Thread: What kind of paint?

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Hi, I am repainting a 1970 chevelle, which has been repainted at least once already. I am just questioning what kind of paint could be on it, I know for sure the hood was painted with laquer. When i rub laquer on any other panel, no paint comes off, but when it dries, the paint looks really chalky. Any ideas what type of paint this might be, and if it'd be safe to do my body work and spray rust-defended polyester primer over it? Thanks in advance!
Tyler

If the paint is not cracking, blistering or peeling, and there are not more than one or two paint jobs on it, You can probably paint over it without major problems.

Lacquer paints won't be a problem, but if it has an air-dried enamel, it may be sensative to the newer style paint reducers.

Clean it good with wiper, sand thoroughly, and do the bodywork with a filler that is okay to use over paint.

The rust preventative is only necessary if you expose bare metal.

Since you don't know what the old paint is, or if it will lift (shrivel) when you paint, use a catalyzed primer, with a fast reducer, and put at least three heavy coats on. Make the first coat a thin one, then allow the coats to dry well each time, before spraying again. (A catalyzed (2-part) primer will protect the old paint from being attacked by the new paint.)

Spray a thin coat of a different color (guidecoat), then sand it flat with 360 or 400.

Touch up the flaws in the body that you will find. Spray the repairs with a sealer just before you reprime, or paint.

thanks for the help. The hood has cracks all over it, and that is the only panel that is like that. I tested panels on the car with laquer, and i tested the hood, the paint on the hood pretty much wipes off with the laquer. I dont think the rest of the car is a urythane either. Right now I am long blocking everything with 80 grit so i can see where the body work needs to be done, I will fill the areas that need it, then spray about 3-4 coats of polyester primer, sand with 80 and 120, then re-prime with a normal 2k primer (k36), and final sand that for sealer. The car is in really good shape, there has been some body work done on it which is someone rough, so that need to be straightened out as well as some other dents. The biggest thing I was concerned about with the project is painting over whatever is on the car now. Again, I really appreciate the help!

Here is some good reading for you,I do not know how much you already know ,soo some of it may be useless.
http://www.autobody101.com/

You're a lot braver then me, I don't care to put new paint over anybody else's body work unless I am 100% sure what it is.... If it was me doing my own car, I'd invest the extra time and strip it to be sure what is underneath... JMO

The cracked paint is not a good sign. Any place that shows signs of failure should be stripped. If you try to paint over it, you will just lose the new paint too.

well the hood is the only place where there is cracked paint, and it is also the only panel i know for sure is laquer paint. i've dug a lot more into the car this week, and there is hardly any body work done to the car, and the spots i've found I stripped the filler and re-did it. part of the reason I am being somewhat "brave" is because the car is being re-sold at an auction right away. dont get me wrong, i'm not doing a half-assed paint job or body work. I havent found any of the old paint that is having adhesion problems or anything, just some edges which have been taken care of already. My biggset concern was spraying over the top of what is on the car already. I've done several full paint jobs already, some with a lot of body work and modifications under them, and some just collision work. I used to work in a very reputible collision/custom shop. That does not mean at all that im a "pro"..haha, i just wanted some opinions from you guys that have been around a lot longer, and "been there, done that" Well enough of my story, thanks for the help so far, and im still open to any suggestions!!