1971 cj5 rear crossmember

In the process of replacing the rearmost crossmember on my frame. I purchased a new one from omix-ada. i went to bolt it on and found that the bumper sits 3+ inches over on the drivers side. since the original was completly rusted off, i have nothing to compare it to. wondered if anybody knows if this is supposed to be this way. unable to find anything helpful searching the forums.
Thanks for the help

 

Agreeing with Lynn, as I recall, they aren't the same length on each side. I think it's ok, but I'll have to look at mine when I get home.

 

if I remember right, the driver's side is longer to allow for the licence plate mounting holes. I could be wrong.

 

What i meant was the from the edge of the bumper to the center of the bolt was 3+ inches longer on the drivers side than it is on the passenger side. I wasn't sure if it was purpously done this way, or i had gotten a bad cross member. I also thought it was because of the liceince plate slots, but i wanted to make sure it was correct since i am using the bumper as a starting point for my bumpers.
Sorry, no pic's, i don't have a digital camera, and i just started a new roll of film, there should be pics some time next week as long as i don't hit anymore speed bumps during the build
Thanks for your help

 

My stock rear frame member from my 65CJ5 is offset the same way you describe. Mine is uncut and solid. I seem to recall the same thing on my old 55 too. I would beleive this to be normal.

 

I found a thread posted in the fab forum where bkap built a new bumper/tire mount and he had written the measurement from framerail to fraimerail on the tailgate of their jeep. they had 26 3/8, i have 26 5/16, and i figure the 1/16 is because of the rear bumper had been missing for some time.
However....
I have been doing some research trying to find some original frame specs ie dimesions and the such. I found that my frame has been tweaked slightly, as in it grows from an 1/8 inch out of square between the front bumper and the first cross member where the Ross style steering knuckle mounts, to 1/2 inch out from the last cross member and the rear bumper/cross member. all measurements are taken from the center of rivets or the holes where they used to be. the front and middle don't bother me as much, since they are only out an 1/8 inch in the front, and 1/4 inch in the middle, but the 3/8inch between the next two crossmembers and the 1/2 inch between the last crossmember and the bumper have me worried. i called a few collision shops, but they have no records going back that old.
If anybody has any idea how to fix this problem, or know if this is acceptible, please let me know.
Thanks for any info

 

Mine is off set as well. None of the holes lined up (maybe 1....) but you'll have to try to make sure the PTO hole lines up in case you do end up with a PTO gear box, then it should be set. That's how I set mine.

 

Is the body bolted to the frame?

You will get a better idea of the overall squareness of the frame if you take diagonal measurements from reference points as far forward and as far rearward as possible. On a Jeep this old, if it were a half inch out of square, I wouldn't be concerned.

 

The cj5 is blown apart getting a frame up rebuild. must of had a brain malfunction about overall squareness. i unclamped it and it was only out of square by a light 3/8 of an inch. other than the mounting holes for the bumper to the frame, i'm not going to worry about the other holes, as i don't plan on running a pto, and the gas tank sits in the way anyways.
Thanks for everybodys help.

 

I have a 1971 cj5 and the rear crossmember is 3" longer on the drivers side for license plate

 

I just replaced the one on my M38A1 and it is to the edge of the tub on the drivers side, but just to the edge of the joint between the rear panel and passsengers quarter (tailgate opening for you CJ guys!) So 3" or so shorter on the pass side.