Topnault complete 1978 tub-first impression

[Jdc1]

You say you would've paid more for a better finish work and craftsmanship?? I see on the website that these tubs are $8k. For that price I expect the finish work and craftsmanship to be right. I wouldn't settle for that.

$8k is pretty inexpensive. We are also building a 72 Bronco for a customer, that body without hardtop is considerably more.

 

[CondeCruiser]

$8k is pretty inexpensive. We are also building a 72 Bronco for a customer, that body without hardtop is considerably more.

Is the Bronco body from these guys as well?
Makes since. They are the hot trend now.

 

[Jdc1]

Is the Bronco body from these guys as well?
Makes since. They are the hot trend now.

No, RustBelt Broncos.

There really isn’t a drop in option that will arrive ready for paint. All of the LCs fit differently and expectations are relative.

@Chungas Revenge will have one of the few hardtops on a full aqualu tub/cowl/windshield. We have a considerable number of hours making that happen.

 

[peesalot]

I would buy their parts and assemble myself after seeing this. The various pieces seem ok but the attention to detail of assembly is , well, not very good at all. Look at the pic Conde circled, WTF, sending that out and wiping sealer over the seams they probably didnt even spot weld is crappy and they tack weld the other panels where there should be full welds along the edges, like where tub /cowl/dash mate.
I appreciate the company bringing the availability to the market and the pieces look good, sell the parts and let others assemble, IMO.
Nothing against Topnault at all, great to see new vendors in the space, they make panels/parts well, they seem to have trouble with quality control when assembling pieces together. IMO due to minor changes over years it is very, very , very hard to offer a prebuilt tub that will be right fo rthe application.

 

[sogncab]

I’m assuming the sealer was to hide some less than stellar welds. It’s all coming off, cleaned up, and prepped correctly for paint. Another 8 man hours would have done wonders for a better finished product. I would prefer no sealer at all since it’s clearly not “paint ready”.

I would consider anything on there to be shipping protection and nothing more.
You're going at it correctly, strip it and do it right.

 

[peesalot]

x3, take all that crap off and fix the poor workmanship/fitment.

 

[sogncab]

That is a bummer. I talked to them and was able to look at a completely painted new 40 series shell at SEMA this year. Clearly they put way more effort into the display product. But like you pointed out, it's a lot better than many of us have started with.

I wish I would've found out about that sooner, I would've snagged that

 

[Alec condil]

Do these tubs include the reinforcement under the rear fenders to support the roll bar?

 

[Papa Rich]

Update***
I took some pictures of the bottom to show the captured nuts and support.

 

[Papa Rich]

Some more…

 

[Papa Rich]

Say the tub on the frame this morning. As warned by the guys that we’re trying to work with Topnault, the body mounts aren’t even close. I was able to line up and bolt down the 2 by the rear tail lights. You can see in the picture that it’s 3-4” high on the front mount and no bracket there to bolt to. Luckily, I have the original tub to use for reference to make and modify brackets as needed. As of now, it’s teetering on the mounting point right in front of rear fender well as the high point.

 

[peesalot]

That brace is backwards, if it was the other way & then the support piece was added where it is the lowest it would match. Thats a factory **** up.

 

[1MOA]

Man.... that's a ---'n shame that's not put together better.

 

[matzell]

That is special... I would go back and add more tacks to the nuts holding the cage in, those look like they would spin quick.

I appreciate that they are trying to work with you on this. You would think they would have one of each series there to compare and test fit on? I hope in the end this turns out to be a great alternative for those who want to keep an all steel body.

 

[Alec condil]

Wow that will be interesting to see what they do

 

[cbmontgo]

Once you get this thing dialed in, it will be a thing of beauty. Bummer it takes so much adjustment.

 

[brian]

i thought 78s still have four body across the rear sill?
what's with the capture nut on the brace under the middle bed/bed transition? those should just be holes....the body mount bolt goes in from the inside of the cabin.

 

[middlecalf]

That brace is backwards, if it was the other way & then the support piece was added where it is the lowest it would match.

What brace?

 

[brian]

What brace?

forwardmost body mount

 

[middlecalf]

@brian @peesalot that’s the way mine are as shown (more or less). Looks like an overall length issue body mount-to-body mount. The firewall brace should sit just in front of the body mount/frame step support, looks like it’s resting on it.

@Papa Rich what happens if you set the tub in place with front body mounts sitting on (there will be a gap for the rubber body mount pad) the body mount support? Where do the aft body mounts fall wrt to their frame mount locations.