Front grill/radiator support question

Trying to understand if the support rod is supposed to be bent or straight. I assume the later. In the pic, you can see the passenger side is straight but the drivers side has a bend. I also see both sides at the attachment point there is a bend in the red grill/radiator support metal. Is that supposed to be that way or was there an ouch at some point.

 

Mine has a bend. I couldn't tell you if it's just coincidence or not....

 

The bends are original factory including the bent ears on the grill. My belief is that the bend in the rod on the drivers side is for clearance over the heater box. The hood on the pass side has the notch/knockout for the snorkel used by the military and was just carried forward. The rod may have been bent at factory to accommodate this feature. Just guessing really but that sounds good. My Tux was near new and unmolested when I bought it in 1970 so I believe the rod configuration to be original.

 

"My belief is that the bend in the rod on the drivers side is for clearance over the heater box."

But what about on real early CJ5 - there was no "box" and the heater (if any) was under the dash by the passengers's feet?

 

The bend in the rod was probably to accommodate the under-hood shovel found on the M38A1. I've see them both mounted both ways (bend up or bend down).

 

I don't know that it is correct, but my 56 cj6 is the same. even the bent flange on the rad. suport

 

My 67 has the bend and my 56 did too

 

This is exactly what I found with my A1- the shovel rides very lightly on the rod and that keeps the shovel from rattling around.

 

I alyays wondered about the bend, strange how it carried over to the CJ6s as well.

 

Great discussion. Good reasons for the bends.

 

Yeup. And now I'm going to take twisted pleasure in blowing all these theories.

My stock '52 M38A1 has NO rods, and no OEM provision for them - at either end. (But it does have a shovel.)

And on my one-owner '57 CJ5, the rods are both dead straight. No bends, not now, not ever.

How do you like them apples?

 

Bwwaahhhaaahhaa!!

The military grill does hinge. Basically, the grill to fender bolts are in slots, as I recall it. Loosen them up and tip 'er forward. Then up and out, just like slit hood or tailgate hinges. Pretty cool.

 

M38A1 grill hinge.
Pic is not my jeep.

View attachment 30940

 

Trying again on the hinge pic.

View attachment 30941


MMmmm. Not working for me. Maybe I broke the internet.

 

Exacterly.