Tub replacement

[Tengu]

Hello,

I am new to this, I have a 1979 FJ40. The rear tub is shot. I have found a very nice tub from a 1971 cruiser I would like to use the rear half of the tub. The front half of the two are quite different, the seat mounts are different and my fuel tank on the 79 mounts under the body. Does anyone have experience doing this? I prefer the small rear barn doors and hatch versus the ambulance style doors. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Mark

 

[tjhaga]

My initial thought is it would be a shame to cut up a very nice 71 tub. Post some pictures of your 79 tub.

 

[Toyoland66]

The pre and post 79 tubs are very different. I don’t think you will have much luck trying to graft the two together.

There are aftermarket half tubs available. In both steel and aluminum.

 

[Living in the Past]

The pre and post 79 tubs are very different. I don’t think you will have much luck trying to graft the two together.

There are aftermarket half tubs available. In both steel and aluminum.

Is anyone making steel half and three quarter tubs that don't have fitment issues. US market by 79 only hard tops models were offered. All the replacements from South America seem to need work to run a hard top. Since the dimensions were the same for all markets seems strange they can't get it right. To me wouldn't even consider aluminum but I also live in the Southwest where rust is not as big a problem.

 

[Tengu]

Hello,

Thanks for the comments, I will post some pics later today. When you say they are very different, other than the fuel tank and seat mounts. What else other than the obvious? Could I use the whole 71 tub if I replace the fuel cell and get some seat brackets? I haven’t heard many good reviews about the aftermarket stuff. The aluminum, for me is not the answer. Does anyone know if the steering wheel and pedals and such will bolt up? What awesome website I appreciate the advice and information. Thanks, Mark

 

[tjhaga]

If I remember correctly the pre 79 tubs attach to the frame at 12 points, the 79 and later have 6 attachment points, the frames are definitely different.

 

[Tengu]

Here are a few pics of the 79 tub, as you can see the previous owner used steel diamond plate. He also extended the rear drive shaft about 3” and cut out the wheel wells. Other than the body the frame and drive train seem to be very good. Thanks, Mark

 

[Toyoland66]

That’s salvageable if your top rails are in decent shape. You can get a full rear floor panel, quarter panels, rear sill, fender well tops and sides from a few different vendors.

 

[thecrazygreek]

Buy one from here. About 4500 to your door.
Fjcompany uses these guys.
They don't have many holes drilled so you will have to deal with that.

http://citroa.com/toyota-land-cruiser/

 

[3_puppies]

this one is in the classifieds

For Sale - FJ 40 Stainless Half Tub 79-83

I’m selling a real nice 79-83 FJ40 Stainless Half Tub. I’m not really interested in shipping unless you can make it easy. PM me if you are interested $2850CASH OBO.

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Toyoland66]

Troa is also out of Colombia, it sounds like similar issues to the LCH tun that it doesn’t have a lot of the captured nuts installed for the hardtop and possibly other items?

CCOT / HFS is advertising tubs now, curious if they are made in house or also from South America.

 

[Living in the Past]

Can't tell if the hump under the seats has patches on it? Also do not see any ribs in the front floorboards. Would not be buying anything until I knew the true condition of the whole tub.

 

[Tengu]

Thanks for the comments on the 79 tub, floor boards are patched, humps under seats patched. It’s J. All the aftermarket tubs I have seen are not close to a factory apperence. I would like to find a clean original tub. Does anyone know what issues other than the fuel tank and seat mounts I would have useing a 71 tub. Will it fit the frame? I appricate the advice. Thanks, Mark

 

[erics]

Tengu - I owned that truck until a year or two ago and did a ton of work on it... sending PM

 

[Tentoes]

Here is my 73 body on a 79 frame. I rebuilt the body......cutting out all the rusted out panels and floors and replaced with new metal. The frame was beyond repair. Nebraska winters are hard on steel. Located a 79 frame with a complete drive train and 53000 miles. Took some measurements and compared the 2 frames. Other than the rear cross member tail light set-up and body mounts, the frames are the same. I simply knocked the body mounts off the 73 frame and knocked the mounts off the 79 and bolted the old ones onto the 79 frame......and as a plus, many of the holes lined up and were reused. I stayed with the under seat gas tank so the under body tank was removed and gone. My youngest son, a friend and myself picked up the rebuilt body and set it on the frame and from there it was just a matter of lining up the holes, replace the rubber pads and bolting it back down.
As others have said though, it may be really worth considering keeping your body and cut out the bad metal and replace it. The entire rear half of my tub is new metal. I found new quarter panels with the top rail. All other panels are local purchase 16 gauge steel, that I had cut and broke. Going back together it is pretty much a big simple jig saw puzzle. I did it while it was still on the old 73 frame and had a jig welded up from the A pillar to the rear end to hold it all square.

 

[Living in the Past]

Thanks for the comments on the 79 tub, floor boards are patched, humps under seats patched. It’s J. All the aftermarket tubs I have seen are not close to a factory apperence. I would like to find a clean original tub. Does anyone know what issues other than the fuel tank and seat mounts I would have useing a 71 tub. Will it fit the frame? I appricate the advice. Thanks, Mark

Steering column is different. Totally different where is passed thru the firewall. Enough differences on dash too. Turn signal indicators are in the dash in 71. Same with the ignition switch. In the dash not the steering column. The ribs on the rear floor are also completely different. Where the section behind the seats met front to back is boxed on the pre 79. That is not the same on 79+. Think you would find the 71 tub is lower at the location they met. Anything can be done with enough work. I personally would use the replacement pieces before tackling mating a 71 and 79 tubs.

 

[bikersmurf]

The biggest obstacle I see is that the floor on older tub drops down 2+ inches at the front... whereas the 79+ is flat or may even step up (don’t own one).

 

[Tengu]

Tentoes,

Your rig looks sweet, where did you purchase your replacement panels from? Any chance you have any pictures of the jig you made to hold it together? I would need all the panels for the rear tub as well as both floor boards, rockers. That may be the direction I go if I cannot find a good complete tub. Thanks again for your advice.

Thanks, Mark

 

[tstepp920]

I just sent an email to CCOT about their tub. Lets see if they will answer the questions I asked about the manufacturing source and exactness of the repro tub.

 

[tstepp920]

I have already received the following:

Mary Beth Principe mb@coolcruisers.com via carrierzone.com
10:17 AM (0 minutes ago)
to me

Tom -

I have forwarded your email to Manny to reply to and you should hear from him soon.

The tubs are manufactured in Costa Rica on the original Toyota factory jigs.

Toyota originally had a plant in Costa Rica.

Sincerely,

Mary Beth Principe