I'm sticking with water-based primer over epoxy on older cars

Last month at my shop in Denver I used water-based primer over bare metal on a '72 Mustang and three guys told me I was crazy for not using an epoxy sealer first. But I've been doing it this way for 6 years and never had a peel or adhesion failure. Has anyone else had good results skipping epoxy on classic cars that are just daily drivers?

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kim.stella5mo ago

Oh man, I actually wonder if the older paint chemistry from back then bonds differently with modern water-based primers. Those '70s Fords had some volatile organic compounds in their original clear coats that might leave a little tooth for the primer to grab onto. Maybe skipping epoxy works because the metal is already weathered and reacted vs. fresh sandblasted steel.

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wendygarcia5mo ago

Is it really that serious though? I mean, people have been skipping the full epoxy deal on old cars for years and they seem fine. Maybe it's just one of those things where the internet overcomplicates what's basically a weekend project.

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