for a budget paint i'd do the above 50 dollar paint. i'd remove the top layer if it's not sticking to the base layer of your current paint but wouldn't strip it down to steel unless you need to in that particular area. maybe check out your library on some books on body work. even check out the paint suppliers on how to paint a car. 95% of the finished look is from prep work. your rust in in the underside looks very manageable. I'd be careful with any chemical strippers espically in areas with seams as it is nearly impossible to remove all the stripper. You also may want to try some POR15 on the lightly rusted areas. I've also had very good luck with the rust converters including the very cheap ones you can pick up at your local farm store. others may not say they work well but i've had good luck with them.
Just finished reading the thread on the $50.00 paint job. It looks like something I'd like to try too. Regardless of the method of paint application however, it is clear that prep work is a must. The better the surface, the better the car will look. I still stand by the lighter the color the less irregularities you'll see. Just watch out for the scratch marks from the sandpaper. If you can see it before painting the top coats, you'll really see it through the top coats. There used to be a filler primer. I'm not sure how this worked but you'd spot paint the scratches and chips and then sand it off using a sanding block. The sanding block should extend over the boundaries of the scratch. Then when you were down to the original under color the filler primer in the scratch would be level. sometimes this took a few coats of the filler primer. I don't know if this is still available. It will not fill a ding. But scratches and chips it will do. JD
Re:UPDATE!!!!!!! (Restoration) Paint My 68 RIVI! Hey Guys ! Thanks for all the info, :beers2::TU:I'm gathering up money now for the paint and supplies. Ok, I pressured washed the paint off and I noticed that the last owner only must of sanded the ugly looking areas and sprayed primer over them. As for the rest, The owner didn't bother roughening up the original paint job to make it stick better and just sprayed on the paint. Ok check the pics below. The remaining paint was stuck on pretty good, I assume these are the only areas he prepped. I am just going to sand the rest of the body since I have a hole week of winter break off of school!
I just took a look at the cardomain pics you linked to above. Looks like you spent some time on the engine and such, so I think it would be worth while to take the time and do the paint right too. It ought to be really nice when done. :TU:
