Just how accurate are the replacement tubs?
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:24 am
I had an interesting day on Saturday and wanted to get other perspectives. First, I have agreed to buy into a basket case M38 with another member here on the board as a parts jeep. He is interested in the radiator, hood, gas tank, motor, etc. I am interested in the body. We began disassembling our new purchase together in his shop this past Saturday.
The other member also owns one of the most complete unrestored M38s I have ever come across -and- another parts M38 with a remarkably straight tub. The 3 jeeps (his two + the new purchase) were sitting in a row in his shop as we pulled the tub. My question centers around whether or not the tub being pulled is a replacement tub.
First, there was no "jeep" on the front of the toolbox. Also, I was not finding OD green in places I should have (under dash, in glovebox, etc.) Here is the interesting part though. I walked back and forth comparing the mystery tub with the known factory tubs. I checked the how seams were welded and arranged in obscure places like up under the wheel wells, etc. The glovebox interior, hat channels, dash, shape of the reinforcing plate for the front DS seat leg to bolt to, everthing - IDENTICAL. Every now and then I would come across a small patch of OD green. To complicate things, the PO had skimcoated the tub in bondo. I don't believe this was a replacement toolbox either. The rest of the bodywork (bad) doesn't match how clean the toolbox looks.
In short, every minute detail I could think of to check matched the factory tubs -except- no "jeep" on the toolbox front. I always hear about how bad the MD Juan tubs are. They couldn't be this accurate (seam shapes, folds, etc), could they????
The other member also owns one of the most complete unrestored M38s I have ever come across -and- another parts M38 with a remarkably straight tub. The 3 jeeps (his two + the new purchase) were sitting in a row in his shop as we pulled the tub. My question centers around whether or not the tub being pulled is a replacement tub.
First, there was no "jeep" on the front of the toolbox. Also, I was not finding OD green in places I should have (under dash, in glovebox, etc.) Here is the interesting part though. I walked back and forth comparing the mystery tub with the known factory tubs. I checked the how seams were welded and arranged in obscure places like up under the wheel wells, etc. The glovebox interior, hat channels, dash, shape of the reinforcing plate for the front DS seat leg to bolt to, everthing - IDENTICAL. Every now and then I would come across a small patch of OD green. To complicate things, the PO had skimcoated the tub in bondo. I don't believe this was a replacement toolbox either. The rest of the bodywork (bad) doesn't match how clean the toolbox looks.
In short, every minute detail I could think of to check matched the factory tubs -except- no "jeep" on the toolbox front. I always hear about how bad the MD Juan tubs are. They couldn't be this accurate (seam shapes, folds, etc), could they????
