Frame Bar that goes between motor mounts

[NotTJ]

Looking at a friends Jeep last weekend I noticed a bar between his AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l motor mounts. His is an 84 I think. My 78 does not have a bar between mounts. Should a 78 have this? Should I add one?

 

[gert]

My 83 has one, it helps to stop the frame rails from spreading apart

Im not sure if yours was factory equipped tho


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[TSB8C]

Not sure what year that was introduced. Here's a diagram showing it (part #12 in the pic). Wish the drawing was more clear - sorry. The part # is J535-8188 with the description as "BAR, Tie". I believe it is a solid 5/8" steel rod flattened and bent at the ends as opposed to hollow tubing and is indeed to prevent the frame rails from spreading apart. CJs with 6 or 8 cylinder engines had them, not the 4-bangers. It attaches to one motor mount bolt on each side.


And here's a shot of a '79 CJ frame (upside down) with the bar installed.

 

[Belizean]

Well my 4 banger came off the truck with one of those. Only got taken off when my 4 banger was removed and replaced with a rebuilt AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . It’s back on again.

 

[TSB8C]

Well my 4 banger came off the truck with one of those. Only got taken off when my 4 banger was removed and replaced with a rebuilt 258. It’s back on again.

I stand corrected. I read somewhere (I thought) that they were not included with 4-cyl engines. Good to know. I had heard that they were only used on heavier engines where the risk of frame spread was greater. I have had three CJs (two '77 and my current '84) and none had one; all removed by POs I assume. I don't have one on my current rig that came with the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l 6-cyl stock; and now I have a SBC in there. Maybe I should make one and install it.

 

[NotTJ]

I think it would be nice to have. I assume the V8 and AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l use the same bar? I wish we could confirm whether 1978,had them but if they mount between motor mount bolts it should fit.