How to recognize a repro tub ?

m38olddog · Post by **m38olddog** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:36 am

I'm going to be traveling a distance to see a for-sale M38. It is said to be fully restored by the previous owner. Current owner doesn't have a lot of info about what was done. Are there any sure-fire ways to identify a repro M38 body tub from an original? Not that I'd totally object to a nicely-done restoration using a repro tub, but I'd like to be able to know what I'm buying. Any tips would be appreciated.

Post by **wesk** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:07 am

Hello Dave,
Repop tubs have gotten better over the years but the thing about repop tubs is that most folks who use them try very hard to make them correct.

The easiest clue is the MD Juan tub serial number that is placed on the cowl to firewall lip just left of the cowl to radiator support rod.

Older repop tubs suffered from incorrect instrument cluster panel sizes, missing cowl battery boxes, incorrect glove box openings, misplaced bolt holes and many other issues. But the majority of these are usually corrected by the restorer. Another common problem was the original M38 windshields seldom matched the MD Juan cowl profiles.

m38olddog · Post by **m38olddog** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:24 am

Thanks for the quick reply Wes! As always, I really appreciate your help.

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:45 pm

MD Juan tubs have different weld nuts for the floor pans to screw into.

Or they did in the past, I have not seen one lately

Some did not have the Jeep script on the tool box.

m38olddog · Post by **m38olddog** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:23 pm

I'll add those things to my checklist Ryan. Thanks for the help!