I've been told that the mid-90's was a bad time for factory auto paint/primer.
Most have said that the primer is a problem & new primer won't stick to it for long. If I get my (metallic blue) 95 van repainted, should the whole van should first be sanded down to bare metal? I talked to a auto body painter (chain) and was told that only the rust would need to be sanded down that far. Would like to hear what others have experienced. Thanks!

 

Yes, we have the same issue (started earlier than the mid-90s). We were told we'd have to sand to a certain point, then use self-etching primer to dig into the old stuff.

We have yet to get there, though.

 

I hope it was not MAACO, they are in business for only quick, cheap painting that as someone whom I knows calls their work a "pig with lipstick". Looks ok from about 15 feet from the vehicle and horrible from just a few feet away. I have seen some of theirs that only looked ok for about a year.

If quick clean up to get rid of then yes it would work. But if you are trying to fix the vehicle up for years of service you would be better off having it stripped down to metal and done right.

You might even try and epoxy primer on a scuff and shoot. At least the epoxy would help hold to the original primer, hopefully.

 

You have to take it down to bare metal. Anybody that tells you anything less is just looking to cut corners. The primer problem was due to Chrysler's wild idea of using a water base primer. This unfortunately had the bad result of losing cohesion the longer it was exposed to the sun's rays. If you prime over the original primer it will just lift off and put you right back at square one. IF and I say IF, you were to cut any corners, you could get away with leaving some of the old primer on the sides of the vehicle. But you cannot get away with that on the top flat panels like a roof, hood, or trunk lid. Those get too much direct exposure to the sun unlike the sides where the sun is less direct.

 

Interesting, I had wondered what the primer problem was from.

 

Good luck getting them to admit it.

 

...that what I'd heard about the cruddy primer/bare metal was correct. I don't think it was MAACO that I talked to...I can't remember who it was. I guess I really didn't believe them because deep down, I knew better.

My father was an auto mechanic, did bodywork, painting, everything auto. I was brought up in that environment. I wish he was still around, he'd paint this van for me, and do it right, too!

I am so appreciative of the helpful advice, and really glad I found this forum!
Many thanks to all who have answered my questions. You all have given me hope!

 

(double posted accidentally! sorry!)