Grille Rods?

I noticed that I am missing the rods that go from the grill to the firewall. what are these called? are they necessary? I want to put them back in obviously, but how important are they? they haven't been in the jeep since who knows how long. also missing the tabs on the firewall they attach to.

 

radiator or header support rods.
Not imperative, but may keep cooling fan from contacting radiator on rough terrain and keep headlights on beam.

 

How can you lose the brackets on the cowl? Is it a fiberglass tub?

 

It's metal. They just are gone. Idk how. It's how it came when I bought it

 

Yea, the tabs.......they're welded on. Odd.

 

Perhaps an accident in the jeep's past. Does the frame vin match the body vin?
As old as cj5's are becoming all sorts of rebuilds are possible.

 

Did any year NOT come with the tabs and rods?

 

I don't even see a spot where there were tabs welded on

 

Are those pop rivets?

 

That row of rivets is not original. Something has been spliced together in the drip channel, and all the brackets for the support rods are missing. Maybe the whole cowl panel has been replaced?
-Donny

 

The more you know....

 

Jeepsicles.

 

vareeeeeeee interesting!, in my best Arte Johnson voice.
with the way that's assembled I would not hesitate sourcing rods and fabbing up your own brackets.
Out of curiosity, is the seam welded or panel bonded (glued?) as well as riveted?

 

hello all. since I have posted this, I have decided to fab up my own brackets and rod. I plan on doing angle bolted to the firewall, and then some rod. should be pretty straight forward. and you all can see how amazing my fab skills are

 

Mine were missing when I bought my Jeep, strange.