Cj 5 body! Restore or not

[wayne1]

In taking my CJ5 body off the frame I noticed that most of the sheet metal and metal supports are rusted. Should I replace all the sheet metal and supports vs. another tub? What would be more cost effective?

 

[72rtchallenger]

In taking my CJ5 body off the frame I noticed that most of the sheet metal and metal supports are rusted. Should I replace all the sheet metal and supports vs. another tub? What would be more cost effective?

that depends on your skills to fabricate and replace , if your skills allow it then fix it,,but if you can replace the tub cheaper then swap,,you will need to make a list of supports needed and sheet metal , pictures may help determine the extent of what your looking at , jeeps are mostly flat and patching is easy if you know how to do it on the sheet metal body , floor pans are a different story but cheap enough to buy , the body supports are easy enough to repair but the floor supports can be bought an replaced,,still depends on your skill,,pictures will tell all

 

[Saddle Tramp]

A new replacement tub is around $3,500 +/- if a used one isn’t available. For that kind of money I would learn how to fab.

 

[jasonmark1993]

I think the main thing is if you want more of a show jeep, or one you could bounce off a tree and not start crying.

I cut the rust out, bought a bunch of sheets of sheet metal and went to town.

Worst part was rattle canning the paint; my finger was sore for a week.

For the body mount areas, I used some rectangular tubing. Mine was a little thicker than the factory channel stuff so I got 1/4" body lift out of it.

I got the blue torch fab flat fenders for the front; Im guessing yours are rotted too. Another cool thing is that you can open up the rear wheel wells for better tire clearance.

 

[tc0369]

Wayne, great points...show jeep or trail jeep, your abilities and (in my case) your $$$$ situation. I toyed w/ swapping my tub for quite awhile, did the math, was probably too honest w/ regard to my abilities...ended up going w/ new floor plans and so forth...that said; "post some pics Brother"!!!!

 

[mylittlecj5]

I am in the middle of (as one of a million unrelated projects) rebuilding my CJ5 body. I cut the front floor out and am replacing it with a flat sheet of 16ga. For the body reinforcement, I will be using some 1x3x3/16 I have already.
The rockers I am replacing with two pieces of 2x3x3/16 angle set flush with the outside of the body.
Since I am not a body/sheetmetal guy, I approached this with a bunch of apprehension. But so far, it hasn't been too bad. I made a mistake cutting the rockers out that I get to fix, but its on the passenger side, so its OK.
I'd say do your best to save that stock body, they don't make them anymore! Eventually there will only be one choice for a body rebuild, the big-bucks-and-poor-quality aftermarket. Lets not hurry that along! lol

 

[wayne1]

Thank you

 

[PaRenegade]

The way I look at it Wayne is that a new tub would be nice and quick, but expensive. But I'm a cheapskate. If I can do it myself cheaper, I will, but my mind goes blank on the "time it will take" aspect. You can buy dang near every part or piece of a Jeep tub much cheaper than an assembled tub, but you have to add your labor and that takes time.

I choose to buy my floors and fab everything else. The bad part is I've been working at it all summer and still have a few weeks till I'm at the primer and filler stage. So you also have to factor in your time frame and commitment, as well as the money and your abilities.
30th Aniversary build- 82 CJ-7 Renegade frame off - Page 11 - JeepForum.com

 

[rocmoc]

I just started the same project on my '70 CJ5 . I ordered floor panels & braces from Willys Jeep Parts, Restoration & Wiring from Walck's 4 Wheel Drive | Willys CJ2a, CJ5, Willys Truck, Wagon & Jeepster parts I will make the flat pieces required on the outside panel (sides) of the jeep. Parts will be here in a week and I will share how well they fit.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico