HOW TO RECOVER HOODNUMBERS W/ PAINT STRIPPER, SCRAPER, HEAT

[ng19delta]

I am fighting this battle with a WC-51: I tried gently wet sanding, with the usual results... I have a rough idea of the USA number, but have left off doing anything more(I did both sides, in desperation) until I can find a better way to do it... I am really hoping there is a third layer of numbers somewhere on the hood I may have missed, but doubt it- I had one layer of white, and one of blue numbering. And a coat of light blue under yellow over the whole thing...

Anyway, once I up-light the garage this week, I will give her another try...Finished out the day today attempting -again- to reveal the actual hood number. Unfortunately, I think I already did too much damage previously trying to wet-sand down to it. It really bugs me that I did that. Here I had a perfectly preserved blue hood number, and white numbers above, coated in a few layers of awful paint, and, where if I'd known about the stripper method I have had a good reveal, I instead destroyed it for the most part by using wet sanding. I am fairly certain the number is 277559. I can still make out the bottoms of the "277" in white on one side, and the rest is pretty well beat. On the other side, I can almost see the "2", and am still trying to determine the last digit, which I believe to be a "9". the two 5's I remember seeing when I last worked on that, about a month ago. I am really hoping to get extra lucky, and find a top of hood stenciling- the two I found so far were on the curve of the hood- but there is a "U.S.A." way up on the hood, so I hope maybe there is something else there. I am also trying to figure how to properly re-mark the blue after I repaint. I am also wondering if there should be a "W" at the beginning, or an "S" at the end- I have found no evidence of either... Comments?

Scott

[fernando mendes]

Jim, I owned a Willys MB since 1982 that had all sanded blaster.Its dates are body number:97.180,serial number:196.275,engine number:182.148(wasn't from it),estimate hood number:20248244,DoD:Dec,16th 1942.I ask to you,it is almost impossible to review the blue-drab hood number?Because the sand blaster was used. Thanks in advance.

[Jim Kilbourne]

Fernando,

check your pm for a better estimated number...no other way to find hood number if its been sandblasted all over that I know of....

[Chris Warne]

I'll see about getting some pictures up soon, but once again the paint stripper method came through! Although about 8 months ago, when stripping the hood of my recent WC51 aquisition, I uncovered the original hood number - 2261432.The truck is Autumn 1944 build, and the number fits for the month/year. Interestingly, it was in white paint - no trace of blue drab, and I went back to the metal.

[brent]

I would like to publicly thank jim kilborne for taking time to help me with my hood numbers. I sent him several pictures of my hood numbers. he took and traced the one set and sent it back to me..(this hood had 2 sets of numbers. one was usa army. one was usn navy) anyways he took some time and sent me quite a few e mails regarding this. to come up with a number that he could clearly see . you just don't find people that help people all the time in this fast paced world. thanks again jim for all your help


brent frank

[S McIlwaine]

Had this on another thread thought I'd copy it over I've noticed quite a few from around the time of mine had large numbers taking up the hole side of the hood.

I tackeled my jeep hood (bonnet) with a window scraper the knife blade with a handle and the paint I had allowed me to tackle separite layers see photo of the result. Found the blade kept going blunt kept a small sanding stone beside me to give it a fresh edge every few miniutes. (note this was done dry no stripper at all)









A bit of time and a good dust mask and you might supprise yourself.

[roblenzz]

S McIlwaine,
What a nice example of original hood markings!! Makes you want to leave it as is and get a repro hood. I wish I had another hood to donate to you to preserve this one!! Nice job on the scrape method.

[nikola_n]

Something from me
MB373792 hood number 20635550
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQqPIFhPw04

[Havran]

Hello guys,

I've tried S McIlwaine's method and worked fine. 2,5 hours of scrapping was not too funny, but results are good

MB 214479
Hood 20611551

pics made by cell phone in dark barn, so sorry for quality.

thank you for a good tip
Jan

[The Raven]

I found a similar method that works well. Pick up some Aircraft Stripper Peeler Clearcoat and Basecoat stripper. Spray and instead of scraping like you typical would with a razor, wipe a layer off going in the reverse direction. worked great for me today

[04mustang]

Im curious if this method would work for me on a 1970 M35A2 hood? Im kinda at a loss to find out if this truck was an army or navy or air force or marines truck.

Thanks,
Corey

[The Raven]

I don't see why not, the key is slow and steady and don't rush. The stripper is cheap but you need to take your time to do it right.

[bornholmerbertram]

I found my blue drab hood numbers today using heat and a scraper only... like pealing an orange..
I am really happy about it so now my Jeep has full ID - great... I also found a small star on the hood - actually to small I think... anyway great find..

/Søren,
Island of Bornholm - Denmark.

Willys MB 1945
MB446058
Hood# 20712572 S
(Ex Norwegian army)

[Jim Kilbourne]

well done soren

[northcowboy]

I found the hood numbers on my jeep, but have a question. They were , very dull yellow. Did the army ever use this color for hood numbers? (it is a June 18, 1945 build). Also, there is an S after the numbers, anyone know what this might mean? Letters are 2 inches tall, 20724513 S.

Thank you.