Front end mounting and cracks

[yellowoctupus]

For those not familiar with my rig, it's a '55 wagon mounted on a 2001 Dodge Ram chassis. I originally had a 'flip forward' front clip, which I am converting back to more of a traditional front end. (The full-front-clip-flip was basically the only thing that was carried over from the first guy who started my project.) Since I don't have any good examples of a stock setup, I searched here for some answers. Feel free to offer correction, or clarifications.

1. The grille is mounted to the front-most crossmember by means of some sort of rubber puck below the grille.
2. Some models had heavy (1/4") steel straps bolting the fenders securely to the body. Maybe just some P/Us, maybe snow plow models, or severe duty trucks?
3. There is some sort of welting between the front body panels. Is this just between 'moveable' parts, ie hood to grille, or is is also between hard mounted parts like grille to fenders?
4. Hood has rubber on hood to cowl.
5. Hood also has rubber bumpers somewhere. Any help on this one? Are they in the front, or rear?
6. Where are the common crack points?

I think I will be mounting my grille to the radiator support most likely as I have an independent radiator support right now, but if it's fenders that crack, I still need to address that issue.

Thanks!

PS. This was a helpful thread: http://www.oldwillysforum.com/forum...-fender-to-frame-quiry&highlight=grille+mount

 

[Larry Messing]

Ok well the grille is mounted to the front cross member by a single large bolt that slips throught the rubber bushing into a slot on the grille mount that is welded to the front cross member it is also held it place by three bolts through the fenders down both sides

the front fenders do have a reinforcement strap the connects the inside bottom of fenders to the firewall .......my 51 pickup has the holes for them

some trucks and wagons had the welting on them and some did not i believe this was a option and not factory standard

the hood should have the rubber bump stops on the inside of grille on top in the corners

the fenders are held on by 9 bolts on each side they start at the inside top of firewall and there are 4 bolts on the fire wall then 1 bolt on the bottom curve of fire wall then 4 bolts under the cab if you look you should easily be able to see these mounting holes

and thats it .....25 bolts and both fenders and grill come off as far as the cracking issue i know the fenders are notorious for cracking just to the left and right

of where the grille bolts on some people just weld it up and leave it alone another point is where the front fender drops to the cab the outer flange is prone to cracking as well

i know there is some other stuff i missed but i am sure other people will help fill in the blanks



Larry

 

[yellowoctupus]

Great info Larry, thanks.

the hood should have the rubber bump stops on the inside of grille on top in the corners

Are these available through the standard restoration Jeep places? I searched Walcks and KaiserWillys with no luck. I'm not sure what they are as I definitely don't have them.