Using a Fiberglass Tub?

[blaker]

I'm losing the battle with rust on my CJ7 tub. I'm sure I could get away for a few more years, but am considering going to a fiberglass tub. I'm just wondering what are the pros/cons to doing this. The new tub would be much lighter, and wouldn't ever rust again, plus I'm better at fiberglass than welding, but it would be a big job to swap everything over, I'd have to run ground wires everywhere, the fiberglass wouldn't be as sturdy when wheeling (even though I don't get out much anymore), and I've have to figure out how to mount the rollbar and everything else. What else should I take into consideration, or does anyone have any input?

Thanks!

[Immortal]

Food for thought....

[Mudhawg]

ever thought of an aluminum tub? Aqualu makes one i believe

[mike s]

Being said that fiberglass is non-structural. Keeps the elements off you, don't reley on it for anything more than an umbrella, it'd be okay. Anything that bolts to a glass tub requires a ground boss of some sort should be a clue of race car only setup.

[T-bomb]

I own a 85 Cj-7 and I lost the battle with rust a while back (Northern ONT. Salt).  I found a glass tub and winsheld from a guy who cracked up his front end and wrote off the jeep (76 cj) so I don't know the brand but other than it being lighter amd not rusting it isn't much fun to work with.  Now granted they may have gotten better over the years but really the wiring is the least of you concern.

Some things I can remembe are:
Body mounts are custom to your tub (cut out of a log)
The Hard Top bolts on suck down the side and along the windsheild
The seats, seat belts and roll bar mount to nothing so tie it to the frame or a roll cage (tied to frame) if you build one/
The front fenders are a pain to install with the heating unit under passenger.
The Holy S&%t bar that is mounted to the dash is only tied to glass and backed by custom ground washers.
winshelid frame mounts suck
stearing column mounts suck (plus you got to cut all your hols for heater wiring, fan (grounded too) ect..
door strikers suck
no tail gate
no tire carrier
The vent in hood cut out and paint to instal;l
washer fluid suqirter mounted no fun


Bottom line if I had to do it again I would buy and AL tub at least you can weld and tap holes and some structural integrety.  That is if you want it to be a CJ-7 or if not you have a tube buggy that looks like a CJ-7

[T-bomb]

Any other questions or if you want pics I can get them.