Can this body be saved? And should it?

Hi all,
I just got my first Jeep - a 72 CJ5 - and the body is mostly gone. All the tub supports are rusted through, the floorboards are pretty bad, and the tailgate is a piece of plywood. The rear deck has aready been replaced once.
My question is: If I'm pretty handy with the wire-feed, is it worth it to repair the tub? Or shoud I just look for a better one? I have no desire to "restore" the rig, just having an "old jeep" is the goal.

nwcpro

 

Having rebuilt one from what sounds like similar shape I say get a new one. Just too much work.

 

If you plan to fix the body and do any sort of painting look in to how much paint supplies cost. Unless you go with a spray can paint job you can rack up quite a bit of cashola in even a quicky paint job. And if you live in the rust belt like me you can expect to see the body start to rust again in about 2-3 years. I started my Jeep with the same thought as you. I had a 57DJ body that was rough but fixable. By the time I figured the cost to fix and paint it myself I was over the cost of a fiberglass body. I called AJ's in PA. and ordered a 2A body for 1380.00. The white gel coat looks good and with some care my kids will still be wheeling rust free when I'm trying to remember my name.

 

nwcpro, I hear what your saying. I wouldn't get a glossy paint job if it was free. I cherish the look of an old beefy jeep. Thats what makes them better, they'll make up for not looking good. If your like me, worry about the more important stuff. If I have a chunk missing, I will usually rivet a piece of aluminum street sign (crosswalk or stop sign if available ). You don't have to paint it plus when you put a cutting wheel to aluminum, it dosn't even spark. and if I need to weld, I usually use the seat to a folding chair, because I have a million. Another great thing is taking a battery angle grinder into the woods. Cut chuncks of the hoods and doors off cars that have been there forever, lit on fire, etc. If it starts rotting under your roll bar, cut a long piece of frame off and stick it between the plate and the body. If it starts to rot where the pass seat mount sits on the floor, shape a piece of metal and stick it in there. Just spend time on making sure the body mounts are sound. Thats what I do, I love the "just getting by but still better" appeal my Jeeps have. Thats why I bought an old jeep. New ones are too expensive and you can't scratch em. With the time and money you save, tune that engine and keep up on the U-joints. Never grasped the concept of a nice finish, should be covered with mud anyways.

 

To Strider380,
YES! Now THAT'S why I got a Jeep! I used to be a body man, so if I wanted to, I could paint it up nice, but WHY?? I had a friend one time who always wanted to go 4x'4ng with me. But his Expedition was GLOSS BLACK, for crying out loud! A tree leaned to much towards the trail, and he panicked. Honestly? If this Jeep ran, I wouldn't want to change a single thing. (Okay, excpet for finding those silly little nuts that hold the switches in the dash.)

 

:uwop:

 

Yeap, or my friends Rubicon that's locked front and rear but has never seen the trail. make sure the body mounts are good. I'm not to worried about paint other then to prevent rust. And for the onlookers who don't like the old jeep thats falling apart, well, you'll win them over when they see it crawl over anything on the trail. Its not a 4x4 vehicle unless it can hit a tree. People with TJ's get real mad when they smash a fender. Never understood the concept. My fenders get beat out with a hammer, then primed. With the time saved I'll be wheeling again - thank you.
Get the thing running first, which should be really easy with this forum. The people on here have many of times dealt with everything you will ever find wrong on your jeep. They've been there and fixed that, had the same experience and done it twice over. If one can't help you, four others will, but they do get a little cranky without pictures Throw some up!

 

If you look in the "introductions" forum, I posted three of the rig. I didn't know if it was a good idea to put them up here on this forum as well.

 

if it was my orig jeep....yes
if not, i'd prob buy a repro
iowa

 

Everyone,
Thank you so much for the feedback. I think I'm going to rebuild the one I have. I don't care how it looks, and except for the missing tailgate, the outside of the thing is clean. All I have to do is buy a LOT of sheet metal (and figure out how to get my wire-feed shipped from Oregon), and I can start building a new body.
Again, thanks for all the advice.

 

I looked at the pictures, I didn't think it looked all that terrible. Replacement panels are pretty reasonable. Last time I did body mounts I made my own out of 2X2 stock in place of the old sheet metal. Personally I prefer my jeeps whole with decent paint. I like the looks my jeep gets going down the street or trail. But I am not afraid to get it dirty or get a scratch. But I do concentrate on the drivetrain first.

http://www.classicent.com/jeep.php one of many that has replacement panels.

 

good for you.....any body that can be saved should be.

 

GOOD luck with the pic's

 

It's not that difficult to cut and hack, I'm still in progress




Jay

 

Desert Runner, I like your rotisserie. You used engine stands and beefed them up? nwcpro, if you are going to rebuild your body (or at least the JEEPS body) you may want to check out the rotisserie plans on the home page of this site. I built my own, and the plans would have been nice to have, but I wasn't a member before I started mine.
Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

Repro tub.

Just Empty Every Pocket

 

I reality, I will probably have to rebuild the tub while it's "on" the frame. I don't have a garage or even a carport to work with. Just a picnic bench and my RV awning. All I really want to accomplish right away is to replace the body mounts. They have all collapsed so the tub is bouncing up and down on the frame. Makes for an interesting ride. When you go over a bump (and I'm talking SPEED bump, here) at an angle, the pedals change position so much that the clutch will engage on you if you aren't careful.

 

Boy, that's encouraging! I think your tub is in even worse shape than mine! Did you do the rounded edges yourself?

 

I'd grab a hood off a junked car in the woods or something for scrap steel.

 

Now, if I get it running, that's a heck of an idea! Of course, I live in Virginia beach, so I would have to cruise the allys instead of the woods....