Renegade Rear Panel Channel

Guys

Intermediate Renegades have a length of hat channel running across the back top of the solid back panel. What is the distance from top edge of the rear panel to the raised step of the hat (not the sheared edge)? Need to weld my replacement onto my tub before paint.

Thanks,
Chilly

 

Not restricted to Renegades. The solid back panel went to the regular option list in 1973, and any intermediate with a solid back panel should qualify. Likely the '76-up CJ-5s with that panel too but I can't say for sure.

 

I have a 1972 original brochure that shows the solid back panel was a standard option for that year as well.

 

Mmm. I'd like to see that brochure. The solid back panel was available with the Renegade package in 1972, but I'm sure it first made it as a single line on the option list in 1973. I was there, and bought a brand-new '73 with the newly-available solid back panel. I saw a lot of '72s and none had the solid back panel that were not Renegades.

Sorry to pick nits, but standard option is something of a oxymoron, like "jumbo shrimp." There were standard features, and optional features. When the dealerships placed an order for a car, they could tick off items from the option list.

 

I'm showing 1 7/16" on the driver side and 1 3/8" on the passenger side.

 

That would be fine. Provide phone number to send pics to and I can send pic of front cover of brochure and the part that speaks of the new features of the 1972 cj My number is 4082212488 Cheers

 

I don't understand this phone number transfer process. Just send me a PM ("conversation" on my profile page) from the site, or send me an email please.

 

Jeep factory assembly quality.

I would pick one of those and make it level with the panel top edge.

 

I sent two pictures of a brochure to your email. Thanks

 

The frame book says + or- 1/4 inch tolerance on a Jeep includes body tolerance as well that’s huge by bodywork standards level that sucker and weld it in.

 

1/16" across 4' isn't enough fall to keep the rain from piling up, but add that to 2" of Jeep lean and I'm sure the rain water just shoots into the oncoming traffic.

 

Mrtii sent some pictures to me - I don't think he'll mind if I share:



So this contradicts what I was told and what my experience was. I would be interested to see any '72s that are not Renegades that have a solid back panel. I have never seen one, and I saw plenty of '72s hanging out at the nation's second largest Jeep dealer starting in 1971 (I later worked there part time).

 

I do not mind at all. I found it also curious as well. I had done some digging into advertised literature around that model yr do to my restoration of a very early Sept 71 production cj5 with a V8 and T15, which had the renegade factory color of Lime Green but with a tailgate and swinging spare tire, I suspect that mine was a renegade as ordered but it contradicts customary knowledge. I also have a offset D44 build date of 3/71 and it appears original. All my switches look like 1971 except heater control which is borrowed from the late 50's early 60's model, but was I have been told was switched again in mid 72 production. I draw no conclusions, other than there appears to have been a lot of changes in late 71 that caused some hybrid in the earliest 72 production

 

I could be mistaken, but from memory I would claim with certainty that all the '72s had the black plastic dash knobs like a '71 and those chromed heater knobs on a steel panel. Maybe we have been through this before ... I would point out that plenty of '73s were built in 1972, and they would have had the upgraded soft-feel controls - this could result in some ... misinterpretation.

I was quite the Jeep enthusiast in that period and I soaked up a lot of trivia about Jeeps from that time. I also recall the gauge package has the gauges over on the left side of the column, not in the '73 location below the main cluster. I remember this issue about the back panel because I had been working full-time for several months, and I wanted a new Jeep. For '72, you could not get some of the Renegade features - like the solid back panel and body-colored roll bar - without the Renegade package. The Fairway Green '73 I bought was equipped like a Renegade, except for the roll bar( which was added at the dealership) and the wheels. I paid very close attention to the CJs then, but it's been nearly 50 years.

The Renegade got a bit less exclusive in 1973, and degenerated to an appearance package in subsequent years. If your Jeep was a Renegade, I would expect it to have the "99" paint code. Unfortunately in 1972 the paint and trim codes were put on a foil tag that was glued to the passenger side firewall, and that is often lost. I would also insist that a '72 Renegade have the full complement of Renegade features; 304, back panel, gauges, stripes, colors, wheels, body-colored roll bar, HD suspension & shocks (limited slip too? think so). Most of them came through fully loaded as I recall, with PS&PB and other stuff I can't recall.

 

I have an M38a-1 tub with essentially the same upper hat channel across the back. If I remember tomorrow, I will try to get the measurement to see how that compares with the civvy tub. My guess is they are the same.
I'll likely cut the rear panel out for a tailgate when I use that tub.
-Donny

 

An M38A1 tub has the raised step at 1 3/8" below the top edge. The sheared edge is 1/2" below the top edge and is perfectly straight and parallel.
-Donny