Frame Paint?

[MrSony]

I've asked this question before, but now with a bit more information on my frame I ask again.

As I've been welding, grinding, and cutting up my frame, it's damn solid, save for that one area I patched. No holes, rust, barely even any pitting in the areas that have it. The majority of the frame (about 95%) is smooth metal, and from what I've read por15 doesn't like smooth clean metal.

SO, the question is, what paints do you guys use, how did you prep, and how are they holding up?

I have 2 cans of por15 I bought two years ago (idk if they're even good anymore), and everything I've read says por15 needs to be painted directly over rusty metal, or you have to use that metal prep stuff before hand.

To be honest, I myself would be content with just etch priming it and spraying it with VHT satin chassis/rollbar/suspension paint and dousing it in clear. Got the GM factry type sheen to it.

But if there is a better way to go about it, let me hear it.

 

[ssn696]

Eastwood Chassis Black. POR15 needs to be topcoated for UV.

 

[pontiacgp]

I like por-15. I used it on the pinch weld for my windshield and it worked great, the ledge was a mixture of rust and and metal and the urethane bonded nicely to it . But por-15 isn't what I would use to coat the frame..
" Once cured, POR-15 is hard as a rock and about as flexible as plate glass. When applied to metal, the POR-15 expands and contracts at a different rate from the metal, so something has to give. The POR-15 still looks perfect but it has separated from the metal. You now have a rust manufacturing plant operating at maximum efficiency, completely out of sight under the POR-15. "

 

[RabbitHoleSS]

Im probably gonna use this kit if I dont sandblast the frame.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TY829US/?tag=gbody-20
If I get the frame blasted Ill probably just spray it with epoxy primer and a topcoat to protect the epoxy from uv.

 

[joesregalproject]

Honestly, as someone who has spent a lot of money on products like POR-15 and SEM Rust Trap, I've been equally as satisfied with brush on black Rustoleum. IMO the satin black looks great. Put it over rusty metal primer and it holds up very well and its easy to touch up.

IMO powdercoat is the ultimate frame coating but unless you are taking it to a bare frame, its not really an option.

I vote Rustoleum for frames.

For your wheel wells and other underbody sheet metal, U-Pol Gravitex or Raptor Liner. Inexpensive, looks fantastic, easy to apply and touch up, and good quality. It's what I'll be using on my car.

 

[RabbitHoleSS]

Honestly, as someone who has spent a lot of money on products like POR-15 and SEM Rust Trap, I've been equally as satisfied with brush on black Rustoleum. IMO the satin black looks great. Put it over rusty metal primer and it holds up very well and its easy to touch up.

IMO powdercoat is the ultimate frame coating but unless you are taking it to a bare frame, its not really an option.

I vote Rustoleum for frames.

For your wheel wells and other underbody sheet metal, U-Pol Gravitex or Raptor Liner. Inexpensive, looks fantastic, easy to apply and touch up, and good quality. It's what I'll be using on my car.

Do you brush the rustoleum on directly to metal? No primer

 

[joesregalproject]

Do you brush the rustoleum on directly to metal? No primer

I use the Rustoleum rusty metal primer. I've used it in both the spray cans and brush on quarts. I believe Jared Texas82GP used it in the same way on his GP.

 

[Texas82GP]

Check out post 41 for reference....

Space City 1982 GP Build

I'm pleased to report some progress has been made. It seemed it was going to be nearly impossible to install the motor mounts with the lower control arm in place. In addition to that the control arm bushings were dry rotted and the whole front end was pretty crusty so I decided to overhaul the...

gbodyforum.com

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

GM frames are originally dipped in hot wax, which makes repainting them problematic. That black coating isn't paint, its wax, and paint does not like to stick to it.

 

[83StreetMachine]

I've never been a fan of por15.

I like using Chassis Saver or Rust-Oleum.

But to be honest any paint is better than what these frames saw from the factory