58cj With Front Shackles In The Rear. Swap?

The arc won't stay. If you go that route, you will need to have them done at a spring shop. You don't want to put any more arc than stock as it will shorten the main spring and can ruin the shackle angle.

If you go with aftermarket springs, try to choose ones without the military wrap, as it may foul the frame under compression.

 

FWIW
If you decide to go with new lift kit springs, the front will sit lower than the rear. Due to the shackle mounting position in the frame as opposed to the later model where the mount is welded to the bottom of the frame. IIRC, that is about 3” difference. I don’t know of anyone who makes a correct aftermarket spring for these early year/years to compensate for this. I suppose you could go longer shackles to make up the difference. If I am incorrect I stand corrected. BTDT

 

3" probably sounds about right, considering the frame mount on a front shackle spring would be a few inches lower than the frame, and right now the shackle through the frame is a few inches above the bottom of the frame

 

I have a shackle reversal on my ‘66 CJ5 and have no issues with on-road handling, and I think the front climbs over obstacles better than a front shackle setup. I’d leave the shackles the way they are,
As previously mentioned, bending some arch back into your springs won’t last any time. This needs to be done by a spring shop that knows what they’re doing with heat tempering.
-Donny

 

thanks for the info Yes, I'll be leaving the shackle configuration as it is now. The drivability issue was definitely the toe-in alignment, and possibly a bit of the really old tires. New tires just arrived today, so I'll get them on later.

I'll see if it's worth it to either get new springs (Deaver, Atlas, whatever) or have these re-arched.

 

I don't know why folks want to replace an oil bath air cleaner with a paper filter. In my opinion the oil bath is better. If you need one I have several CJ5 oil bath cleaners out in the shed.

 

well in my case, the bottom of the oil bath fell out and is on the side of the road somewhere.

 

When I got my one-owner '56, it was durn near perfect, except the bottom of the oil bath was missing.

I went to a local scrap yard, and at the bottom of a pile of vehicles was a CJ5 tub. Virtually the only part left in it was the oil bath. I think I paid $5.

And yes, I have no desire at all to convert paper filters.

 

Worn out leaf springs are still useful steel. Some of the best knives I have ever owned were made from the leaf springs off an old truck.

 

Yes, I've broken a leaf spring before, fortunately I was able to drive home with it.