how to find hood numbers under old paint

oldfordkid · Post by **oldfordkid** » Thu Dec 31, 2015 10:38 am

I tried to do some m38 archeology this morning. I am just sure my jeep has beautiful USA and hood numbers under all of the brushed on paint on my hood.I tried to sand off the top layers on the pass side carefully, but it didn't really work like I thought it would. There is nice original od paint under there, but the top layer doesn't come off evenly like I thought it would. I think I am sanding off the numbers as soon as I get to them, there is some white paint there, sort of an "S" shape in the middle, but nothing else really discernible.

I thought about paint thinner or remover. I would like to try something else on the driver's side, before I mess it up too. Any suggestions for someone who has been successful with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks--Scott

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Thu Dec 31, 2015 11:26 am

Scott,
Paint remover may cut through several layers and wipe out
the white...

I'd use 600 grit paper with a sanding block and go slow.

Using your hand or sponge type block you'll follow the paint
highs and lows and take off several layers in places.

Using a solid block like a piece of plywood three or four inches
wide and at least a foot long will keep the paper flat, which
will help take off the highs and uneven brush painted paint.

As soon as you get through the brush paint, even in spots or
hit white paint stop.

Sometimes you can make out the shapes even without seeing
white paint. Several have had help here with partial images
like your "S" which to me suggests an 8.

MattyT · Post by **MattyT** » Thu Dec 31, 2015 12:54 pm

I recently found mine without the luxury of having white paint underneath. In searching previous posts and my experience. TAKE YOUR TIME! Patience is rewarded. Here is the link to my previous post.

http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... ood+number

600 then 800 grit was too much. I ended up using 1000 grit with a wet towel as "my block". Good luck!

kenperkins · Post by **kenperkins** » Thu Dec 31, 2015 9:18 pm

we used brake fluid in the old days, paint it on, it will blister the surface paint layer, repeat as required

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Fri Jan 01, 2016 10:01 am

I failed with sand paper. I've won with paint stripper. You can buy it in a rattle can from napa. You spray it on, let it bubble a bit, and then very soon take a rag and wipe it off. Usually the white numbers survive under the top coat of later paint. The trick is to practice a bit elsewhere to get the application time that works on your type of paint. Too short no action, too long and it may soften the numbers. You are trying to remove only one layer of top coat at a time. The uneven surface makes sanding almost impossible. That's my 2 cents anyway. Practice is the key. John

oldfordkid · Post by **oldfordkid** » Fri Jan 01, 2016 5:13 pm

Well I tried. Sorry to report that I have no idea what my hood numbers were. Very slow (literally hours) and careful sanding with 800 grit did not work on my hood. I think the problem with my particular jeep is that the 3 coats of paint it has over the original paint were all brushed on and tough. It was like removing a thick layer of brushed on epoxy glue that was stuck very well to my thin fragile white letters. My Jeep was stored inside, so the outer paint wasn't faded or degraded by weather. It did not come off evenly at all, no matter what I tried, and the white numbers and letters might as well have been written in chalk underneath. The paint levels varied in thickness with every little bristle, so you couldn't remove anything without removing part of whatever was next to it. I'd say the varying coats I removed had to be 50-100 times thicker than what I was looking for. I bought a $22 heat gun and had slightly better results over the driver's rear wheel. Found a barely readable TP 25. It's hard to to scrape and get to that perfect level without going through it. I was hoping I could see a faded outline on the hood, but just OD paint.

Wade · Post by **Wade** » Wed Jan 13, 2016 11:33 am

oldfordkid-
im going through (i went through) much of the same trial and error that you did and messed up a couple spots on my jeep trying to get it right as well.

http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... pic&t=9948

this is my thread and what i did. so far i have done 80% of the jeep with b12 chemtool, and it works great for what you are trying to do. i have a few before and after pictures to show you what it could look like when youre done. there were only a couple places where i couldnt get the white paint to really come out.

i used a toothbrush, a rag, and a flexable plastic body filler scraper to get the old paint off that i had bubbled up with the b12.

good luck on your project.