Barb,
Sorry to hear about the problems. I agree that the vent was probably plugged.

Metallic paints are not for the faint of heart as they do take a lot of fine level prep work

OK - you have a project ahead of you. I hope your compressor has enough CFM capacity for an HVLP gun

First of all, you can sand the bad panels flat beginning with 180 or 220 on a block. While all of the "error" doesn't have to come off, it does need to be level or you will see ridges and bumps.

Next - reprime. I suggest that you use a good non acrylic 2K. Mist the first coat or two very lightly, with a good hour between coats so it wont raise whatever you didn't sand off. Let it sit overnight then give it two more good coats, letting it flash between them. Then let them sit either overnight(best) or 3-4 hours minimum.

Then, get out the 320-400 paper and sand until you don't see any orange peel(shiny spots) or roughness. When you reach that stage, then sand with 600-800 paper. Metallics are fussy and all kinds of sand marks show through. Many say that 400 is fine - maybe for them, doesn't work for me.

All this sanding is wet - dry will plug paper and the sanding dust/sludge doesn't wash of so you are continually rubbing it over the fresh surface.

Get a Harbor Freight "purple" #43430 gun or an Astro (even better) gun for about the same price. Be aware that the HF gun is an air hog - 30 to 50 pounds at the gun is common, that the recommended 23# will never lay on a good coat and these HF guns are not all the same in performance. Another word of warning about these HF guns - overspray. You WILL paint everything in the neighborhood with the increased pressure.

Now - and before you paint your car - practice, practice, practice. Your supplier probably has some "mistakes" that he would sell cheaply or free.

Oh yeah - this is the basic procedure for the whole car!!

Too bad you aren't closer - I would lend you either my DeVillbiss or my Sharpe (sorry, but no on the Iwata )

You DID wash the entire surface with a good wax and grease remover before paint didn't you?? Do you have 'fish eyes'? That's another additive to your paint - they are caused by silicone polishes(almost all of polishes have some), WD-40 and a whole host of other spray bomb lubricants.

This is what works for me - others will have their 'tricks'. Go to it - it really can be fun