CJ-5 Tub Replacement Steel/Fiberglass or Aluminum

NCBob

New Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Location
High Point, NC
Ok, had a wreck with the Bumblebee (1976 CJ-5) but fortunately the frame is fine. The tub is whacked, missing the left rear quarter and twisted.

So, time to replace it.

Three options that I know of, and the pro's con's of each.

1. Steel
Pro's
  • Easily weldable/fixable
  • Trail durable
  • Doesn't require ground return
Con's
  • Someone at a 4x4 store in Charlotte said to stay away from the aftermarket ones, that they are too flimsy.
  • Rusts
2. Fiberglass
Pro's
  • Won't rust

Con's
  • Not durable on trail, cracks/splits
  • Requires return ground for wiring
  • Harder to repair
  • Have yet to meet someone who had a fiberglass one that liked it.
3. Aluminum
Pro's
  • Won't rust
  • Durable on the trail
  • I like the squared off transmission hump
  • Doesn't require ground return
  • Easier to repair than fiberglass
Con's
  • Again the 4x4 shop said that the fit is terrible, and requires machining of all sorts of fittings to get it to fit, like the hood fenders, etc.


I'm definitely leaning towards the aluminum tub, making shims doesn't really bother me, since it will usually be a rare thing to change out or replace. Once it's fit on my frame it should be good to go.

Would really love to see someone who has an aluminum tub and take a look at it, have only seen them on the rock buggies so far, not on a jeep with hood/fenders etc.

Thanks!
 
I'm ok with my fiberglass, it only took mr 4 years to get it done tho... If I had the $$ I'd look at aluminum. Wtih the CJ-7's the big thing is to get a junk galvanized YJ body and retro-fit it to the CJ front clip and dash (yager and a few others have done this)

If money is an issue, I'd look at repairing the one you have, replacing it with someone elses dead CJ, or doing the fiberglass. In that order.

If time is an issue, avoid fiberglass. Also, be aware you'll be itchy a lot of the time, and you'll need filters when cutting it. (Oh, and you have to cut out the firewall, and damned near every other hole in the thing.) If I had it to do over again, I'd have learned to weld first, and fixed my old body or replaced it with the YJ tub.

J
 
NCBob said:
2. Fiberglass
Pro's
  • Have yet to meet someone who had a fiberglass one that liked it.
Click to expand...

liar! :D You've met me and I like mine. Blue CJ5 at triad M&G a while back....

Grounding isn't that big a deal really. But there are good glass bodies and then there are others. Out of those that I've talked to that enjoy their glass bodys, all have owned 4WDHardware bodies.

I've hit my tub and cracked it. can't say I've bothered to repair it. But it wasn't that bad. It's tougher than you'd think. Also had the hood fly up on me at 50mph. It didn't dent the hood, just put a spider crack in the paint and chipped a tiny little piece (smaller than a pencil eraser) out of the gel coat) Repairing glass really isn't that hard either. and if you need a drain hole... just drill it. Only real complaint I have is you get the itchies after working around it. :p

I'd do fiberglass again if I had to swap tubs on a CJ5.
 
Have you ruled out SS Bob? JimLou on the ORC-SWB did a SS tub (followed by SS fenders & Hood) on his CJ... don't recall his sources, but he swears by it... looks very sharp and will not rust or crack (if it does, it can be TIG'd)

OTOH, the "DeLorean" comments *could* get old... :lol:
 
Id bet a wooden nickel this advice is coming from tarhole 4wd, right?

next, ask which they sell...oh and which they are on a quantity dividend plan with...
 
ShyHiK5 said:
Id bet a wooden nickel this advice is coming from tarhole 4wd, right?
next, ask which they sell...oh and which they are on a quantity dividend plan with...
Click to expand...

Gee, wonder how you guessed :)

Honestly when I went down there, I had heard so much about him from someone were I work, but honestly I was not that impressed. I got the impression just like you said, he was recommending that I let him 'help' me find a CJ body to swap with.
 
