So what does everyone think of these new fj40's being made in China. I've been watching you tube videos and they look pretty good. Any opinions?
new fj40's
- Thread starter curtislow
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I've tried a few of the panels and they weren't great fitment wise, but they make awesome patch panels. I'm definitely on the fence about the complete bodies being sold, but it is nice that some parts are available ish again.
One of the vendors had a client with one and they spent a TON of extra time to fix stuff, align, etc.. I watched a YouTube video a while back on it.
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I watched Greg's video on it and he was not pleased. More so with lack of communication from the seller than anything at the end, but yeah, tons of man hours fixing things and he makes a great point. Someone in their driveway would spend an insane amount of time, if they could even fix if at all.
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That's depressing to hear.I went the aqualu route and was very happy but it sure would be nice to have an option for a complete body that a back yard mechanic like myself could install. The aqualu was pretty straightforward and I didn't need any specialty tools,just a desire to have a fj40 in my life again that looked good and ran good. I went with a soft.top because all my door bottoms and the top had a lot of rust which would have been more work than what I did on the tub. Having an option to have it all new for someone like me would have made me think about the investment. Being an old fart now with limited skills and a limit on funds, but probably more money than skills might have been an option.
@JKIII FJ40 went that route with a full primer body… think he had fitment issues as well and imperfections he had to fix … but… he didn’t have much to go with on the stock tub
I have seen his after he got all the extra work done and it looks really good after his hard work
His biggest issue I think was the hardtop sides from ToP china … he used them basically as a patch like others use some as patches
I have seen his after he got all the extra work done and it looks really good after his hard work
His biggest issue I think was the hardtop sides from ToP china … he used them basically as a patch like others use some as patches
If I was to do it over, there were some options i would've pursued vs the Topnault tub. Should the front bulkhead been salvageable I would've gone the Aqualu route. Simply the easiest for the DIY'r.
Sourcing a tub from Colorado or the Southwest, yes your paying more but less body work in the end. Still need to treat the sills and other problem areas but at least you know what you have. The tubs from SA look nice but every option has its fitment issues.
The last option is buying the panels from SA or AUS and rebuilding the tub. The slight changes over the years pose challenges, the harsh life of some 40's that led to frame tweaks are others.
Almost forgot, terra tough is another option, still unsure how the doors and window frames will true up. Waiting on JohnnyC to go down that road.
Sourcing a tub from Colorado or the Southwest, yes your paying more but less body work in the end. Still need to treat the sills and other problem areas but at least you know what you have. The tubs from SA look nice but every option has its fitment issues.
The last option is buying the panels from SA or AUS and rebuilding the tub. The slight changes over the years pose challenges, the harsh life of some 40's that led to frame tweaks are others.
Almost forgot, terra tough is another option, still unsure how the doors and window frames will true up. Waiting on JohnnyC to go down that road.
RevISK
SILVER Star
TROA from Colombia does sell tubs. I have not seen any in person but I have seen a few panels and parts. I'd say they are "pretty good" but would also need some level of massaging. I do know the metal is a heavier gauge than the Top Nault stuff.
(full disclosure: I am a small distributor for TROA but am in no way trying to hawk their stuff here.)
(full disclosure: I am a small distributor for TROA but am in no way trying to hawk their stuff here.)
I bought the corner panels from Cruiser Corps, which I believe are made by TROA. NOT impressed. Not impressed at all.
RevISK
SILVER Star
What makes you think they were made by TROA?
On a related note, I sure miss Real Steal. I have a couple door bottoms and they are great.
I bought a chinese back of cab panel for an FJ45, they're post 74 so I will have to fit smaller spuds for where they clamp down at the B pillar on my 69 but I knew that beforehand.
Pleasantly surprised at quality, have done a dummy fitout with glass and everything seems fine. Solid coat of epoxy on it too, don't know if they were zinc dipping when I bought mine but believe the bodies are now. Original Toyota had a flash of etch primer over the seams if you were lucky. Would happily wrestle with a bit of fitment if corrosion issue has been dealt with.
Pleasantly surprised at quality, have done a dummy fitout with glass and everything seems fine. Solid coat of epoxy on it too, don't know if they were zinc dipping when I bought mine but believe the bodies are now. Original Toyota had a flash of etch primer over the seams if you were lucky. Would happily wrestle with a bit of fitment if corrosion issue has been dealt with.
I don't know if they are doing that.... they were for many years making there own and importing the tubs from Pilgram in Costa rica ... Paul was the only one doing the galvanizing panels... They were even marketing them as "Pilgram Tubs" Paul and CCoT had a falling out and pushed him out of the business from what I remember when Paul moved to Panama... its been some years .... but... that was the gist of it
Anything galvanized is the aborted partnership between them
I inquired about an ambulance door a couple of months ago and they told me it was Chinese made. Just looking around their website now, a lot of the raw panels they make themselves don’t seem to be available any more, or they aren’t bothering to update the website and you have to call them.
Test fitted an old corner and rear window with chunks of old seal and they seemed fine, will have to replace the 2 corner locating spuds with smaller ones. There is a rubbed spot from freight, doesn't look like there's zinc under it but the epoxy is pretty good, have fired paint into seams as well as you could.
I will be adding brackets for the clamps that hold my back panel to the tub but compared to repairing the one I have I'm streets ahead.
Have repaired one before but all its rot was along the bottom seam, my 69 is rotten top, middle and bottom. If I sacrifice this panel I can save the roof