Primer Job Vs Paint Job

Im in a debate on whether i should just do my car in primer...or invest in a good paint job?
this is a budget build...
I always dig'd primer jobs...but alot of people are telling me that a paint job is the only way to go with a 1950 choppd merc.
whats your opinion, and pictures to justify it.

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=566386&highlight=primer

 

If you can afford it I don't see any reason not to paint it. Primer is fine if you're working towards the finished product but to me it's not done until it's painted. Just my opinion.

Tell me this shoebox would look as nice in primer?

 

Primer might be finer but Gloss is boss!

 

With primer the car can rost if you have it out doors. Primer is not water tight enought.
And rain is verry comon and near evry night will you have condes on the car if it's out doors.

 

Paint it, primer looks cool on hot rods not customs.

 

Primer... THEN PAINT. Usually, anyway.

Mine will be in primer for the next couple of years while I finish up the mechanicals and the bodywork. Then real paint.

 

Paint.

 

If you are going to drive it in primer for any length of time, then decide to paint it at a later date, I would for sure strip it back to metal to make sure the primer didn't absorb any water thru the product to affect your new paint job. Nothing like moisture under the bondo to cause you grief down the line when it starts to bubble everywhere. Bondo and primers are water porous. Pat.

 

I voted paint. I woulda done primer only if I wanted that look which is more rat rod, or if I had been $-constrained. I have more money into my bodywork than the paint.

 

Depends on the primer...if you use a decent primer then you won't have problems. I drove mine around for 14 years in urethane primer before painting it, no problems. If you use a porous primer then you can expect it to rust...but keep in mind that if it lets moisture in, it will also let it out.

 

Some of the older epoxy primers protected pretty well. Those products have been changed to meet current environmental regulations and aren't as weather resistant as they once were. I am not aware of any current primer that's safe.

If you want primer, paint the car then primer on top of that.

 

I was gonna paint the wifes lowrider s-10 gloss black, but after i primed it black it looked too kool, so i went to napa and bought their black sealer and sprayed it with that, looks killer kinda satin lookin and it been on the truck for 3 years now and looks as good as the day i sprayed it, and it was about $60.00 for a gallon with the hardner! Just a thought!

 

Chopped 50 Merc?There is only one answer to this question and it ends up with your car being shiny and proud. The last thing this world needs is another scenester style flat rat Kustom. Primered cars are unfinished.
You asked.
Paul

 

Pictures to justify it? Really, you don't know what paint looks like?

 

Paint all the way. So far 32 people have voted and all are saying paint. I guess you got your answer. Good luck in deciding the colour.

 

After going to all of the effort and expense to create a work of auto art, it seems foolish to not protect it from the elements. Primer is the first step to a paint job. If you are going to leave the car outside or drive it even very occasionally, Then paint it with at least cheap paint. Plan on doing a final paint job after the rest of the work is complete. Paint now will avoid heartaches later. If it is worth doing, then it is worth protecting.

 

The poll results thus far are pleasing. 35-0 in favor of paint.

 

Back in the 50's everybody had their Cars in Prime
because it cost about 15 dollars to do it
and most Guy's didn't have the Money to Paint it
Just my 3 cents

 

Paint. Mine is only in primer till I can afford to paint it and it is not a custom.

 

They're here........

 

Depends on the car and it's intent.
Me, paint....you're always looking for your first scratch!
Primer = driver and no worries!

 

That is right. I lived in a humid area and had to reprime about every 3 months. These cars were "works in progress" projects. Many were never finished, because we had bigger dreams than money. Necessity made my sectioned 50 shoebox business coupe a daily driver to be finished only in my mind.

 

My thing is, and the reason why I didn't paint my car is, if you're going to paint it--do it right. I didn't have the money for new gl*** seals, and didn't have the time or money to take the doors off and do my car *right*, so it got all the exterior body work done, and sealed up in dp48.

There are some sweet primered customs out there.

 

Primer sealer, if it is your intent to leave it with the primer look. Jut plain primer is porous, as others have mentioned. You want a closed coat on top or you will get rust.

 

I say paint. A lot of guys see a satin or flat car and think that its primer. If you want that look go with a flat/satin paint. Primer was not intended for a final application.

 

Paint but it has to be more than 50 years old!

 

Being retired, I like primer better and spend my money on Food and bills !!!! I owe very few people and still have fun !!!

 

We had a know-it-all guy that was the 'host' of a local '50s nite in San Jose.
He proclaimed that the Full Kustoms were only painted for the Show Season, then 'went into primer' for the remainder of the year.
He also told scores of people he owned my shop, and I worked for him.
This guy was full of $hit. His '50 Merc was primered. Seven different times.
Told him he should paint it with some real paint. He said "Nope...they were primered in the 'fifties..."

 

are you paying to have it painted or doing it yourself?