Oh yeah, and money is not that big an issue, I want to just do the best thing and have something that I'm satisfied with.

Nice to be single and not have to get approval for toys :)
 
something else to ask yourself... 1976 CJ5... OE Steel tub? and it made it thirty years? not too bad a track record if you ask me. even if it's 20 years before you have to put another on, are you gonna be mad?
 
Hydraulic frame jack to untwist the tub. Then build a new corner. I would use any of the new tubs for a mall crawler but not for a trail rig. I would swap on an old tub or fix the one you have. I would bet the fix is less work then a full replacement if it is just from a wreak. A full jeep tub could almost be made with simple hand tools and time.
 
Well if the replacement tubs are anything like the replacement windshield frames, it's definitely not the same as the OEM. The only one I'd consider getting would be the one from Willys-Overland, and I can imagine it's A LOT more expensive.

Did some searching on a few other forums, and saw a lot of the same responses regarding the Aluminum vs Fiberglass. A lot of people like that deluxe one from 4WD.

Having worked on RC planes and with Fiberglass, I'm not as worried about repairing it as I would be with aluminum.

Excellent info everyone, right now it's leaning more and more towards the fiberglass. Going to have to take a look at my buddy's again here are work, and nail him down on what he didn't like about it.
 
Bob, If you want another fiberglass to look at you're more than welcome to swing by and take a look at mine.

Some things to pay attentin to are the thicker firewall that you will need to adjust your Brake push rod length for, and there is suppose to be about a 1" BL built into the tub you'll need to account for. I haven't measured it to see for sure. But I've heard others talk about it. Makes sence seeing as the floor mounts would need to be thicker than a steel tub for the same strength.
 
I'm currently repairing the rusted out sections on my '76 CJ-5. It's a real pita, but cheaper than replacing with aluminum, steel, or 'glass. Plus, you get a sense of personal satisfaction from doing your own work.
 
I have done a steel replacement body on my m38a1 and I helped Jason (Hobie) with his fiberglass body. I prefer steel body over fiberglass. Im not sure if the fitting issues carry over from the M38a1 to the cj5, but there probably will be issues. Go look at albums 3 and 4 here http://www.impaks.com/m38a1.asp The only major fitment issue I have is the curve of the hood left to right, is not the same as the cowl, but im going to live with it.
 
jph0913 said:
I have done a steel replacement body on my m38a1 and I helped Jason (Hobie) with his fiberglass body. I prefer steel body over fiberglass. Im not sure if the fitting issues carry over from the M38a1 to the cj5, but there probably will be issues. Go look at albums 3 and 4 here http://www.impaks.com/m38a1.asp The only major fitment issue I have is the curve of the hood left to right, is not the same as the cowl, but im going to live with it.
Click to expand...


From what I've heard so far in my research, that's the biggest fitment problem on all the different tubs.

Where did you get that body from?
 
mbalbritton said:
Bob, If you want another fiberglass to look at you're more than welcome to swing by and take a look at mine.

Some things to pay attentin to are the thicker firewall that you will need to adjust your Brake push rod length for, and there is suppose to be about a 1" BL built into the tub you'll need to account for. I haven't measured it to see for sure. But I've heard others talk about it. Makes sence seeing as the floor mounts would need to be thicker than a steel tub for the same strength.
Click to expand...

I think I'll take you up on that, would like to see what yours looks like, you've got the 4wd hardware one right?

Send me a PM and we can coordinate.
 
I'd go alum if it were my jeep. I'm not big on fiberglass, cracking and spiderwebbing isn't something i want to deal with, I'd rather fix a dent. I also can't weld 'glass.

I hope you got everything sorted out with the ins. company. the best bet would be a rust free factory tub, but good luck on that.

I remember helping with an axle swap on your jeep about 2 1/2 yrs ago @JB's pool/wrench party. Hope to see it driving around again
 
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