I am finally getting back to working on my Charger and as I have started to do some body repair I started thinking. Should I strip it down to bare metal. The car has been painted twice over the factory paint, so 3 paintings. Should I strip it to bare metal for it's next paint job?

I would that is a lot of paint under there. Chipping and cracking happen easier with that many layers under there. You could sand down to the original paint and go from there but that takes forever, in the end I would use a stripping pad it and start fresh

i would do it only for rust. if there are a lot of layers of paint, then I may sand down to get an absolute flat surface and remove thickness at the same time but I dont go to bare metal unless I have too.

my theory is that if its not rusting now, dont mess with it (ie go to bare metal) cause it just might start (cause you didnt prep it perfectly)

The general rule of thumb (and safest) is that unless you're you have an original paint car, and the original paint doesn't have any problems completely through the layer (like checking/cracking) then it should be taken to bare metal. Any car with a repaint should be taken to bare metal.
Thats good advice, though a little tough on a driver or a situation that doesn't warrant the effort. Certainly a lot of guys get away with a 'scuff and squirt' (I have done it)but the chance of problems developing over time are greater, and there definately IS a problem when paint (ALL the paint, from original through all repaints) gets too thick.
Problem with our cars is that a paint job nearing 40 years old is subject to failure, therefore going to bare metal is the safest bet.

In your case...I think going to bare metal is the ONLY option. At least the only option under the "Do it right" heading...

My vote is bare metal. You'll never get the old paints to "play well" with the new ones. My car is a driver/junker, but bare metal is where she's going, no matter what!

Remember, your new paint job is only as good as what'e underneath. If you're going to squirt on some cheepo paint just to make the car all one color then paint over. I'd never try to get a good paint job going over old paint.

"At what point do you strip to bare metal?"

For me...... Right after disassembly.

Thanks,

You have confirmed my thoughts and bare metal it will be.

Good plan. Just hand stripped an original and you never know what you find.

? at what method would u go?bare striping then body work or body work then striping to bare metal? reason I'm asking is,will the aircraft stripers eat away at the bondo?Thaxx.

Yes....Aircraft Stripper will eat bondo. Strip it, neutralize it,sand it, prime it with epoxy,then do the body work.

Thaxx..

Another ? maybe a Dum one so bare with me How do the Aircraft strippers afect the fiberglass grill area(or fiberglass parts) on the e-bodys or what do u do hand strip it.Thaxx....

aircraft stripper will eat plastic. I stripped my Satellite to bare metal everywhere except the roof. The factory paint on the roof was like new. It was an original paint car. Sandblasted the floor pans underneath

Thaxx....

If you are an experienced body man go for it. If you have access to a body man that will work for a reasonable $$ go for it. If you are not and you dont- DONT DO IT. There most likey will be bondoe- but it may have been done right and when its gone its needs to be done again.