Bathtub dilemma

[jeff47]

2. Tubs have been standard for a very, very long time

So the plumbing should line up. As a sibling poster mentioned, the only built-in plumbing is the drain, and the drain parts have a good amount of play in them to line up to the tub.

The main thing you found in tubs from the 60s that you can not find today are "closed end" tubs. Today, all tubs are constructed as if there are walls on 3 sides of the tub. Back in the 60s, you could get tubs that only needed 2 walls - one of the short sides was finished and meant to be seen. So if you currently have a closed-end tub and want to replace it, you'll have to build at least a short wall on that end. This can be a big problem in that there's often not enough room to add a wall - it effectively makes your tub 2-5" longer.

One other factor if you pull the tub is you will have to replace at least the bottom row of tile, if the walls are tiled. If they're not tile, you will probably have to replace the entire tub surround.

Painting prevents these problems, obviously. But in my experience paint is just extending the life of the tub - it's not going to last anywhere near as long as a new tub. Actual time will depend on how often the tub is used. At that point, you'd have to paint again or replace the tub.

As for the smell, I'd recommend keeping the door closed, the window open, and a fan in the window blowing out. The more air you can get through the room the faster the smell will go away.