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Fiberglass Body Pros And Cons

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by kenb, Apr 2, 2021.

  1. Apr 2, 2021
    kenb

    kenb Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

    Detroit
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    I recently acquired a 67 CJ5 V6 with a pretty rough body. It seems to be largely bondo over pop rivited aluminum repairs. At some point I'm planning to replace the tub. I was wondering how fiberglass tubs are. I've never looked at one in person. I did a search here and they don't seem to be discussed much. Can anyone comment on the pros and cons of going that route?
     
  2. Apr 2, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    If I still lived back east, I’d have no problem running a fiberglass body. I used to run a glass hood and fenders, and my only complaint is that when you bump a tree, they explode rather than bending.

    I’d probably be a little extra conscientious about building a roll cage that acted as a safety pod in an accident, since the fiberglass will offer even less protection than a steel body.

    The only other drawback is having to run extra ground wires everywhere, but that’s minor.

    The pros are pretty obvious. Lighter weight, quieter, NO RUST.
     
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  3. Apr 2, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I'm waiting to hear more comments about this. The 'glass bodies have been available for at least 5 or 6 decades; the dealership where I worked in the '70s sold them and kept a few in inventory. I think a lot of the interest at that time was for sand buggies used in the ocean dunes.

    All the bodies I've seen have had a solid back panel. I don't know if the structure is strong enough if you cut in the tailgate gap. The obvious difference is in the wiring. Dedicated ground wires to the chassis are needed for everything electrical located on the chassis. I wonder about their crash worthiness. There's not a lot of crash protection in a CJ anyway, and a steel body will crush to absorb some energy.

    It's clear that there are more usable chassis out in the world than intact bodies. I mostly think the "no rust" advantage isn't very meaningful compared to a new steel body, since the new body is not rusted. If properly prepared and maintained, you'll get several decades of hard use out of steel - and some eventuality that far off isn't meaningful in reality.

    I also think that a 'glass bodied Jeep is perceived as less valuable than a steel bodied example. The 'glass body may be cheaper in the short run, but you also may not get as much for the Jeep when it's time to sell. Maybe it's an aesthetic thing - I know that I would prefer a steel body, possibly for less than rational reasons.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2021
  4. Apr 2, 2021
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    I had a one-pc 'glass front clip on my CJ5. You do lose some of the little details the original steel body has, but its stuff only an enthusiast would notice.

    Otherwise Ryan nailed it pretty well.

    I don't even know who's in the glass body game any more.

    Used to be in Michigan if you saw a CJ - especially if it were white - and it looked decent you assumed it was a 'glass body.
     
  5. Apr 2, 2021
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I always thought that fiberglass tubs were heavier, I didn't know they are lighter. Seems they would have to be pretty flimsy to be lighter.
     
  6. Apr 2, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    That’s a good question. The tub section could be. The ones I helped move weren’t exactly light, but my old hood and fenders were like air.
     
  7. Apr 2, 2021
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Yeah, the fenders and hood wouldn't matter much. I know steel tubs aren't very heavy, but that stands to reason they wouldn't be. My biggest concern with fiberglass is drilling holes to mount accessories. Seems like a wood bit or something similar would be required? Something that cuts versus regular drilling.
     
  8. Apr 2, 2021
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Maryland
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    I have a glass tub and fenders, generally I like it. Mine is a heavy duty version by a company no longer in business. Balsa and steel sandwiched in critical places. I would say it's as heavy or slightly heavier than steel. Definitely build your roll protection and seating as a unit, tied to the frame.
    If your going to drive early CJ's, not much discussion on "crash" protection, regardless of materials. I figure I can take a low speed rollover, end over or city fender bender and come out pretty well. Staying in and secure is key. Smacked by a semi on the highway or slip off a shelf road in Ouray, probably not gonna matter.
     

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    Last edited: Apr 2, 2021
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  9. Apr 2, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    That is a sweet roll cage!
     
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  10. Apr 2, 2021
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    I have never seen anything built from fiberglass that was light, Corvettes are and always have been heavy for their size. Wooden and aluminum boats are lighter than there fiberglass versions.
    When cold never hit squat with a fiberglass body, that area will break like you can’t imagine.
     
