willysmjeeps.com

Hello All...
After surveying the body on my newly acquired jeep, I am seeing a considerable amount of rust through so I am considering a replacement tub, rather than fabricated repair. I have seen several different vendors and prices of these tubs and am looking for direction as to my best option. Any recommendations or experiences would be helpful!
thanks,
Dennis

Where is the rust? If in the floor pans and under the tool box some vendors sell replacements. That is what I did with my M38 to take care of a lot of the rust. If yours is like most there will also be rust in the right-rear corner panel. I cut it out and replaced it with some sheet steel.
Kendall

Mine was rusted pretty bad. I bought an NOS floor and firewall, (Mullins has them with and without the firewall), two lower cowls, the rear valence and the support for the right rear fender well, rear floor(all from Classic industries in WI) for a whole lot less than a tub and then rebuilt the body. I made a rotisserie and used the frame as a jug. I also had initially purchased some MDJUAN body panels but they were not anywhere close to fitting properly. The Classic Industries stuff fit almost perfectly.
Another plus to rebuilding the body is that the MDJUAN stuff is not an exact replacement. As an example the original and Classic Industries Lower cowl supports will fit inside the MDJUAN lower cowl support it is so out sized. There are some pictures in my album

I saw this one on Ewillys a little while back. The price is high and the general opinion is that it's a repop. Just showing there are options out there.
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... ic&t=13287

When I did my A1 I only used Classic Industries parts and am very happy with the outcome. The only parts original to my tub are the firewall, cowl, toe board, transmission hump and both tub sides...every else is new, front floors, tool box, riser, rear floor, wheel housings and rear tail light panel.

The Tool Box came from M D Juan and had to be taken apart and modified to fit correctly...they built it to tall. I also reused my original lid as they didn't have the correct latch or support hat channel, they just used a piece of angle metal. So if you have to use their panels, just know you'll have additional work to do to make it fit.

There's a new tub supplier from India, but the M38 tubs are not on the market yet...only the early Jeep's.

Mike B

I have a 2013 vintage MD Juan M38 kit - tub, fenders, grill, tailgate windshield. It was lots of work making it fit and drilling or moving holes. I am told later kits are better.

My current challenge is to rework the floor panels around the transmission tower. I need to move it 1 1/4 inches toward the driver side. It interferes with both the transmission top cover tower and the bolts holding the cover down. Does anyone have experience in the best way to do this?
Many thanks,

John

I just saw a post on Facebook (or whatever the BLEEP it's called these days) from MD Juan about their new MAXI kits. MD Juan used to post on this site on our supplier review section. It would be great to get an update from them on their new kits, tubs, etc. to see how well they match up now vs in the past.

Being clear - there are only 2 manufacturers of reproduction tubs: MDJuan (Phillipines) & SGI (India).
Any vendors you see in the US sell one or the other. Do your research as there is plenty of first hand information on this and other flatfender forums on the tubs. MDJ has been around a long time so there are more writeups. SGI is relatively new and feedback is mostly for CJ2A and MB/GPW variants.

Your research will confirm that the MDJ tubs take a lot of metal work to make them fit, usually as much as if they had fixed their original. And the feedback Seems to be very positive for the fit and finish of the SGI tubs.
You’ll have to check whether SGI has an M38 / M38A1 variant available so if not you will be backed into MDJ as your only choice.

Personally I learned how to weld and fixed my original M38 tub including installing an NOS front floor. Now I’m working on a (stalled) very rusty CJ2A tub. And I have an SGI fender to paint this spring that will replace an MDJ fender on a GPW. The SGI got much more detail correct for the GPW where the MDJ is generic.

FYSA:
https://www.sgireengus.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAEEK62bj44

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=141455567448964

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1309416786081092

https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=319343&start=60

Thought these might be helpful - from a quick name search online.

I have written some parts reviews concerning body panels from different manufactures. I will also note that when looking for body panels I asked suppliers the source of the panels. Most were happy to say MD Juan, Classic Midwest Mil etc., some became defensive and refuse to say.

My first post on comparision
http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... ght=#32112

Another long series of post was in response to a representative of MDJuan on this forum I only provided links to the places I posted. If you read all 20 or so pages there is othe info good and bad.

The first my observations to Md Juan

http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... c&start=30

2.the response received
http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... c&start=60

3. Last set of posts to MDJuan concerning my issues.

http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... &start=105

In the second post mentioned MDJuan says they have made some changes based on my and others observations, but when did these changes take effect and how many of the unchanged parts are in the pipeline. I asked about markings on the changed parts and received on reply. My opinion on MD Juan is still the same.
They make a so so replacement tube that can be made to fit. The replacement panels they make are made for their replacement but so as a whole they will not fit an original tub.
I think having an original tub is an much better than a replacement tub of questionable fit. And buying parts from Classic Enterprises and Midwest Military from Mullins for NOS body panels is supporting our suppliers here and not some place else.

Lastly my last post on comparison of parts while I was rebuilding the tug

http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... ght=#42673

There are other folks who have posted in the Parts Review section on their parts.

You and I are close if you want to see the fit of the NOS and American made parts I used we could arrange something. I have some of the MDJuan parts I did not use.

Ralph
Ralph

I only know of one replacement body, and it is made by MD Juan, no matter who sells it. I have used several of them, in WW2, CJ, and M38 configurations. I find them easy to use and they do fit. I don't know what the guys who say they take more work than fixing an original are doing; the ones I get fit very well; I only had one small issue with a CJ one. Nothing is perfect but they have worked for me. Fitting a GPW one now; if you want to see how well it fits; come over; we are in Northern Ill.
I get them from C&C Equipment; good prices and they have a good deal with trucking companies.

The issue with the MDJuan tub is it may fit as an assembly fairly easily, but has differences with the original Willys tub.

All the MD Juan replacement pieces are made to fit their tub. Not the Willys. So someone that buys an MD Juan replacement part has heck getting it to fit their original Willys tub.

Any new information or updates on the SGI tubs?
These posts are from about 2 years ago. I'm interested in any new impressions of both MDJuan and SGI.
Thanks!

Haven't heard a lot about the newer Indian tubs. Though mostly positive. A few of the MD Juan tub problems have been resolved. Until folks have had time to employ these new Indian tubs we probably won't hear much. You also may get a better response if you simply make a Bran New Post instead of reviving an old one.

If it helps, Metalshaper over on the YT has half a dozen videos about SGI tubs.....CJ3A and CJ5 projects if I recall correctly.....from about 6-8 months ago to 2 years, with updates once in a while.