Interesting question
 

A guy I ran into at the gas station the other day mentioned that the 2
engine compartment supports that run from grille to firewall on a TJ can
be removed for easier servicing, since (he believes) they were placed
there during manufacturing only to support the assembly prior to
welding. His were removed with no apparent problems.

Sure, it would be easier to perform maintainance without them in the
way, but I'm not sure if his reasoning is valid. They're pretty
flimsy-looking which supports his claim, but I don't want to mess with
them if structural integrity will be compromised.

Does anyone know the truth behind this? Has anyone removed theirs, and
can tell me if problems arise because of it?

Re: Interesting question
 

Outatime wrote:
> A guy I ran into at the gas station the other day mentioned that the 2
> engine compartment supports that run from grille to firewall on a TJ can
> be removed for easier servicing, since (he believes) they were placed
> there during manufacturing only to support the assembly prior to
> welding. His were removed with no apparent problems.
>
> Sure, it would be easier to perform maintainance without them in the
> way, but I'm not sure if his reasoning is valid. They're pretty
> flimsy-looking which supports his claim, but I don't want to mess with
> them if structural integrity will be compromised.
>
> Does anyone know the truth behind this? Has anyone removed theirs, and
> can tell me if problems arise because of it?

They space the core support/grill from the cowl, allowing the hood to
close and latch correctly over the life of the Jeep...

Take them out and probably nothing will happen... for a while, the
Jeep's hood and the grill latch is a sloppy loose toleranced setup that
will continue to latch for years while the 6 fender mounting bolts and
the one body mount bolt that ties to the frame crossmember all vibrate
and flex their way to fatiquing off. If the Jeep lasts long enough they
will snap and your radiator will eat fan or your electric fan and
radiator will play with your belt drive accessories :)

--
Simon
"I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

Re: Interesting question
 

Outatime wrote:
> A guy I ran into at the gas station the other day mentioned that the 2
> engine compartment supports that run from grille to firewall on a TJ can
> be removed for easier servicing, since (he believes) they were placed
> there during manufacturing only to support the assembly prior to
> welding. His were removed with no apparent problems.
>
> Sure, it would be easier to perform maintainance without them in the
> way, but I'm not sure if his reasoning is valid. They're pretty
> flimsy-looking which supports his claim, but I don't want to mess with
> them if structural integrity will be compromised.
>
> Does anyone know the truth behind this? Has anyone removed theirs, and
> can tell me if problems arise because of it?

They space the core support/grill from the cowl, allowing the hood to
close and latch correctly over the life of the Jeep...

Take them out and probably nothing will happen... for a while, the
Jeep's hood and the grill latch is a sloppy loose toleranced setup that
will continue to latch for years while the 6 fender mounting bolts and
the one body mount bolt that ties to the frame crossmember all vibrate
and flex their way to fatiquing off. If the Jeep lasts long enough they
will snap and your radiator will eat fan or your electric fan and
radiator will play with your belt drive accessories :)

--
Simon
"I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

Re: Interesting question
 

Outatime wrote:
> A guy I ran into at the gas station the other day mentioned that the 2
> engine compartment supports that run from grille to firewall on a TJ can
> be removed for easier servicing, since (he believes) they were placed
> there during manufacturing only to support the assembly prior to
> welding. His were removed with no apparent problems.
>
> Sure, it would be easier to perform maintainance without them in the
> way, but I'm not sure if his reasoning is valid. They're pretty
> flimsy-looking which supports his claim, but I don't want to mess with
> them if structural integrity will be compromised.
>
> Does anyone know the truth behind this? Has anyone removed theirs, and
> can tell me if problems arise because of it?

They space the core support/grill from the cowl, allowing the hood to
close and latch correctly over the life of the Jeep...

Take them out and probably nothing will happen... for a while, the
Jeep's hood and the grill latch is a sloppy loose toleranced setup that
will continue to latch for years while the 6 fender mounting bolts and
the one body mount bolt that ties to the frame crossmember all vibrate
and flex their way to fatiquing off. If the Jeep lasts long enough they
will snap and your radiator will eat fan or your electric fan and
radiator will play with your belt drive accessories :)

--
Simon
"I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

Re: Interesting question
 

I figured as much. I didn't see much holding the grille assembly
together as it was. Thanks for the heads-up.

Re: Interesting question
 

I figured as much. I didn't see much holding the grille assembly
together as it was. Thanks for the heads-up.

Re: Interesting question
 

I figured as much. I didn't see much holding the grille assembly
together as it was. Thanks for the heads-up.

Re: Interesting question
 

They are pretty easy to pull when you need to service something and
re-install when you are done.

Carl

"Outatime" <WhoKnows@here.com> wrote in message
news:AJKdnXO6P8_d7a7YnZ2dnUVZ_tudnZ2d@softcom.net. ..
>I figured as much. I didn't see much holding the grille assembly together
>as it was. Thanks for the heads-up.

Re: Interesting question
 

They are pretty easy to pull when you need to service something and
re-install when you are done.

Carl

"Outatime" <WhoKnows@here.com> wrote in message
news:AJKdnXO6P8_d7a7YnZ2dnUVZ_tudnZ2d@softcom.net. ..
>I figured as much. I didn't see much holding the grille assembly together
>as it was. Thanks for the heads-up.

Re: Interesting question
 

They are pretty easy to pull when you need to service something and
re-install when you are done.

Carl

"Outatime" <WhoKnows@here.com> wrote in message
news:AJKdnXO6P8_d7a7YnZ2dnUVZ_tudnZ2d@softcom.net. ..
>I figured as much. I didn't see much holding the grille assembly together
>as it was. Thanks for the heads-up.