  11. Apr 2, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    somone mentioned earlier about a fender exploding if you hit a tree, rater than steel bending, which i think is a pretty major thing. if you were to go over a rock and hit your 'glass tub on it, you'd end up with costly dody repairs, whereas steel can be straightned out with a hammer (and a block of wood if you like the jeep that much)
     
  12. Apr 2, 2021
    shadetreetim

    shadetreetim Member 2022 Sponsor

    Riverside, Ca -...
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    I suppose if it was my only option, I may change my mind, but I like old steel way better than fiberglass. My old steel CJ5 has a certain charm and beauty in the dents accumulated over the years. When I see a pristine fiberglass body it doesn't have any appeal at all. The detail and crisp lines rendered in metal lose something when translated to fiberglass.

    I may be in the minority, but fully restored trailer queens don't hold much appeal either, Jeep or otherwise. I can appreciate the effort, but have never had any desire to own one. I have been in to hot rods all my life, and have always had the same response. A pristine fiberglass bodied 32 Ford doesn't excite me, but put me in front of steel bodied one and it's lust at first sight.
     
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  13. Apr 2, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    i agree entirely with everything you said.
     
  14. Apr 2, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    these dents tell a story
     
  15. Apr 2, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

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    I've never seen a fiberglass tub in person, but did a lot of research on them over the years. My conclusion was that they look pretty good from 10 feet away, but anything closer you could obviously tell the differences.

    Additionally, the floorboards and firewall were always rough matt glass, and looked terrible in my opinion. Lastly, they didn't come with any holes through the floor or firewall, and when you pit some, you suddenly have exposed wood core that is prone to rot.

    Now, there are lots of ways that sailboat folks have developed to combat this, but it seemed like a lot of work for a tub that didn't look as good, had loose tolerances and fit, and you needed a different skillset to repair. Add to that the extra grounds you needed to run, and it just made sense to me to find or repair a steel tub.

    I think Shell Valley is the only game in town now. If you can find a 4 wheel hardware tub, I seem to remember hearing good things about them. I think they even had a reinforced tail section so you could have a tailgate.
     
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  16. Apr 2, 2021
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    IIRC that was an option...
     
  17. Apr 2, 2021
    Oldriginal86

    Oldriginal86 Member

    Pasadena, Md.
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    Someone on this forum purchased body molds from one of the manufactures. Haven’t heard much about them in a few years now.
     
  18. Apr 2, 2021
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    I've had a glass tub/fenders on my 3B now for 4 1/2 decades. It was like a 12:12 plastic car kit with a separate pieces for the floor, outside shell/cowl, and the firewall, all of which needed to be glassed together. And it was a 3A version so I had to extend the cowl. I sandwiched a lot of perforated (1/2 holes) .090 aluminum in it and a sheet of 1/4" marine plywood under the bed-along with remodeling the firewall for a bit more clearance for a sbc distributor. I used true epoxy resin for all that work. It had a long set up time but really made a strong bond. That tub has weathered all those years just fine. My seats are also mounted on a square tube steel "subframe" that is under the floor and extends out to the sides and to which the rock sliders are bolted. The roll bar too is frame mounted.

    Yes you do need to run grounds but one could make a good case that you should do that anyway. Glass can take a pretty good thump without much damage-something that would leave a lasting impression on steel. Bottom line? I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. I do need new fenders as mine are just a collection of stars from 40+ years of stuff thrown off the tires, not to mention a few of those thumps. I think those will join the hood and grill in the aluminum collection. They should be a lot easier to make than the 5/6 fenders.
     
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  19. Apr 2, 2021
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Maryland
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    Cuts and drills just fine with regular bits/holesaws. Does make their life short though.
    There's not much wiring in an early CJ. I ran a ground to the back, looping all the lights. One for the fuel tank sender, one for the front lights and one under the dash for the gauges and stuff.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2021
  20. Apr 4, 2021
    kenb

    kenb Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

    Detroit
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    Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like the fiberglass body isn't my first choice. However I may have a line on a used fiberglass tub. My intent would be to use this for a while until I can source a quality steel replacement down the line. The problem is I don't know what year range the tub was intended to work for. Can any CJ5 length tub be made to work for an early application? Or are there serious compatibility issues if this was intended as a late tub?
     
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