Can clearcoat be applied over

bare metal....with the proper prep work of course? Need to replace the oil tank on the bike...when the battery shorted out it burnt a hole in it. "Fixed" it with some epoxy last year but would like to get a side fill oil tank so I do not need to take the seat off to check the oil. Rest of the paint on the bike is beat up so no point in having the tank squirted to match. Was thinking about just getting a chrome one....but there is too much chrome already. Have a neighbor that does paint work, easier to ask here than to go hunt Mike down.....