painting part of your car

If you're paint is cracking, it needs to be stripped down to bare metal. Primed, preferably with epoxy etching primer, then body worked, then painted. If you paint over the current paint, even if you sand it, the cracks will come thru the new paint as well.

Bad thing it could be down to the factory base primer coat. My '81 was originally black but was repainted dark gray metallic in the mid-late 80's after an accident & the original lacquer reacted with the new paint in a bad way leading to the primer deep cracks. Not 100% on what was the the actual cause but it could of been the paint or prep. My boy has a '79 & its original brown don't have those issues.
Like Streetbu stated, you got no real choice but to go down to metal like my car will have to get down when it goes to the paint phase. Extra help would be getting an etch cleaner to start treating the metal be fore the etch primer. A good sealer primer should be used too. Keep in mind this won't be a cheap endeavor as paint products have taken a big hit with price increases.

yes needs to be stripped to the bare metal remove door handle mirror moldings ect .tape door jambs so you don;t get stripper in there it;s best to sand the the little paint off where it was taped up then prime and body work like the other guys said

I would never consider using any modern paint system over existing lacquer or lacquer primer. Aside from the risk of chemical interaction, an epoxy sealer will adhere better over the long run than any lacquer product

Got any pics? Orange peel or fish eyes?? Or just crackle - craze??

86 should be Elpo (primer). If you do take it down to metal, yes etching primer initial sand to 220 then 3 - 4 coats filler primer .. block it to 400. After that primer sealer block sand to 400 - 800 depending what level you want as a final...