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CJ5 Frame Differences

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by linckeil, Sep 8, 2004.

  1. Sep 8, 2004
    linckeil

    linckeil Member

    Danbury CT
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    Aug 19, 2004
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    492
    From 1955 to 1975 what are the differences in the frames for the CJ5? I know that in '72, the saginaw steering was used, thus the frame was modified slightly to accomadate the saginaw box. What about frame dimensions and strengths over this year span?
     
  2. Sep 8, 2004
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    9,221
    Longer for the I6 up in front.

    Body mounts remain in the same position until '76.

    I can't think of anything else off the top of my head.
     
  3. Sep 8, 2004
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Also removed the diagonal braces in '70 for the rear fuel tank. The '72-75 frame has a wide, flat front crossmember that supports the grille and fills the area between the bumper and front grille.
     
  4. Sep 8, 2004
    linckeil

    linckeil Member

    Danbury CT
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    Tim, would this wide, flat crossmember that supports the grill and fills the area between the bumper and front grill fit a pre '72 CJ5?
     
  5. Sep 8, 2004
    Hippo393

    Hippo393 Jeepless

    Charlotte, NC
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    I think the older Willys frames had a round, tubed front crossmember. Can anyone else confirm or deny that?
     
  6. Sep 8, 2004
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I don't know. I suppose so. You'd have to do a lot of grinding to remove it.

    I don't have an intermediate any more - someone on the board could measure and take some pictures for you.
     
  7. Sep 8, 2004
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Certainly the MB had a tube and the GPW had a stamped front crossmember. The tube probably carried forward, though I don't know for how many years.
     
  8. Sep 8, 2004
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Sep 23, 2002
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    12,529
    The '71 and older frames had a channel iron type crossmember the grill bolted to and also the mount for the bellcrank for the Ross steering. '72 and newer used the flat front crossmember also as the grill mount. The '72 and newer also didn't have the mount on the frame for the brake master cylinder as these did not use through-the-floor pedals but hanging pedals. Everything else has been mentioned. The round crossmember was used on some models of flatfender Jeeps. Nickmil.
     
  9. Sep 8, 2004
    66cj5

    66cj5 Jeep with no name

    NorthWest Indiana
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    2,084
    should be 1945 and 46 models. also still had pioneer tool indents on sides.
     
  10. Sep 8, 2004
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    All of the Flatties I have ever had - had the tube crossmember up front. Years 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53.

    Some of the early 2A's have a Tranny - Tcase bracket outside the frame to hold the cross member.

    :stout:
     
  11. Sep 9, 2004
    Hippo393

    Hippo393 Jeepless

    Charlotte, NC
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    Sep 22, 2002
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    I've got half of a Willys frame that a 225 (Buick Special, 1BBL) came off. It's got the tube front x-member, but I have no idea if it was from a CJ-5 or prior.

    Anyone with a '55-ish CJ-5 care to chime in? :)
     
  12. Sep 9, 2004
    Ledge

    Ledge Member

    Old Town, Maine
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    May 5, 2004
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    72
    My 55 front crossmember is made of a U shaped piece of stamped steel with another piece of flat steel on the bottom closing up the U. I'll take a picture of it if you want.
     
  13. Sep 9, 2004
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    As Warloch said the flatties had the round tube front crossmember. ;)
     
  14. Sep 9, 2004
    jd7

    jd7 Sponsor

    Nacogdoches,Texas
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    Mar 30, 2004
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    My 58 Cj5 had a tubular crossmember. Both my 53 and 62 M38A1s have the I-beam style. I have a couple of flattie 2A & 3A frames they have tubular crossmembers.
     
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