Cj5 Shackle And Body Height Questions.

I'm new to the jeep thing. I have a 1968 cj5 with the dauntless v6. I recently purchased this project not knowing anything about it other than I thought it was pretty unmolested for an old jeep.

I was over at a friend's shop this morning and looked at several jeeps while I was there. He had 2 flat fenders and 3 cj5s. The two flat fenders and the one CJ5 just looked really low to me. When I picked up my jeep I thought it looked low too. After looking at someone else's stuff I get got home and that is when I thought mine appears to be much taller or lifted.

Mine is currently sitting on 31x10.5 - 15s. The one I was looking at appeared to be on stock wheels and probably factory sized tires. I'm curious about a few things. I'm interested in factory original leaf spring shackles. I didn't think to look at the others while I was out. Mine look like homemade channel iron with two holes for the bolts. I'm curious if a previous owner made his own lift kit so to speak. I'm not interested in going higher than factory and the tires I purchased and just mounted on new wheels are 235/75 R15s so they are a little smaller than whats on it now.

I would be curious if someone has a stock height CJ5 with 31" tall tires could take a measurement at the rocker panel (right behind the end of the front fender) and post the results. Mine measured 19 5/8". Also curious about shackle measurements. My front shackle bolt holes look to be 4" center to center.

Again I'm just trying to figure out what I have and what's been modified on this. I appreciate any answers or suggestions and thank you for your help in advance.

 

Stock shackle and bushing.

Your best bet is to post some pictures of the springs and shackles.

 

I think 31" tires will just fit with stock suspension, and look cool.

 

I'm trying to edit pictures so they will fit the size requirements to post here.

 

Yep that looks like a home made lift shackle, but better made than some I have seen.

A nice looking Jeep.

I have a 67 CJ5 than is bone stock, 15" wheels with same size tires it would have came with new. I'll try to get a measurement of the rocker panel to ground tomorrow.

 

Thank you for the information and kind words. Now I'm curious now as to how much lift is possible with "custom" shackles. I will probably opt for a set of stock replacements after I bolt on the new wheels and tires. You can see them stacked behind the jeep in the picture.

Somewhere along the lines a previous over was quite the mechanic. Lots of idiot rod burned in and none of the electrical system works at all. Other than the fact it runs and will drive, beyond that it's a circus show.

 

Extended shackles tend to throw off the caster angle.

Welcome to the land of the early CJ.

 

I wouldn't get wrapped around the axle about ride height on any vehicle and especially our Jeeps. They are the most molested, tampered with, subjected backyard engineering of dubious quality, vehicles known to man. There are an infinite number of variables in the life of any used vehicle, but especially Jeeps, for the aforementioned reasons. Other considerations include how your vehicle was used, how it has been loaded, what it has towed or hauled, modifications and accessories that are or have been installed, causing spring sag and other suspension wear and sag, have the springs and other suspension parts been repaired or replaced with other than stock components, tire inflation pressure and type of tire construction.
My experience with extended shackles is that poorly built extended shackles lead to some strange handlng characteristics, a band aid for longer than stock shackles is usually to weld a short piece of square tubing between the shackles to prevent racking. Lifts like many mods on our Jeeps is usually a matter of taste, what is available when you decide to make the mod, and what the budget allows.
After owning 5- CJ5's, 2- CJ6's, 3- CJ7's, 1- CJ8, 1- Commando, 6-XJ's and 4 FSJ's, I am still shocked occasionally by what I find done to them. Good luck!

 

I'm not really experienced with front leaf springs, solid front Axles or 4 wheel drive stuff. But what has been mentioned is exactly what I figured. My jeep project is a toy and a project that I will be trying to get my 14 year old son involved in with me. I have built a lot of 2 wheel drive hot rod and race track only cars in the past. I'm slowing it down a little now and would probably be happy with a bone stock cj5. My intended use will probably be short street trips around town and some of the dirt roads and easy trails in the local OHV park 10 miles from home.

I have no problems ditching the home built shackles for a set of original factory replacement type.

 

I believe stock shackles are about 2.625" center to center. Typical cj on 28" tires is 24" from the ground to the load floor of the bed.
Tires and shackles both lift about half of the overall change. Stock springs are likely flatter then they were originally and even stock replacements seem to have a bit more height once installed.