1973 cj driver side door area...

[sauhamm]

what is missing from the tub on my drivers side door?

its rather hard to describe - ill take pics one i get home

but basically... the drivers side door sill area looks different than it does on the passenger...

right where that trademark curve of the cj's door is...

is there a little piece or something that goes in there?

 

[Buuushman]

May be the indent where the fuel filler was on previous models- other than that pics are needed-

Bushman

 

[sauhamm]

ill take pics of both sides when i get home and post them up...

 

[73CJ]

It's the old inset for the gas filler when it was under the seat. 73s didn't have it under the seat but in the rear. There is a small filler metal that screws on when you have a hard top to help it seal.

Put a pic on and I'll take a look.

 

[elwood blues]

Like Buuushman said, this is just a leftover design from the early model CJ5 's. That is where the fuel filler was located when the gas tank was under the seat. AMC didn't get rid of that until the late 70's, just not positive of the year though.

 

[sauhamm]

yea! im missing that...

hmph... i guess my jeep was 99% complete from the po

now i gotta find one...

 

[Buuushman]

What we are trying to tell you is nothing goes there- it is just an indent- when they relocated the fuel tank the did not change the die the panel was stamped from, they just no longer put the fuel filler there. If you are seeing something else that differs between your CJ and Elwood's pic, then we really need pics to identify it for you.

Bushman

 

[sauhamm]

yea i didnt get around to taking pics last night - so i will tonight when i get off

but there is definitely something different about the two sides of my jeep / the passenger side looks exactly as it should...

the drivers side is 'missing' something - the tub isnt shaped the same at all

ill post pics later tonight

 

[TDHofstetter]

???

 

[sauhamm]

ok first the drivers side...

here is another, closer shot... its not cut or rusted off, it looks like an insert is missing...

and here is the passenger side

 

[sauhamm]

i know the pictures suck - its dark and my camera is horrible

if need be i can take better ones tomorrow morning when there is day light and from a little farther back to put things in scale and perspective...

but there is definitely a difference between the two door sill areas...

 

[fishinfool98]

i have seen people do that before so they can get in and out of the 5 easyer and yes it was cut and re-bent so it looks better
but your drivers side should be identical to the passenger side

 

[sauhamm]

well that sucks... hmm, my ocd just wont let me have a lopsided tub

im going to have to find a body shop that can put things back how they should be...

 

[mylittlecj5]

Yep thats a custom cut and bend job. Never seen one done like that before!

this is what my '74 driver's side looks like...

 

[TDHofstetter]

Holy mother of everything that ever was - you ain't kidding something's missing! A whole lot of your sheet metal is flat GONE!

Trust me, that's been mangled. Actually, they did a pretty good job of it, though.

They removed the whole "hip", bent the sheet metal over, and welded it back together. Ain't no really easy fix, nosir. Either leave it just like that f'rever or it's Torch Time. You can buy replacement steel panels that'll restore the original shape to that area.

If the tub's getting badly rotty, though, it may be time to get hold of a completely different tub. It looks like it's starting to get pretty challenged in spots...

 

[sauhamm]

its not though - there are some bad spots

then the rest (most) is solid...

ill weigh the options of finding a used tub in good shape vs fixing my own

new is out of the question... $3k is too rich, id just find a whole new jeep to play with

 

[TDHofstetter]

$3K? Ain't no need for that nonsense. You can get a new double-wall fiberglass tub for $1400.

Really.

Jeep Replica Kit Parts Store

I talked with 'em.

 

[IOPort51]

The OP got tired of having the back pocket of his jeans ripped off when he climbed out of the 5.
Been there, done that.
but I never thought about butchering the door.
He did do a pretty good job but I don't understand why he didn't cut it to look like a 7 door. It would have almost looked good instead of half axed.

 

[Buuushman]

WOW that is missin' somthin' alright- hope my <-BAD WORD-> don't get so big I gotta butcher my jeep like that- new tub time!