This probably has been covered previously

[Micheal]

But when it comes to a restoration, what, in your opinion makes for the best material?? would you do metal? or would you do Fiberglass??

And what would be the reasons that you choose to use either one?

I am investigating both... so my mind is open to any and all views.

Many thanks

Micheal

 

[sykanr0ng]

A real restoration is returning it to original condition as manufactured.

For a Bronco steel is the only way to do that, since that is what Ford built them out of.

 

[DanHall]

I like metal solely for the fact that I can weld on it and use a body dolly when needed. I have no real experience with fiberglass other than my hood and door inserts.

 

[Broncobowsher]

If you are doing fiberglass, you are not doing a restoration.
You are doing a customization.

 

[No1hedberg]

I think it depends on the condition of the tub that you start with. Also factor in your ability to do the rust repair or willingness to pay someone a lot of money to do it for you. Personally I bought a bronco designs fiberglass tub. My tub was in pretty bad shape from shoddy repairs by previous owners. After assessing the situation I simply didn't want to spend the time and money it would have required to repair it. It made economic sense to replace it. I will say that most guys here seem to be old school, and heavily biased against fiberglass. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that opinion, but don't expect too many guys here to try to steer you towards fiberglass. The short answer is... It depends on lots of factors that only you can weigh. The only recommendation I will make is, if you decide to consider fiberglass talk to Corey at Bronco Designs. Don't make more trouble for yourself by buying one of the others.

 

[Prizefighter]

I saw Bronco Design's tub in person this week and I was impressed. It is a lot thicker and stronger than I thought a fiberglass tub would be. Metal first in my opinion, but sometimes it isn't practical or may not make financial sense and the BD tubs are highly esteemed here.

 

[C Saporito]

I think it depends on the condition of the tub that you start with. Also factor in your ability to do the rust repair or willingness to pay someone a lot of money to do it for you. Personally I bought a bronco designs fiberglass tub. My tub was in pretty bad shape from shoddy repairs by previous owners. After assessing the situation I simply didn't want to spend the time and money it would have required to repair it. It made economic sense to replace it. I will say that most guys here seem to be old school, and heavily biased against fiberglass. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that opinion, but don't expect too many guys here to try to steer you towards fiberglass. The short answer is... It depends on lots of factors that only you can weigh. The only recommendation I will make is, if you decide to consider fiberglass talk to Corey at Bronco Designs. Don't make more trouble for yourself by buying one of the others.

I agree, see what makes more sense for your situation. If you must have steel, there is also the option of a new pre-assembled steel tub, but they are expensive and I haven't seen any actually used yet. I may have been willing to try one if they were available when I switched to fiberglass, but I am very happy with my Bronco Design body.

 

[AWS]

I have a Dennis Carpenter tub due to be delivered in the next few weeks for a customer. I'll let you know what I think of it when it arrives.
Steve

 

[ep67bro]

Nothing wrong with glass if you are not going full factory resto. The option of no rust or rust repair is a good one, I am trying to decide what way to go right now myself, I found two projects one glass one steel just cant make up my mind what one I want, the glass is nice because it has no rust but it is an cut fender look, the steel is cool and I could go back uncut but is has rust issues! So both have pros and cons!

 

[englewoodcowboy]

I would say it depends on several factors, if you are wanting to do a back to original restoration then steel is your only option. If you are handy with a welder etc and your tub needs panel replacement then you need to investigate it and value your time and cost of materials to either fix it or move on to a new tub. You now have the option of a reproduction steel tub as well as the fiberglass tubs. If I was making a year round trail capable rig I would go fiberglass if I need a new tub, if I was going show (like I am) daily driver type then I would go steel but both work well except in a true factory original restoration. I can tell you most people will be quicker to pick up fiberglass repair than they would to be come a good welder, it is simply an easier product to work with, does not require expensive tools etc. This is my opinion of things but hopefully it will help you decide for yourself. The Bronco Design tubs are outstanding quality, I have seen several of them and am very impressed with them.

 

[Micheal]

I have a Dennis Carpenter tub due to be delivered in the next few weeks for a customer. I'll let you know what I think of it when it arrives.
Steve

Please do.. I am tossing back and forth on this.. I would go for an uncut version.. no matter which way I go.

Many thanks

Micheal

 

[Micheal]

I would say it depends on several factors, if you are wanting to do a back to original restoration then steel is your only option. If you are handy with a welder etc and your tub needs panel replacement then you need to investigate it and value your time and cost of materials to either fix it or move on to a new tub. You now have the option of a reproduction steel tub as well as the fiberglass tubs. If I was making a year round trail capable rig I would go fiberglass if I need a new tub, if I was going show (like I am) daily driver type then I would go steel but both work well except in a true factory original restoration. I can tell you most people will be quicker to pick up fiberglass repair than they would to be come a good welder, it is simply an easier product to work with, does not require expensive tools etc. This is my opinion of things but hopefully it will help you decide for yourself. The Bronco Design tubs are outstanding quality, I have seen several of them and am very impressed with them.

Many thanks... I am a very good welder, and machinist... I have been having a few health issues .. so I am 'leaning' towards glass..... but only by a very small margin. I will be using my 72 for a daily driver; plus, since I hunt, and I live in a phenomenal area wherein I can hunt moose and deer only a 10 minute drive from my farm, that tends to lean me towards ... well I am unsure now.... I will be keeping an eye on the forum to hopefully get more input.

 

[englewoodcowboy]

I would say for a serious hunting rig, depending on how well you want to keep things, fiberglass would be a good solution, won't rust etc and you can hose it out. Only other downfall of FG is when you run the electrical items you have to run a ground wire to everything, some manufacturers of harnesses will make a ground included harness for kit cars etc. I am wanting to build my dad a half cab and have been looking at glass but I am waiting for them to add the bed floor ribs... just one of my personal hang ups.

 

[ep67bro]

If this is going to be a hunting rig/ truck you are going to use, go with the glass tub. Also if you are somewhere they salt the roads in the winter it will start to rust the new or redone steel tub really fast.

 

[jmangi62]

I'm with the metal heads on this one,you already can weld and fab so go metal,you can rust proof metal pretty good nowadays.I have so much undercoating and paint on mine I'll be very surprised if I get a rust spot within the next 10 years LOL! ;D

 

[No1hedberg]

I would say for a serious hunting rig, depending on how well you want to keep things, fiberglass would be a good solution, won't rust etc and you can hose it out. Only other downfall of FG is when you run the electrical items you have to run a ground wire to everything, some manufacturers of harnesses will make a ground included harness for kit cars etc. I am wanting to build my dad a half cab and have been looking at glass but I am waiting for them to add the bed floor ribs... just one of my personal hang ups.

I talked to Corey about that. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but basically he said that putting ribs in the bed floor would create a bunch of thin spots in the floor that would make the whole thing weaker, With the only benefit being cosmetic. I actually thought about buying a steel bed floor repair panel and putting over the glass floor to protect the bed and give it a more stock appearance. Now that I've sprayed it with bed liner, I'm not sure it's necessary, but it's always an option.

 

[englewoodcowboy]

It would only make it thinner if they milled it down after it was laid up. If it was in the mold when they lay it up the thickness would be the same regardless. It is a cosmetic thing but one that I am hung up on. With the detail I put into everything I do, if it was a carpeted rig I would not care, however for a half cab, to me it looks out of place, like a bad floor pan patch that we have all too often seen and that is not something I will live with when it is exposed and on display.

To me the old Kentrol bodies, that is the one thing they had going for them as the entire floor was molded from an actual floor pan to have all of the correct indentations etc. however the down side was they had a lot of unfinished areas elsewhere.