I was just wondering if its a bad idea to get my car primed so i can add a few parts like a hood and spoiler and then get it all painted but were talking like primed for about 8-9 months right before the winter so will the salt and snow and rain hurt the car at all, the main reason i want to do this is to get rid of some rust now before it spreads. but dont have the cash for the paint yet.

 

Primer does not provide a moisture barrier like paint does, so the panels will be subject to rust. After a couple weeks it may start to form.

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First of all, was the car sanded down to the bare metal? If not, if there is original paint under there it will be sealed enough. What kind of primer? Spray cans or pro stuff. Ive had cars in primer for long periods without rust. I also live in Florida so I dont have to worry about freezing temp. snow and salt.

 

Some of the primers are only good for a day or two before you ahve to skuf/sand & re-prime, otherwise the paint will not stick.

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If you live in salt....Don't do the primer thing. It will rust really fast.....I know from experience in Canadian winters. It is better to have a crappy paint job.

 

Everyone says you can't leave the car in primer, BUT I have real world experience sanding my ENTIRE car to bare metal, priming with Dupont RED Oxide primer, and using it ungaraged, no car cover, and I live in NYC, daily until I stripped it down to paint it and do a complete restoration. Guess how long the car had only primer on it before I painted it? By the way there was only minor rust on the rockers and fenders and NO rust holes.

7 THATS IS 7, SEVEN FREAKIN' YEARS. So yes you can leave it in primer if you choose wisely.

 

Primer is "porous" so water will eventually work its way in depending on how much primer is put on. If you use an "Epoxy" primer with a catylst and you put about 7 coats on, it'll have good water protection. As long as the original paint is sanded but not down to the metal, the original paint will be the water protection. If you sand down to the metal you should "Metal Etch" the metal before putting the Epoxy Primer over it. Metal Etching is a simple process of wiping on a couple of chemicals (available at automotive paint supply stores) that creates a "Galvanized" coating on the metal that will guard against rusting or oxidizing.

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