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Frame Rear Crossmember "v" Support Question

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by truckee4x4, Dec 8, 2018.

  1. Dec 8, 2018
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    Hi guys, I finally got the tub off to take a careful look at whatever the PO(s) had done to the frame. Turns out someone thought it would be a good idea to use the bottom of the rear crossmember for O/A cutting torch practice, and then went further and cut out the "V" that reinforces the towing plate:
    20181201_GK_untitled shoot_Photo Dec 01, 3 38 17 PM.jpg

    I easily sourced a replacement rear crossmember, but as for the "V" I am trying to come up with a plan to fix this. I see a comparable part on KW:

    Rear Crossmember to Frame Reinforcement

    But the fitment is not correct for my 66 CJ5 - or is it close enough that it could be welded in place? Or would I be better off asking a kind soul from this Board with a similar vehicle to supply some dimensions and fabricating an exact fit replacement?
     
  2. Dec 8, 2018
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    The v braces aren't necessary. I cut them out of mine when i installed the rear tank. 70 & up CJ's never had them.
     
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  3. Dec 8, 2018
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    same here...
     
  4. Dec 8, 2018
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    I would replace the v shaped frame member as it transfers the pulling load on the hitch drawbar up to the main frame crossmemder over the axle. You can find these on eBay for $50 delivered, and I suspect they are all from the same supplier. They should all be the same from the 1940's to about 1970 when the fuel tank went under the rear floor.
    -Donny
     
  5. Dec 8, 2018
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    The later Jeeps have a lot of reinforcement that replaces that V. Plate 11.066-14 bolts in to the body floor.

    [​IMG]

    You need something like this or the V if you want to use a pintle hook, and maybe for a ball on the drawbar too. However, if you don't care about using the drawbar/pintle, many Jeeps have had the V removed and the rear tank installed.
     
  6. Dec 8, 2018
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Thank you all for the information!
     
  7. Dec 8, 2018
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Absolutely true. Don't ask me how I know.

    Saying it is not necessary is the same as saying you can't use the rear member at all. Which to me, is negating half of what a jeep can do.
     
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  8. Dec 8, 2018
    Chilly

    Chilly Active Member

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    Surprises me to think that bracket, attached to the floor pan of the body, could contribute at all to the tow bar strength. I always believed it was more of a support for the body rather than structure for the tow bar.
     
  9. Dec 8, 2018
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    All those parts show in Tim's post, or the original V brace are completely attached to the chassis, completely separate of the floor pan/body. The rear crossmember of the frame is actually not very heavy metal, and relies on the assosiated braces to distribute the loads and or weight.
    -Donny
     
  10. Dec 8, 2018
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

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    No they're not, that bracket mentioned above is attached to the body as he said. There is a reinforcing strip added to the body that the bracket indeed does bolt to.
     
  11. Dec 9, 2018
    Chilly

    Chilly Active Member

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    If the V-bracket lended any support to the floor (I dont know, I dont have an Early) then maybe that bracket was to make up for the diminished floor support when the V-bracket was removed?
     
  12. Dec 9, 2018
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    My bad! I've worked on 1970-ish CJ5, but never pulled the tub or fuel tank. I'm a bit suprised the factory transferred some of the drawbar support to the body tub. Just learned something new!
    -Donny
     
  13. Dec 11, 2018
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Just as an FYI for anyone else that might be curious - I got the nice folks at Kaiser Willy's to measure their V- support part (Rear Crossmember to Frame Reinforcement) to see how far off it is from the CJ5 frame:

    image001.jpeg
    K-W Part:
    A = 19"
    B = 28.75"

    CJ5 (Mine is 1966):
    A = 19"
    B = 25.25"

    Looks like it could possibly be bent....but I'm thinking it might be more fun to go use the CNC plasma machine at the local Makerspace and see how much I remember from high school metal shop and make my own.
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2019
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  14. Dec 11, 2018
    Framer Mike P

    Framer Mike P Member

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    Its great if you wish to build your own brace but I think that the K-W part and dimension is correct. I think your 25.25" measurement is between the upper and lower flanges of the frame rail. The v brace should run all the way to the inside of the vertical surface of the frame. It gets sandwiched between the frame and the crossmember that is just behind the axle - sharing the two rivets on the outside of the frame.
     
  15. Dec 11, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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    I agree, the frame rails are the same distance apart on all early CJ's
     
  16. Dec 12, 2018
    truckee4x4

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    Here’s a pic of where I measured: 7FC6AE25-88DE-49FD-BB45-EF35643EA372.jpeg

    If the size is the same for all early CJ frames then I wonder why K-W says the replacement support doesn’t fit later models?
     
  17. Dec 12, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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  18. May 29, 2019
    tripilio

    tripilio Proud American!

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    Pics, please! I want to do the same on my 62 CJ5.
     
  19. May 31, 2019
    Cowboyjeeper

    Cowboyjeeper Member

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    If you cut it out use common sense when towing or pulling with the drawbar/hitch.
    These frames need all the support they can get in my opinion.
     
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  20. Jun 21, 2019
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Before I pull the trigger on the K-W part and try to bend it inwards to fit, does anyone know of anywhere else I might find one that actually fits a 1966 Cj5?
     
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