Wheelhouse support baffle?

Should my '74 have one of these? Or maybe two? It wasn't present when I bought my Jeep, but I noticed it on the Classic Enterprises web site as a body part.

The pic is from Classic...


I have seen others with a hole in the center.

 

There should be one on the right (passenger's) side only. The left side has smaller 1/2 sized one that bolts in place and holds the liquid check valve for the gas tank vapor system. The one you reference above is welded in place and braces that quarter panel, presumably because that's where the original spare tire mounted.

 

I have the liquid check valve. Since my CJ does not have the side mount spare, I assume that is shouldn't have a baffle either. There are some "J" shaped supports there on both sides...but not the full blown baffle.

 

My 78 has the baffle on both sides. They are identical. The indent is for the hat channel on the right side that supports the side mounted spare.

 

76+ are different, they had the baffle on both sides. Earlies and Intermediates didn't.

 

Will that baffle from classic enterprises fit the driver side? My j support on that side is rusting to pieces and isn't doing it's job anymore.
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I don't see why not. The dimensions are the same left and right.

 

Looks like you'd have to weld it.

 

Most likely it would blister the paint on the outside, correct?
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yes it would blister the paint to weld it. maybe you could try some of the autobody 2 part epoxy on it to hold it in?

 

You can probably bolt the top and inside the wheel house...kind of like the gasoline check valve....of course the outside would be an issue.

 

I'd probably try auto body panel adhesive. I've never used it, but apparently it forms an incredibly strong bond. http://www.automotivetoolsonline.com/3M-8115-3M-Automix-Panel-Bonding-Adhesive-3M08115_p_10016.html

 

As long as the mating surfaces are clean, the above style products will work. That's what's holding your new car together. Sheetmetal on new cars is so thin that a little glue holds it all together. For a basically non-stressed part like the baffle it'll do just fine. Just find a buddy that has the $50 applicator gun that you can borrow...................