basic info

I'm not "in the business" but I'll give an opinion. There are many variables and it really is not possible to decide upon or recommend a course of action without a detailed inspection of the tractor, or parts. The amount of work, the materials and the cost would depend upon the existing condition and your budget. In your case I would tend to try and find a reputable (by word of mouth at least) person or (small) shop to discuss the whole thing with in detail. You will have to also decide what your maximum budget will be and what kind of a quality job is acceptable to you. Certainly, the rust throughs would be best addressed by welded-in steel patches and the necessary bodywork done so the repair wouldn't show. Edges would have to be recreated, if needed. This is not an inexpensive proposition. I would not recommend having parts sandblasted at one place and the rest done somewhere else. Sandblasted steel is in a very raw state and can begin rusting within hours. It should be primed right away...certainly the same day. In any event, the painter who does the topcoat is the best one to decide on an appropriate and compatible primer...not the guy who did the blasting. I assume you are only talking the major sheetmetal parts which better lend themselves to prepping and painting individually and off site. "Good quality" paint is very subjective. It may have to be determined by how much you want to spend. Paint can vary from $20/gal to $400/gal. You should discuss the specifics with a potential painter. Take some of the parts with you, such as the hood and the fenders that have rust through so he or she can provide you with a reasonable cost estimate, taking everything into consideration.

Another thing to consider is if you are thinking of doing the rest of the tractor yourself. If so, using the same brand and type of paint "system" as will be used on the sheetmetal that you have done elsewhere would be desirable to maintain a decent color match.

Rod