Interior Exposed Metal Paint Options? 68 Charger

[68ChargerResto]

So I'm looking for paint and paint method suggestions for the interior metal of my '68 Charger. I should first explain what I mean and what's led me to go this direction with my build. So all the metal work is done on my car and has been for years now. The car had new quarter skins, trunk lid, floors and trunk pans installed. I've chosen an exterior color (custom ppg black dark navy pearlescent metallic blend $$$) for the car and the exterior has been fully primed and all of the door jams, doors, engine bay, underneath the hood and the full trunk have been painted in what will be the final color. The rest of the exterior remains in primer since I plan on finishing the exterior paint at some point in the future when I can spend that type of money. I fully painted the underside of the car in black Chassis Saver paint which came out great and has held up fantastic.

The interior metal of the car is a combination of primer on all of the floor pans that were installed and the rest of the interior metal, including the inside of the roof, pillars, cross supports are bare (aside from the doors, jams and trunk) and has very light surface rust. I am now at the point where I am approaching doing various projects that involve the interior (Pedals, steering column, dash, wiring etc.) and I need to coat this metal before I move forward. I understand most people have their complete car painted at once, inside and out, but that wasn't an option for me at the time financially. Also my car is not being restored to complete factory specs, it's not a numbers matching 440 and it's not going to be an original paint color so having the interior painted the same color is not important to me but I do want to protect the metal before I move forward with the interior.

My question is, is there anyone out there that has painted the interior metal of their car with any specific products for a situation like mine? Like I don't feel that using chassis saver or por 15 or Eastwoods rust encapsulator is necessary for the interior since that will never be exposed to the elements, but also feel like just quality spray paint is not enough? I just don't want to make a mistake here that I will regret and can't reverse but also could be just over thinking it as well. Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated, I attached some photos below showing a couple angles of the interior. Follow my build at "chargerresurrection" on instagram. Thanks!

 

[68ChargerResto]

Here are some better shots, dash frame is just mocked up and is now removed again.

 

[Don Frelier]

VHT chassis and roll bar paint would work well

 

[Budnicks]

@eldubb440
he should be a great source, full of great knowledge/info too

I'd do maybe a metal etcher to start with, then a sealer
I don't have any name/brand recommendations,
I'm not a body & paint expert just a hobbyist

I drove mine around while working on stuff for 11-12 years with Ultra Flat Black paint
did the metal etching, then a sealer & a primer, then paint, it is all acrylic lacquer

then in 2017 I painted it finally, just a garage paint job, LL1 Surf Turquoise Poly base clear
photo was the day after I put all the stuff back on it, put it out in the sun to take a photo
it's not a show car by any stretch, I had issues with scratches showing up 6 months later
the spotting putty, product I used, I think it shrunk (?) or there was a problem with the sealer or primer
not really sure where I went wrong, still OK to see, just not the glass it was when it was 1st done...
I hope all yours goes well...

all my interior wasn't stripped down to bare metal, just color sanded, 320grit
& it is all gloss black too

 

[eldubb440]

epoxy primer on everything........ I use a couple different brands and colors; but it's all I use........ except for an aerosol can of etch on the bench for small, quick stuff

 

[eldubb440]

lizard skin sound control over a coat epoxy is pretty quick and easy if the car is gutted

put your carpet down and fuggetaboutit

 

[cr8crshr]

@eldubb440
he should be a great source, full of great knowledge/info too

I'd do maybe a metal etcher to start with, then a sealer
I don't have any name/brand recommendations,
I'm not a body & paint expert just a hobbyist

I drove mine around while working on stuff for 11-12 years with Ultra Flat Black paint
did the metal etching, then a sealer & a primer, then paint, it is all acrylic lacquer
View attachment 1890551

then in 2017 I painted it finally, just a garage paint job, LL1 Surf Turquoise Poly base clear
photo was the day after I put all the stuff back on it, put it out in the sun to take a photo
it's not a show car by any stretch, I had issues with scratches showing up 6 months later
the spotting putty, product I used, I think it shrunk (?) or there was a problem with the sealer or primer
not really sure where I went wrong, still OK to see, just not the glass it was when it was 1st done...
I hope all yours goes well...
View attachment 1890554

all my interior wasn't stripped down to bare metal, just color sanded, 320grit
& it is all gloss black too

I like your RR Budnicks!!! Classic...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[68ChargerResto]

lizard skin sound control over a coat epoxy is pretty quick and easy if the car is gutted

put your carpet down and fuggetaboutit

View attachment 1890595View attachment 1890596

View attachment 1890592View attachment 1890593

That looks great, did you do that on the inside of the roof and pillars as well?

 

[eldubb440]

That looks great, did you do that on the inside of the roof and pillars as well?

yes...... everywhere lol

 

[68ChargerResto]

That looks great! I’m looking into this for sure, thanks

 

[68-500]

Mix A single stage blue without the metallic should be pretty nice. And affordable.