywork areas straighter and also take care of the scratches from sanding your bodyfiller. I usually spray at least one round of urethane primer, blocksand, and another round of a few coats ofurethene primer over bodywork areas, before final sanding with 600 wet, or whatever grit your paint system calls for.


A book may be able to guide you, and show the basics, but learning hands on and making mistakes and experience is how you really learn. You need to develop a feel for when things are straight, know how to adjust when painting, ect.
Even after years of experience, mistakes happen. There are a ton of things that have the potential to happen when painting, but you know more how to prevent them, or deal with them if they happen. Also get the tech sheets for what products you will use, because they have a bunch of information in them, like what final grit you should sand with, mix ratio, what compatable with, about what pressure to spray at- get you in the ball park, but have to learn how to adjust the gun, cause different factors, how you spray, and gun you use can mean different pressure. You can go to autobody101.com or hotrodders.com (exterior section) and read through some past threads to learn some, as many topics have been covered before. All situations may be a little different, but should get you started. Read up on proper equiptment you will need (big enough compressor for spray gun, water traps and filters), epoxy and urethane primers, block sanding, applying and sanding filler, ect, and how to adjust your gun and proper spray stroke, proper spray equiptment for a start. Also proper safety equiptment and isocyanates, so you are aware of the dangers of auto body chemicals and paints.
I would suggest some practice time getting a feel for and using the gun, with some less expensive paint before actually spraying the car. Primer will give some practice also, since you will be sanding anyways.
There are really too many things to discuss in one thread, and not knowing exactly what you are dealing with and your situation makes. Since your new, you might want to take one panel at a time, and get your feet wet fixing it after finding whatever information you need, and getting primer on it, then move to the next. This way you won't get as overwhelmed with the whole thing. Once you get your hands dirty, if you get stuck and have a more specific question, just ask, and I am sure someone here will be able to help you.

 

kenseth put together a great post for you.

I would add that the most common mistake on anyones first paint job is getting in a hurry and thinking that they can cover everything up with paint. Poor preparation is not covered up by paint, it is brought out for everyone to see.

Be very patient and be prepared to do things over again until they are right. Your first paint job will take a long time, but will be worth a ton in experience and learning.

There is more to be gained in proper preparation than in learning how to spray paint properly, although you need to learn that as well.

I do NOT claim to be a paint and body man, but I have done maybe a dozen cars in the last 30 years or so. My first paint job, I was VERY fortunate in that a neighbor of mine was a painter at the Good Times Van shop and did awesome custom paint work. He also was calm, patient and a VERY good teacher. He spent lots of time with me showing me different things and taught me how to use a paint gun.

There is a good bit of proper technique that you need to learn about the paint gun, but once you learn it, it's like riding a bicycle. I pick up a paint gun after several years and I still do it just like he taught me. Although his watching, critiquing and coaching made it much easier for me to learn, most books on the subject point out the basics that you need to know like keeping the gun shooting perpindicular to the surface and releasing the trigger halfway to leave air blowing without paint while you get ready for the next pass. Books also will show you how to properly adjust the gun and how to overlap each pass just right so that you get an even coat.

What was not available 30 years ago that I got from my neighbor, most likely can be had on a video tape or DVD. Why don't you try googling something like "automotive paint video" or something like that?

Best of luck and keep us posted on your progress and results. There are enough experienced painters posting here, that your detailed questions will probably be answered by folks like kenseth.