Cars - New Panel! Should I strip it?

>> Hi All,
>>
>> New front panels for my 68 bay arrived from GSF today!
>>
>> I have a couple of questions:
>>
>> 1) Should I strip the black stuff before etch primeing it or just etch
>> prime on top?
>> 2) Should I use the fold over flap at the bottom like 74 bay ( would it
>> make this section stronger)
>> or reform the kink and weld them together like the original 68
>> front end?
>> I just dont know what would be best.
>>
>> Any ideas guys?

>1) self etching primer is for bare metal...it contains acid that "etches"
>the metal to give it some bite....if you don't strip the panel you don't
>need self etching....you would need to properly sand the "primer" that is on
>the panel and paint over it....HOWEVER the primer that comes on those panels
>is more for protecting from surface rust during transport and storage than
>for life long use....i strip every replacement panel i install....

Thanks for the advice.

>2) don't re-invent the wheel....the panels should be replaced the way the
>factory did it....of course there are many ways to skin a cat, so to
>speak....it's your bus, so you should do what is best for it and you....i
>personally like to reconstruct them the way they came....most unibody
>vehicles are constructed in a certain order and fashion for rigidity and
>long term strength...

Yes I agree with that, but was wondering do you think VW changed the design
for rigidity reasons or speed/simplicity of construction.
I mean 68'ish was when all the fuss was being made over safety with collapsible
columns and seat belts etc etc. And safety has to be my first consideration.