None on my CJ-7 either. Same as you, previous owner didn't put them on after the glass swap.
I havn't seen any problems...the grill shakes a little when the hood is open.

'79 CJ-7

 

I couldn't do without them with the one piece front end, but I found purdy polished stainless ones at 4WD Hardware.

 

The grill rods remind me of the "U" channel off-set rear frame support brackets on a CJ-7.
Those are the ones that go from underneath the next to last frame body mounts on both sides to the bed of the tub.
Seems most can do without them but the designers included these and the grill rods for added support - the rods to keep the grill from shaking along with the fenders and the rear brackets to keep the tub from shifting forward and putting shear on the body mounting bolts.
Jeeps were designed to be tough and last.
These components were included to help do this job.
IMHO

JAF
http://www.monsterslayer.com/jeep

 

Jaffer is right . Jeep wouldn`t put them there for the fun of it . And what a great place to hang the trouble light from when your working on your Jeep in the evening or secure wire looms to or I`ve even seen Hi-Lift jacks mounted to them .

Jeepzilla
CJ5
Almost finished /wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif