Pros and Cons of a fiberglass FJ40 body? (23 Viewers)

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I have a '76 FJ40 that needs a new tub. The current tub was homemade by the previous owner.
It's solid but would require some serious fab work to have a hardtop fit on it properlly (serious enough that it would likely be easier to just re-build, or install a new, proper one). I emailed Mike Gozzard a few ago but haven't heard anything from him....hopefully things are just busy.
Fingers crossed......
 
he is very busy right now, high season for boats.
keep trying, i know he will be back on the LC parts later in the summer, fall season.
 
I replaced my tub with a repaired steel tub. I'm already having rust surface here and there--very disappointing. Next time, I'll go with an aluminum tub, perhaps fiberglass, now that I'm not a stickler for originality. Good luck.
 
Crushers -> OK, good to know, haven't heard from him yet.....Thanks, I'll keep trying! I had to look up where Tara, ON was....then I realized I was just in your neck of the woods a few weekends ago, visiting in-laws near Hanover. Small world!

Bricruiser527 -> nope, as far as I can tell she was only ever painted one color, orange.....if it was green before that someone spent some time getting rid of any evidence. Also as far as I know it only had two previous owners before me, both in Canada. Plus the homemade tub is all steel....I'm thinking of going FG
 
I too am trying to decide on which route to go with a replacement tub. I like the look of the steel best. Aluminum is nice the weight savings ( anything to offset the added weight of all the accessories) but I hate all the sharp angles. And the look of the dash! There is a guy in Stittsville On selling his BJ and I believe it has a Goddard FG tub. I was impressed how sturdy it was. There was no visible cracks in it and I looked hard. The only thing was it was slippery as hell inside. He had no mats. Now if I could just decide if I should go with the new style or old style tub.
Hey North FJ, we should meet up some time. I would love to pick your brain on some things. Got a million questions.
Theodore.
 
my 'gozzarded' 40 is just turning 11year of trouble-free happiness , i just got tired to repair the steel tub and fenders and rust popping back all the time , it is super tough , i roll it on it side 10 years ago and never repair the small scratch on the front fender
nobody know its FG until i told them , and for the floor ,i just spay it with a DIY two part bed liner (hippo liner). FG is perfect for bed liner application
in a near futur im going for a complet hard top kit from gozzard and maybe doors
 
other than Mike being a bugger to get pricing and the tub built there is nothing out there that matches his quality.
if you live in an area where rust is a concern then there is no question the fiberglass is the way to go.
aluminum with salt, ever see the results? especially where the metal meets the aluminum? there is no real weight savings with aluminum or fiberglass over steel.
i am redoing a fiberglass 42. the tub was installed back in 98 but the previous owner. other than a REALLY s***TY job done the truck is still just as solid as it was back then. that is 17 years of salt exposure. frame and steel parts are showing signs, well the frame is swiss cheese.
i like the older tubs better than the newer ones. if i had a choice i would go with a pre 79 and move the fuel tank to the rear under the floor. get Mike to make the passenger floor flat and install 70 series supension seats. i also like the older bezel better than the square ones.
Mike now makes the front doors fiberglass, not cheap but if you run his full kit as well as galvanize the frame you have a life time truck in the making.
just sayin ...
 
my plan was to go the Gozzard route eventually based on a read of Crusher's posts and build threads ... in the meantime, my ambulance doors and front fenders are in dire need of repair and I thought I'd cut to the chase and buy them from Gozzard ... when you factor in the fact the doors/fenders will last for the better part of forever, the price isn't too bad (in my opinion) ... having said that he is an extremely hard person to pin down via phone/email based on my experience in November ... I've subsequently bought a set of really good used ambulance doors from the southern US, and am looking to buy steel fenders ... my truck doesn't and won't see any salt, anyway ...
 
i have been dealing with Mike since 98 ...
if he would make the Cruiser parts a serious part of his business i think he would do very well. sadly, he does Cruiser parts when he has a bit of time among the boats he builds.
his sons 4 door 40 is to die for, seriously.
i think my next build will be a 4 door HZJ40 ... i could see being buried in that puppy.
 
crushers said:
i have been dealing with Mike since 98 ...
if he would make the Cruiser parts a serious part of his business i think he would do very well. sadly, he does Cruiser parts when he has a bit of time among the boats he builds.
his sons 4 door 40 is to die for, seriously.
i think my next build will be a 4 door HZJ40 ... i could see being buried in that puppy.
Click to expand...

amen re the Cruiser parts business, and hallelujah re a 4 door HZJ40 ... :cool:
 
I just got a quote from Mike @ Gozzard, 6-10 week lead for large items. His response was less then 24hrs.
 
Contacted Mr. Gozzard via email. received a response within 72 hrs. Not bad considering I made the attempt a the weekend.
Have not decided which way to go ... yet.
 
I bought my Fj about ten years ago. It had a Malotte tub on it when I got it and I was told by the previous owner that the tub was installed in the mid eighties. Considering it being a 30+ year old Malotte tub it has held up remarkably well.I used it mostly in the winter to plow snow.It wouldn't have been my first choice to have a Malotte tub,but it was the card I was dealt.I bought a parts rig figuring that I would go back to the steel body,but after thinking about what I use it for and what it would cost to make it "pure "again,I decided to stick with the fiberglass . It's nice not having to worry about rust.I didn't buy it to be a Barrett-Jackson show piece,so being perfect was not my priority.
I am doing a frame off on it now and I did a lot of reinforcing and smoothing and it looks really good and is plenty strong. Definetly not a Gozzard, as far a quality,but it is still around.
 
djcfj40 said:
I bought my Fj about ten years ago. It had a Malotte tub on it when I got it and I was told by the previous owner that the tub was installed in the mid eighties. Considering it being a 30+ year old Malotte tub it has held up remarkably well.I used it mostly in the winter to plow snow.It wouldn't have been my first choice to have a Malotte tub,but it was the card I was dealt.I bought a parts rig figuring that I would go back to the steel body,but after thinking about what I use it for and what it would cost to make it "pure "again,I decided to stick with the fiberglass . It's nice not having to worry about rust.I didn't buy it to be a Barrett-Jackson show piece,so being perfect was not my priority.
I am doing a frame off on it now and I did a lot of reinforcing and smoothing and it looks really good and is plenty strong. Definetly not a Gozzard, as far a quality,but it is still around.
Click to expand...

Any pics of your tub? Curious about fit and finish.
 
kbahus said:
Any pics of your tub? Curious about fit and finish.
Click to expand...

Here are 2 pictures of my fiberglass body...
lcside2c.jpg
NewPaint%20Finished1.jpg
 
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