Rear Cross-member?

Hi guys,

Take a look at this photo...Do I need a new rear cross-member? (Thanks to SIDSCJ for educating me that it's not a bumper)!

I took off the step bumper that was previously attached (or was it a drawbar ) and found all these holes.

lj

 

looks better'n mine

 

Looks good 2 me 2. The x-member that holds the tranny/x-fer case should also have a ton 'o holes innit...no probs their either.

 

Looks pretty close to stock to me, clean it up and use it.

 

Looks like the same holes as mine. I have a swing out spare tire carrier that yours might have had at one time.

 

Is it just me or is the right side shorter than the left? Maybe I should lay off the crack....

 

Ron there was a thread lately discussing that very observation. It's normal, IIRC, to allow for exhaust to exit behind the right rear (or something like that). I think Patrick knows that answer.

 

Whats the larger hole just to left of the center cross member for? Was that for a pto shaft or something?

 

just a guess here but...for a wire harness for a trailer. :?

 

Ah, thanks! I thought I was going batty. I don't think my '56 is like that, but I'd have to look, and it's all tore apart right now.

Lorne, what's with the four taillights? My Jeep had four, but the top two were just for flat towing. They were wired out to a plug on the towbar, like trailer lights. Same deal with yours?

 

Ron, I can't speak for Lorne, but I've got a similar setup. My Sparton turning signal requires a separate circuit for taillights & blinker lights, therefore I've got my blinker lamps above my taillights.

 

Yes, exactly. PTO would run off the D18 to the rear, thru the crossmember and mate to the input flange on the rear gearbox. Same as my '56.

 

Holes in the web (vertical part) don't affect the strength much. Holes in the rails (top, bottom) do.

You can buy the complete cross-member new if it's rusted out.

 

I hadn't noticed it was shorter on one side until the question was raised here!

As for the four taillights; I think that's something from the PO. They don't come on with the switch and I think they were strictly hooked up for towing. There is a cable coming out the front with a connector to plug in to the car doing the towing.

I believe the bottom two are original.

lj

 

It's solid, just more holes than I expected. I'm pretty sure some were added for the step bumper that was on this when I bought it. The extra holes are a bit elongated and the metal around those holes is bent as if the bolts were starting to pull through.

lj

 

I see evenly spaced sets of four holes on each side. Is it possible that it had some of those "bumperettes" on it at one time?