65 CJ5 - I don't fit!!

Thanks everyone for your help and comments.
Ideally, I'd like to re-mount the body without the lift but it looks like there's a fair amount of "un-welding" that's needed.....and then address the steering column/seating arrangement.

One last question if I may: Is there any way to tell if there's a spring lift in place? Any clues in the pics I posted.

Thanks again. You guys are great!

Tim

 

I would say it looks like you've got some suspension lift, those springs have a pretty decent arch to them anyway.
Considering you've got Rancho shocks I think it's assumable you've got Rancho lift springs also. How much? I don't know, not sure how you could tell either.

 

Thanks Warloch. That was my guess as well. I'll have to wait for the weekend to look for numbers.
....where do I look? Stamped somewhere?

 

on my 67 the face of the dash is 15" from the floor and the very botom edge of the steering wheel is 28 1/2 from the floor + a bit of carpet. The column is at a 42 degree angle

 

Corveeper - That seems like a reasonable assumption

jeep2003 - That's exactly the info I need. Thanks a lot
Tim

 

Not an expert on the wheelbase changes for the CJ-5's but the front wheels look centered in the front wheelwells whereas the rears wheels are not. That front crossmember looks to be way back. Could the tub alone be from a later CJ with a longer wheelbase? The rear of the tub looks like it extends well beyond the shackles. Seems like the combination of higher seats with longer cushions and poorly angled column are making a tight fit.

 

If the back of the tub is flush with the rear crossmember, I'm guessing that the reason the back wheel isn't in the center of the opening is that the wrong length spring is being used there. The center mount under the grill dictates how far back the body mounts. Since that looks to be correct, the only answer is that the spring length is incorrect. Does it look like the shackle mount or the main mount for the rear springs have been moved? I'm using Wrangler springs, so I can't give you a good measurement. Someone else can, I'm sure.

 

I think what he means is it could it be an intermediate cj5 tub on an early frame

 

There is no difference between an Early and an Intermediate tub. Only the front clip is longer.

 

With a postal column and a factory steering wheel the top edge of the steering wheel should be up about 2" on the glass, so your body lift and stuff is affecting your column quite a bit, looks to be about 3" to low compared to mine.

 

It or the fiberglass body did on his setup as I have the same column (length) and setup and my steering wheel is 3" or so higher up than his. A body lift will affect how some people put the column in. I have seen to many done (redneck engineering)and how people handle problems differently.
I do agree it shouldn't affect the column but how people handle it does. As in the saginaw was in before the body lift was on and they didn't change the steering shaft and it made the column be pulled farther thru the floor due to length issues. They didn't fab a new shaft but used what they had, both of these will change the steering column given a body lift.

 

Hi All.
I was finally able to do some more investigating.

I mis-spoke earlier in the thread:
-the body is not flush with the rear cross member. It's offset rearward about 1.25"
-the steering column measurement from the joint between the wheel and the outer column to the floor at the mount is 24"

New discoveries:
-there is a Rancho spring lift installed. Wiped away the mud and found "Rancho" lettering on the springs.
-slow gas leak from the rear mounted tank

About the body offset:
The PO accomplished the rearward offset by drilling a new hole in the grill where it mounts. As near as I can tell, he/she did it to provide engine (bell housing/intake manifold/valve cover) clearance at the firewall. No room to move the body any more forward. Also, no room to drop the body much so I assume the lift was done for clearance reasons as well. All cross members, spring mounts etc. appear to be in their stock locations. Home brew motor mounts are present.

About the steering column:
I am fortunate enough to have a '60 CJ5 as my plow vehicle (I only plow my driveway). It's got the 4 cyl. in it. It's very beat up with a boat seat and a boat gas tank. The steering is stock however and the dimensions and geometry are way different. For instance: the column is 28" from the joint to the floor vs. 24" on the '65 and the dash height is 9.5" vs. 11.5" for the "custom" wood one in the '65. I took a few other measurements as well and they're all way different. Also, there's no additional column and not much shaft protruding through the floor/firewall. Looks like they just cut it too short and compounded the problem with the fancy dash.

Resolutions:
I believe I have the "don't fit" issue figured out - new dash and new column. Will assess the need for different seats after this is done

The rear offset and lift of the body is a different story and I believe I'll start another thread for that.

Thanks again for all your advice, help and comments. See you in the next thread!

Tim