Joe,

The original VW paint is very high quality.  I have had Vanagons that are
extremely oxidized like you describe.  A good day with a buffer will bring
that paint back to near perfect.  Of course, it will do good for the seam
rust.  I would take the bus to a good detail shop and have them buff it out
& wax it.  Then I would fix the seam rust to best of you ability & repaint
only the area that has been disturbed by the repair work.  I would not
remove the pop top.  I would only buff up to it.  Then you can paint the pop
top with a brush as you indicate.

Maaco & Earl will only give you a very bad paint job that will go bad with
in 2 years.  Save your self a lot of work & money.

Walt Spak
Pittsburgh, PA.
wnsopc3@3rdm.net
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe <mejoe@EMAIL.TOAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 12:46 PM
Subject: Getting my Westy ready for "Earl"

>          I have a White 83.5 Westy that is in desperate need of a paint
job. The
> present "paint" (if it can still be called that) is oxidized to the point
> where it nothing but a deep thick chalk that rubs off with ease. There is
> also some surface rust visible on one of the seams and along a few
"ridges"
> on the body.
>         Finances dictate that the paint job be done by "Maco" or "Earl
Schribe".
> One of the corners these guys cut is Pre-Paint Preparation. I figure I
might
> be able to get around this be doing my own prep before I deliver it to
> "Earl" for painting.
>
> 1.      A good washing is, of course, mandatory prior to painting but it
seems to
> me that regular car wash will not do it since regular auto soap is
designed
> to preserve paint and so may not get the surface as clean as it needs to
be
> for painting. Is there some special "Pre-Painting Car Wash" or other
> chemical that will do the trick?
>
> 2.      When I wash it should I use a sponge or should I "roughen" the
surface
> with something like a stiff scrub brush or perhaps even fine steel wool?
>
> 3.      I am assuming that the "chalk" is providing some anti-rust
protection and
> so should be left alone until "the last minute" to avoid surface rust. If
my
> assumption is correct, what is a reasonable "last minute"? Can I clean the
> chalk off, say, a week prior to painting?
>
> 4.      For the seam rust I have already obtained "Por-15" materials,
including
> their seam filler but I need a GOOD primer. Any recommendations?
>
> 5.      I will be pulling the pop-top prior to prep. I plan to plug the
resulting
> HUGE hole with plastic sheet wrapped cardboard reinforced as necessary
with
> 1"x1" wood and a LOT of duct tape. Any suggestions?
>
> 6.      The pop-top itself is looking pretty sad. I plan a good scrubbing
> followed by a good marine fiberglass paint applied with a paint brush.
Good
> idea?
>
>         Any other "If Earl was gonna get my Westy I would ________" type
of
> advice/recommendations/cautions would be much appreciated.