Will '76 cj5 tub fit a '75 cj5 frame?

I all I'm new to the Jeep world, I have a question someone might be able to answer, I have a chance to buy a 1976 cj5 tub, but I have a 1975 cj5, can I use this tub? I see that most of the accesories are for '76 and up. Will this work? any help would be appreciated. thanks in advance.

 

The answer is a definitive MAYBE. The framerails on a 76 are wider apart in the rear, up to 75, they were parallel.(SP?)

Therefore, the mounting points will be different. The floor of a 75 is mostly flat. 76 up are high and low in places. Your 75 seat brackets won't work.

Will it be structurally sound? Will it be for your use only? I would never buy from ANYONE a vehicle that had the wrong year tub rigged onto it.

Is it a fiberglass tub or a steel tub that you are looking to buy? Steel would work better, IMHO. Fiberglass is reinforced in the areas that the tub bolts to the frame. Wrong frame beneath it might not bolt through the right spots.

So, yes, it is possible, but probably more expensive to make a frankenjeep. So what if the aftermarket only supports 76+? You really don't need chrome windshield hinges. Revel in the fact that you own one of the last true Jeeps, and put a 72-75 tub on it.

 

It will fit, how do I know. I have one. But Mug is right. It takes some fabrication and some things won't line up just right. Mine came that way and there were 3 PO's. I'd go with the '75 tub but right now I'm concentrating on the motor and driveline. Make no mistake, I'll me sure that when it all goes back together it will be as solid as possible. I've attached a picture showing the "new" body mount that were welded to the frame where it would widen out for the '76 (towards the back). Mug is right on the money get the right tub and do it right.

 

Thanks guys for your input, I'm going to go with a '75 tub. The tub I have isn't all that bad yet but I plan on keeping this jeep so I want to do it right. thanks again for the input.

 

How bad is bad? Steel can be repaired, especially on vehicles like JEEPS that are mostly flat! If it is the floor of the Jeep, companies make replacement floor pans. I wish I had an original body on my 75, with all of the evolution indents that never went away, the "JEEP" in script on the side and tailgate, the indent on the drivers side where the gas fill used to be, etc.

Trade schools teach the art of automotive body repair. and they pump out students trained to repair any cancer. The welding equipment of today is light years ahead of the old "Stick weld" stuff.

(Note: If someone thinks you need to use more than a few tablespoons of bondo, keep walking.)

My point? (I take awhile sometimes) Talk to folks around town and on the forums. You'll get a lead on some student, working in an auto shop making $15 an hour, who would be thrilled to make a few extra bucks on the weekend. H3ll, I work for beer on the weekends!

 

Specifically, there are a lot of changes between 1975 and '76. The external sheet metal of the two bodies is the same, but interior and floors changed. The dashes are different. The floors were changed to eliminate the tool box and to accomodate a new frame design. The seat mounts were changed.

You could make it work if you either change the floors to the pre-76 style, or if you move the mounts around and adopt the '76-on interior style. If you need new exterior sheet metal, and the '76 tub is cheap, it may be easier to replace the floors and dash in the '76 tub (making it into a '75 tub) than to repair your '75 tub. Otherwise I'd say repair your existing tub.

 

My tub isn't real bad, but I hate rust. once it starts there is no end. By the time I fix 4 or 5 spots and have it painted there will be 4 or 5 spots pop up in 3 years, I have had that happen on other vehicles. I'd rather spend the money on a new tub and paint it once. If I could do the body work myself i might consider it, but I'm no body man. I would have to pay someone. I figure I have about 3 years before I won't be able to stand driving it anymore lol. thanks for the input.