M38 Hood Number

farmercraig · Post by **farmercraig** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:57 pm

I have a 1951 M38 that I am painting color #23070. Would like to know what an approximate hood number would be. The serial number of my jeep is 19726. Also, should I add hardener to the paint, which is a semi-gloss. Am told the hardener may increase the gloss?!

Post by **wesk** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:17 pm

Semi-gloss is suppose to have a little gloss. Always follow the paint manufacturer's directions when applying their product.

MC19726 would probably be a late 238XXXX hood number. It is common practice to try not to skewer the research of later historians by making up a hood number and using it. This causes serious questions for data bases as they develope. The better way is to use the first three of the period correct hood number and finish the number with the last digits of your serial number. This way in the future a researcher will recognize this right away as a made up number. So you should try something like 2389726.

farmercraig · Post by **farmercraig** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:57 pm

Thanks Wes, appreciate the help w/ the hood number. I'm going to paint two test samples, one w/ hardener and one w/o hardener and see how they look. Don't want a shiny jeep......

Post by **wesk** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:48 pm

When a paint is labeled semi-gloss and the instructions with it say add a specific amount of hardener or accelerator then that is what should be done. No hardener leaves the paint flat. A slight variation in the amount of hardener can be allowed for different humidities and temps.Not using any hardener will cause the paint to take weeks or months to fully cure and leave it soft so it will show every scuff and scratch over the next few years. Don't confuse the flat look of WWII with the semi-gloss look for the M series jeeps. When you look at the finish in artificial light you will not be able to see your image but you will be able to see that the light is reflected and gives off a slight glare.