Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: BIGDRY on March 09, 2015, 09:37:17 PM

Title: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: BIGDRY on March 09, 2015, 09:37:17 PM: Hi has anyone here ever used a replacement body shell for a cj? either metal or fiberglass? surely if all these old jeeps are rotten as it seems then a body swop would be the easiest thing to do??? thx
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: Dutch on March 09, 2015, 09:50:03 PM: Yup but going GRP on old iron looses aaaaaaaaall your kudos :icon_rolleyes:
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: Dave69 on March 10, 2015, 07:27:34 AM: with a grp body you have to wire in a separate earth circuit for the wiring.

easier to repair if you like fibre glassing but not too great at withstanding knocks or "rubbing" when off roading.

knowing you have a fibre glass body when everyone you know has the metal body
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: CJWillie on March 10, 2015, 06:17:55 PM: I've got s complete fiberglass body on my '83 CJ5. After fighting the rust monster on my first Jeep years ago, I decided to go with fiberglass. I am happier than I thought I would be with it. It is definitely a lot warmer in the cold weather. Fiberglass doesn't conduct heat or cold very well. Also not having all those holes caused by the rust helps keep what little bit of heat we have inside.

I was a bit concerned about how sturdy fiberglass was in a rollover or other abuse caused by offroading. I've had this one for over ten years and so far it's held up extremely well. A friend rolled his Jeep, also fiberglass, and I was impressed by how little damage was done. He had a cracked front fender (wing) and broken windshield frame and some scratches but otherwise sustained little damage. Since they use salt on the roads in the winter here to melt the ice, rust is almost impossible to stop, especially on old Jeeps!

I love my 'glass body and would recommend them to anyone. Do your homework before buying one. There are some good ones out there and some that are junk. I'm hoping that this will be my last Jeep. I plan on keeping it until I can't fix it myself anymore. Might have to put it in my will that they should bury me in it!!!
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: wildwood on March 10, 2015, 08:49:11 PM: Nice one.... I guess if you have a cage and tires (tyres) a few inches out side of the bodywork you are nearly bulletproof.......

Our only problem is getting it all shipped to Blighty :hysterical:
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: Dave69 on March 10, 2015, 09:15:18 PM: nice to have some myths starting to be debunked
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: Mike Pavelin on March 10, 2015, 09:22:28 PM: You can use the tub off a YJ.
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: mark on March 10, 2015, 10:13:25 PM: In the event of a fire ( god forbid ) your car is gone in 60 seconds
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: BIGDRY on March 10, 2015, 10:55:41 PM: thx all, anyone used a new steel bodyshell? or even an ali one? what makes of 'glass bodyshells are recommended? I must admit the idea of a tin worm proof cj is very appealing.
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: CJWillie on March 11, 2015, 01:37:30 PM: My body came from 4 Wheel Drive Hardware in Columbiana, Ohio USA. Not sure who makes them for them but they are extremely well built. I have to go there today for some parts so I'll find out where they get their bodies. I'm sure transportation costs would drive up the cost if it had to be shipped overseas to you guys. Not sure what's available there but hope you guys can get what you need!
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: Bulldog67 on March 11, 2015, 02:09:06 PM: Think booking a space for coming over in a container would be the cheapest option
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: wildwood on March 11, 2015, 02:47:18 PM: Don't Jeeparts that ship all the MB CJ2a,3 stuff also ship M38 A1 (early CJ5) and also CJ5 bodies in from their supplier in the Philippines????
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: bgbazz on March 11, 2015, 05:27:31 PM: I seem to recall some posts on the AJOR forum made by a member of that Phillipine Body factory. He provided some good info and lots of pics...might be worth someone doing a search on there and getting the latest guff.

Just a thought.
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: Dutch on March 11, 2015, 06:07:43 PM: Quote from: Bulldog67 on March 11, 2015, 02:09:06 PM
Think booking a space for coming over in a container would be the cheapest option

:imwitstupid: deffo.
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: CJWillie on March 13, 2015, 08:17:40 PM: The guys at 4WD Hardware say that the body I have (on the Jeep) is not made anymore.
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: Lornaben on March 14, 2015, 09:26:08 AM: Quote from: wildwood on March 11, 2015, 02:47:18 PM
Don't Jeeparts that ship all the MB CJ2a,3 stuff also ship M38 A1 (early CJ5) and also CJ5 bodies in from their supplier in the Philippines? ???

Yes, 6, 7, 8's, YJ and TJ tubs can be had too. Company they get em from is M D Juan

http://mdjuan.com.ph/ (http://mdjuan.com.ph/)
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: bgbazz on March 14, 2015, 10:44:34 AM: Im pretty sure thats the mob I was talking about, in my earlier post.
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: BARKING MARK on March 14, 2015, 11:23:47 AM: You can also get aluminium CJ bodies.. I believe Quadratec stock them... Landrover have used aluminium bodies for years.
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: BARKING MARK on March 14, 2015, 11:34:10 AM: Right just checked, the aluminium CJbodies are manufactured by aqualu...www.aqualu.com. From what I can see/read they look really well made.
Has anyone used one of these?
Title: Re: Body shell replacement for cj
Post by: Dave69 on March 14, 2015, 12:50:15 PM: at least it's not in some far east country where orders can be lost in the system