Box frame at spring hangers only?

set it into the C so I can get good penetration with the weld....

I think we have a winner...

 

I couldn’t agree more...leaving at least 90% of it alone...
basically just throwing a "smarter than the average bear" gusset where there have been known problems..

rear cross member is a bit tweaked from being moved around indoors and on my trucks...
just planning on bending that back into place... don’t want to ruin the integrity of the riveted frame

heck I’m not even replacing the shackle hangers where the bushing sleeve rotted… just re sleeving them..

 

Maybe a gusset like this, but do not start or stop the welds at the ends.

A better gusset design would be a flanged type which is obviously stronger and better to attache to the frame rail edge.

Keep in mind that proper welding techniques play a huge part in how you make a good attachment to your frame , fit, heat, cleanliness, filler materials .............Good Luck!

 

Instead of reinventing the wheel you could look at a M38A1 frame to see how Jeep reinforced it. Though if you think about the chronology, they actually "un-reinforced" the CJ5, since it came later.

If you really want to get picky, any welding you do may involve the effects of tempering, hardening, annealing, heat distortion, hydrogen embrittlement,..... etc etc. How will you know if you are doing more good than harm?

 

Like I said these Jeeps were pretty much throw away vehicles!
And as far as the Welding .........Your right............the proper way would be to take the frame after welding on it and stick it in an oven , heat to a known, then bring it down slowly to normalize the steel once again.

That's why I said earlier there "Is no one size fits all" approach to working on frames .........let your own ingenuity , talent and use factor guide your own approach.............

 

after welding its going for a hot zinc bath.... heat/cool

 

i know this isn't my original thread... so I will be starting a new one next week hopefully when I start working on my specific frame...

 

Topic continued with my results here...

http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/showthread.php?101879-just-got-myself-into-a-6/page5