Paint Job ('57 M38A1)

Last parade is over. I would like to now remove 50 years of paint. What is the best way to accomplish this? Take it in and have the whole thing sandblasted, or use a brass wire wheel? Anybody know how much a sandblast would cost? Also, I'm assuming that once it is done I need to prime it immediately; am I correct? And it should be sanded down to bare a** metal, again am I correct? A little help would be appreciated thanks, -G. Also, anybody know a good place to buy some WWII era OD paint?

 

Unless the paint is chipped, cracked, oxidized, or just plain too thick it's not necessary to take it off. Especially if you're going back w/ the same paint. Just DA it w/ 180 grit and paint. If you're changing colors add a step and hit it w/ some primer/sealer then paint. If you absolutely need to take it off media blasting is the only way to go. Yes you'll need to prime immediately but no need to sand back to bare metal, just scuff it up and paint. If you do go this route and plan on the jeep being primered for a while, prime w/ a primer/sealer or epoxy primer. Regular primer is not moisture proof and the body will rust.:v6:

 

unless it's full of filler i would sand it then repaint it.
looks good with the standard wheels by the way

 

thought the m38a1 was painted semi-gloss od?

would try the guys at www.g503.com for the ww2 flat od.

 

The paint will be fine to spray over unless it's peeling or checked. However, the thicker the paint is, the less resistant to chipping it becomes. How much equipment do you have? If you have an air compressor, a DA sander with coarse paper will make short work of the old paint. If you don't have the equipment and don't plan to do this more than once, media blasting might be the cheapest in total, but it's not cheap. BTW today it's "media blasting", because airborne silica is a major health hazard. A shop that does car bodies will use something less agressive, like soda or walnut shells to remove paint. Blast slag or iron ore are usually used for heavy rust removal, but that will distort a car body. hth!

 

You're right it is semi-gloss. I'm going for the flat OD. Also, the paint is very thick. I think I'm going to bring it in and have it blasted.