Stretching a 5?

Im thinking (something new to me!) of adding 3" to the door opening on a '74 and using the front end off a pre-'71. I kinda like the look of the shorter front end and it would give more room between the seat and the steering wheel. I should be able to slide the engine/trans ahead to make room.

Is it just me or are do the intermediates look too long in the front end compared to the earlys?

Maybe I need a 7 body with a shorty front?

Any ideas?

Maybe I should just get slimmer seats and shutup!

 

The front end stretch was done for a reason: to allow the use of the AMC I6 engines. If you have a V8 you would be able to use the short front end, but not with an I6. If you stretch the door opening 3" you ruin any chance of using any factory hard top or soft top and their doors. Meaning your Jeep would be a 1 season Jeep only.

 

I am redoing a 304, so I'm ok there but, Good point! I forgot about the top. I suppose a guy could build a custom top and doors, but......Like I dont have enough to do!

 

or just notch the inner fender like most people do

 

Most people just ditch the CJ5 and go with a CJ7 or YJ.

Then the long snout doesn't look as funny and you have more room to sit.

 

Here picture of a short fender '5 with extended door openings. Just looks out of wack to me. Might as well get a '7 and put on the short nose. Sorry about the link, I wasn't able to pull the pics out of the ad.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2106656309.html

 

just postin the pics for reference..

 

^since that 63 is modded beyond all recognition.
it doesnt look that bad to me.
if it was stock and stretched then i would have visual clues and it would look funny .

 

I agree it would look even more bizarre without the lift, and it may not have caught my eye if it wasn't for the odd looking half doors.

 

Those pictures look longer than 3"-5", almost like a CJ-7 with curves.
Leave the front alone, stretch the frame 5" at the door and then behind the fuel filler another 5", then it will all look even. Go ahead and make it 5" wider as well, I would like to see it. CJ5x5+10