ARGHH I can't fit in the jeep! Move seat? Smaller steering wheel? Help?!

Ok, no laughing *%^@&*#!

1975 CJ5, power steering, original bus steering wheel, original lowback seats.

My jeep must have shrunk since I last drove it 13 years ago, because now I just can't fit in the damn thing. R)

Damn stomach hits the wheel and makes it pita uncomfortable.

What are my options?

I figure the a smaller steering wheel would be easiest. What size would you recommend? 13" 14" 14.5" OR ? How do I know the replacement will fit? (what style mount holes should I look for?) Any good online source you can refer me to?

At least I already have power steering, so a smaller wheel should not be too bad to drive. And of course I'll keep the bus wheel, so it's not an irreversible change.

What are my options to move the seat? Can I pop the seat off the stock rail, drill some extra holes in the rail, and remount the seat an inch or two back? Or would that cause it to hit the rear fender (like on the early Cjs)?

And yes I've already been working on losing the gut, but I'd like to drive this thing before 2009

Good news, making progress toward starting the beast for the first time in 13 years. Hopefully I'll have the engine ready to crank over next week.

 

Yep, most of us are headed that way, if we aren't there already! Time for a smaller wheel and/or tilt steering.

 

I actually saw that link while searching the archive trying to find info on smaller steering wheels. Doing the fender notch modification is not an option on this jeep.

 

By looking at that picture, I have come to the conclusion that I will steal your radio if I every find Superdutch parked. R)

 

Thanks for the tips.

In regards to dish depth, I see the following: 3-3/4", 3-1/2", 3", 2-3/4", amd 2-1/2". http://www.jeep4x4center.com/grant/jeep-accessories.htm

So should 2-1/2" be ok, or should I look for something more shallow?

And I only saw 1 Grant adapter (no option for different lengths) http://shopping.jeep4x4center.com/popup.asp?number=GRT4405 Is that the one you're talking about?

Is there an aftermarket wheel that bolts right on w/o an adapter?

 

Go here http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D4405&N=700+4294925230+4294839012+400103+4294916248+4294908280+4294925067+4294907262+115&autoview=sku
for the adapter. I'm not horizontally challenged so I didn't consider backspace (I will check it if you would like) but I did want max diameter so I went w/ http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D832&N=700+0&autoview=sku
It's 14.75", the biggest one Grant had. The best prices (free shipping) were from Summit.:v6:

 

I'm curious, why???

 

I had similar problem to fit into my 77, so I did a ``foamectomy`` at the back of the driver seat, where it touches the rear fender. I gain around 1 1/2 inch that way and I kept the original steering wheel.

It is still a tight fit, but this is to be expected from a CJ-5


Bob in cold Sherbrooke, Province of Québec

 

I couldn't find a Grant steering wheel without any "dish", so I cut the one I had, took all of the dish out (bent the spokes inward), re-welded and painted it. It looks about as good as new and doesn't get in the way.

 

I'm not looking forward to this problem either, as I'm probably the "girthiest" member here.

 

It's been in the family since new with no radical modifications, and my plan is to not do any odd (irreversible) changes.

 

i have to chuckle. it is for this reason that i was able to purchase my jeep. the p/o was too big for it. 6'5", 310 lbs. couldn't fit in the 5.

i figure i'm about the size the 5 was made for. 5'6", 175 lbs.

 

It looks like there are 2 Grant adapters:

1) http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRT%2D4405&N=700+4294925230+4294839012+400103+4294916248+4294908280+4294925067+4294907262+115&autoview=sku


2) http://shopping.jeep4x4center.com/popup.asp?number=GRT4405


Would they be the same length? Top one looks better to me, if all else is equal.

I did find a flat (no dish) Grant wheel that should fit on the adapter. http://www.grantproducts.com/grant.fm$retrieve?seqnum=127604&html=grantdetail


Or I could go with 1" dish http://www.grantproducts.com/grant.fm$retrieve?seqnum=127632&html=grantdetail


So flat or 1"? Flat seems better because it's smaller diameter (14", as opposed to 16")

I could go with a cheaper 13" diameter wheel, with 1.5" dish, but no spot for a horn http://store.summitracing.com/partd...-650&N=700+400103+4294891653+115&autoview=sku

Those seem to be the only 3 grant wheels that could fit the bill, all the other stuff has a deeper dish.