The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop matte or flat clear coat

I have a keen likeness to the gnarly look of the black hi build urethane primer. If I were to protect the primer with clear what finish would maintain the primer as it is?

I hate to be the bearer of not-so-good news but I've not heard anything good about clear coat over primer. You can do this, of course but you may not like the results. If you have an auto body supplier near you, I'd suggest talking to them and see what they have to say. In the meantime, here's one article:

https://www.cherishyourcar.com/can-you-clear-coat-over-primer/

And here is another:

https://vehiclesgear.com/can-you-clear-coat-over-primer/

A couple of years ago a friend this this and ended up not liking it at all and having to take it all off and then paint it. He told me it was probably three times the work and 6 months of looking like something other than what he expected. He used matte clear coat.

Good luck!

Not bad news, just an education without the expense. But, you must admit that nose is gnarly.

Why don't you just find paint the color and finish of that primer?

Black paint with a flattening agent.

Maybe 20~25 years ago another fellow I know bought a pickup just like that with a painted front and painted bumpers. He decided to paint the body a standout yellow (sunshine bright yellow with silver metalflake in it) and the grille piece, bumpers and running boards shiny black. He painted the wheels the same yellow with black hubcaps. When he told me what he was doing I figured it might look strange but I have to admit it looked extremely good. Eye-catching even in low light and very expensive looking.

He got it from a volunteer fire department and it had originally been painted a dark red with off-white grille piece and bumpers and black running boards and white hubcaps with the VFD emblem on each door. He said it looked ok that way but lacked zip.

Of course it is up to you. Just thought I'd add what I had seen with the yellow/black combination. I think you could do the same thing with metalflake red, blue, green, etc.