1956 Cj 5

To all,

Well I am working on another "project", a bone stock 56 cj5 f head that is basically unmolested but in need of a lot of love and currently in a state of disrepair.

It currently has a six volt battery in her, but as she is residing on a farm and nothing has been done to her for many many years except to make a home for various spiders and four legged critters.

I have bought some bug bombs to hopefully take care of most of the many legged kind. Will spray the jeep at the farm before moving and trying to load her on the trailer. Perhaps many of the "critters" will get the hint and shove off before she gets to her new home.

My question for today is, was the 56 a 6 volt system or a 12 volt ?

She should arrive here tomorrow sometime depending upon recovery time to get her out in the daylight and loaded and how long my back holds up.

Will take some photos as time permits and learn once more how to post them on this site.

Zootin

 

Sounds interesting looking forward to it

 

'57 was when the CJ's went to 12 volts. Your new prize could be close to the cut-off as typically August of the prior year was the change to the next year model. Most likely your's will be 6 volts, but you will know when you get it home. The serial number may help tell the story too.
-Donny

 

Tim E and Donny,

Thank you for your replies.
Will post updates as time allows and whatever happens today in loading and off loading.

Zootin

 

My 56/57 is six volt. Works fine.

How about some pics?

 

To all,
Well, got her home and went through two cans of bug spray. Got her off loaded and into the shop. No photos yet, probably tomorrow. Anyway the following is on the data plate drivers side firewall. Willys SN 57548 29763. The engine turns over by hand, so that is good. Appears to still be 6 volt ie red generator tag with 6 volt on it. Got a good bit of her put back together, floor boards, linkage hooked up, etc, etc, etc.
Plumb wore out from this big adventure.
Zootin

 

My 57 is 6 volt and C shackle.

 

Photo posting, back to the drawing board to figure it out. I have the photos on my computer and when I try to copy and post them it doesn't work out for me. I am not computer literate so I need help in simple terms to post the photos.

Zootin

 

Well here goes




Don't ask me what happened to the last two photos, the ramsey winch and the engine photo.

 

Really good looking CJ.

 

Love it. Same color as the '56 my father had when I was just a bitty baby jeeper.

Seats need a little work, but I found Smittybilt short-backs were a good replacement, if you mount them low. Save the original frames, they are priceless.

You probably won't need that winch, but you can just send it to me....

 

6 volt stuff works great as long as your battery cables are big enough. Seems like everyone replaces the cables with today's 4 or 6 guage cables and they just can't cut it. Looks like a great start.

 

To all,
Thank you for your responses. The jeep was last registered in OR in 1997, so who knows what hides beyond the dirt, grease and what else. But the challenge is part of the fun. Well maybe not that much fun. Will know more once I get her running. Will have to do a brake job-master, wheel, rubber brake flex lines replaced. The immediate need is the radiator hoses, all three need replacement from age alone and the fan belt as well. But as I stated before, she rolls over by turning the front crank nut, which to me, the novice is a good start. Do an oil change, drop the pan first to check things out, etc, etc, etc.
Again, thank you for your support,
Zootin

 

Do the oil change, spin it over with coil unhooked and get some oil circulating.
Do a compression check.
I wouldn't bother to drop the pan unless it doesn't turn a full rotation.
Hand crank wiper on the pass side?

 

Looks like a great project. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

 

Same here that's what mine has.

 

Well I'll bite, what is a "C" shackle ? Yes, she does have a hand wiper on the passenger side. Don't know if it is original or not, have been doing honey do catch up work as of late. Can someone fill me in about the smitty built seats, what mods need to be done, or whatever else would be helpful.
Thanks for your comments and support,
Zootin

 

Google IMG search for Willys shackle. You'll see diff styles. The open and closed. The older threaded open ended ones looks like Cs. These stopped in '57, I gather.

 

Smittybilt brand low-back type is a close replacement for the originals. Very affordable and comfortable, IMHO.

You will need to fabricate some simple mounts. One of mine pictured.

 

Jrobz23,
If you are in reference to the rear spring shackles, they are on the C shape, but the front springs goes into a brackets on the frame.

Pete,
Thank you for the information and the photo.
I appreciate your help in this.
Zootin