New Here Need ID Help!

Hello all,
I am new here at your forum. I got an Early CJ-5 that I am doing a partial restore on and I need some help. I do not know what year it is but my s/n is 8305 174928. It has the 134 F engine.

Questions:
1. What year is that?
2. I am in need of CHEAP front springs for the jeep. Anyone got any sources?
3. What is the bolt circle measurement? 5 on 5.5?
4. What is the stock wheel and tire size on this jeep?
5. What is the backspacing measurement on this jeep? 4"?
6. What would be a good/cheap wheel + tire combo for off-road on a stock suspension?

Thanks for the help and I will have more questions for you guys soon. I have never worked on a jeep before and am trying to learn about them as I go along. I restored a 65 Mustang before so I know how restoring old vehicles can go.

Again, thanks for the help and I'll see you guys later.

Paul

 

Paul: Welcome from Havasu. Drop by the intro section and let us know where you are.

The only question I can answer easily is #3. The answer is YES.

Second, get a Factory Service Manual (reproduction). You can get them here: http://www.thejeep.com/manual.html#TSMLATE

 

How cheap do you want to go on springs? 4wd.com has em for $90.00/pc.

 

My 8305 174584 is a '65 built sometime later in '64. That should put you with a '65 also, unless it sold the day it left the line. 5 x 5.5 was standard from '42-'86? i believe. Seems like 3.75" back spacing seems more familiar, but that may not be right. Some used rims?

 

The hub diameter for front lockouts needs to be 4 1/4". Not all 5x5.5 will fit (like later Ford)

 

Not sure if your front springs are salvageable, but a kit like this may work:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33585&item=7912331977&rd=1

 

Wow! Thanks for all the quick replies! You guys are fast!
I think that the front springs are toast. There is only about 2-3 inches of clearance between the axle and the bump-stop and the leaves look really worn. 90 bucks per front spring is not a bad deal. I installed some new rear springs and the clearance went from 4" to 6".
As for the wheels and tires, I have a set of 15" rims that are about 10" wide on there right now but they have a really OLD set of tires on there that are about 28"x10.5" by my best guess. The only lettering on them say "Super 60" and "L60 15" and I was told that they don't make that size of tire anymore. They were rubbing on the inner fender walls in the rear and I think that I just want to go back to stock.
Oh...I am also looking for some stock low-back bucket seats for it too. Someone put some 70's Mustang seats in it and they are too high. Also looking for the seat tracks too.

Again, thanks for the help!

Paul

added:
The reason that the front springs are bothering me so much is because at some point, someone installed a PTO powered winch on the front. It looks like someone added it because the mounts are angle-iron and the shaft looks homemade. When the axle articulates to its max, it hits the drive shaft. Some yahoo just weled a brace (poorly) to the frame where the bearing on the shaft is and it can't go any higher without hitting any other objects that may come in its path. The shaft has been fixed many times but is bent again now. The only solution I can think of is to install new springs in the front and hope that it will get enough clearance. If I got 3-4 extra inches in the rear with new springs, how much should i expect to gain from new ones in the front. (now only 2-3" between axle and bumpstop) If I can't get enough, i just might scrap the PTO winch and cap off the trans mount.

 

Going to go with either the 10" wide rims on it now or going to stock rims from another Jeep. My cousin wants to go with something smaller than a 30" tall tire because of the old engine (134 F head). Got the new front springs ordered today and will see about the clearance issues with the winch. Will let you know how it goes.

Paul

 

Whoa hold on there pardner, don't just scrap it out yet. There's gold in them thar PTOs. Try the WTB section of this forum you probably can find some local ECJ5er that will part with his extra set to help you out. That what this forum is all about. As for tires, it just depends on personal taste or needs, 31x1050x15 would be a good start.

Oh yeah, howdy from Texas!!

 

Agreed... Don't scrap anything yet. Be patient - there is someone here that can help you with anything! Just keep asking questions

 

I think that the winch will work once I put in some new front springs. I didn't mean that I was going to toss the winch just remove it untill I could figure out how to install it correctly. The more I look at it, the more it looks like a stock install but how could they put the pto shaft so close to other components under the body? It rubs the steering shaft, and the ebrake cable, and the worst part, the axle hits it before it hits the bump-stop?

Is this common for these jeeps?

-Paul