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Primer removal before sport welding on new panels

svtmikey

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I am ready to start welding some new body panels on my 69 GT6 and have a question. The panels come with a black paint coat, I am assuming it is some sort of primer. Should I remove this down to bare metal before I begin spot welding the parts together?
On one hand, if it is weld-through primer, it would be an added bit of rust protection to leave it on, but if it isn't, I would contaminate my welds which would be bad.
I got the panels from Victoria British, for those of you that may have seen them.
Let me know what you think!
Thanks muchly ahead of time!

Mikey
 
VB doesn't have any technical staff says the very helpful and perky sounding girl who answered my call to the 800 number, (just called as you were leaving your response).
She suggested I call a mechanic or a body shop for help.
I guess I need to find somewhere else to get my parts from!!
I would've thought they would have someone as well....

mikey
 
Do yourself a favor and grind it off. If you want to give some added protection, put on some weld through primer after you grind off the black stuff.
 
I have a recollection that this came up on the spridget site awhile back and I think someone says the primer wipes right off with laquer thinner. It's not a thick coat or an undercoat by any stretch.
 
Hello Mikey,

there were two types of primer used but they look the same, if it will wipe off with thinners then it should also be removed before painting. If it doesn't then you can paint over it.
In both cases I would remove it where you are welding.

Alec
 
I think I will remove it before I weld, just to be safe!
Thnaks guys!

Mikey
 
Just thought I would close this one off with an update.
I did a couple of pratice welds,both with and without the black paint on. With the paint on, my spot welder wouldn't even make a spark, so it is definitely NOT weld thru primer. Took it off, and beautiful spot welds magically happened.
I have orderd some weld thru primer from Eastwoods though, and before I put the peices back together for the final time I'll primer them first.

Thanks for the advice!

Mikey
 
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