Does anyone know the correct sheen of black to paint the fender wells in the engine bay of a 1941 OLds?

 

Try the OCA Advisor for 1941:
Scott Dennison
818-707-1257
gray24ghost@yahoo.com

a contemporary body work book by C. E. Packer:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...body&x=13&y=19

 

The book for my 42 Olds calls for the color to be a "satin" similar to todays restoration color for GM cars, however, they look so much better in GLOSS - especially if showing and driving the car locally and not interested in "concourse" restoration. Show gazers ALL like to see the engine compartments in GLOSSY BLACK!! I did mine in the 60% gloss when i completed my restoration and after 3 years of listening to people tell me that it would look so much better in gloss, I am going to redo it in gloss. Even local car judges have commented to me that the car would be nicer with glossy engine compartment. MOO!
Tweed -- heres pix of mine!

 

Tweed's comments are good, and indicative of what you will hear. Olds Club of America will/should award the most points for correct restoration. However, for decades people in OCA have "over-restored" and incorrectly restored their cars with the theme "my car was built at the Rolls Royce plant." lol. Decide what you want and enjoy the car.

 

I like that wheel chock...........

 

Its an Oldsmobile thing - eh?? LOL
If ya like that one - I gotta bigger one too!!

 

I bet mine's bigger than yours.

 

I agree with these guys... there is "correct" and there is what people like or think is correct. The exhaust manifolds on these engines are often painted in the stainless or cast iron grey, but they should be orange (ALMOST a small block chevy orange) but a lot of the judges don't know the car well enough to know and will take points off from their misinformation. I have had 3 untouched / unrestored engines acquired from across the country with parts of each of their manifolds still wearing the orange (at least where the color hasn't burnt off).

Ultimately, do what you like and enjoy, but document what you have done and what you have found, so the next generation has an informed history with your car.