65 CJ5 - I don't fit!!

Howdy All.
I recently picked up this CJ5 and in doing research ran across this site. Seems to be the motherlode of early CJ info and experts.

First, about the jeep:
65 CJ5A (according to the VIN)
Fiberglass tub, sheet metal front clip
Rear gas tank
231 even fire Buick V6 from mid 80's
3 spd (haven't verified the model yet)
Single stick D18
Warn OD
Saginaw conversion
31x10.5 tires
Homemade wood dash (will be replaced)

It doesn't run well but figured out the PO didn't swap out the HEI distrubutor for a non ECM version. There's no ECM on this and no vacuum or mech. advance on the dist. Also, there's a Weber DGAV card with a homemade riser. I can get it running but it needs constant choke and won't accelerate well at all. I have the correct distributor and a DualJet carb on the way. Should have that issue licked with those pieces hopefully.

It appears there's a bit of a body lift. It looks like the PO put some square steel tubing cross pieces between the body and frame. I also suspect a spring lift as the whole thing sits pretty high.

My main issue at this point is that I don't fit! I know CJ5's are tight (I have an early 60's CJ5 I use for plowing, but that's another story) but my leg can't fit between the steering wheel and clutch pedal. I can only move the accelerator by pivoting my ankle. In 1st or reverse, my leg is trapped by the shifter and wheel. It's got some funky seats that don't help matters. It looks like my steering column is too short.

My questions:
Does the column appear to be too short? Wrong angle?
Does the body appear to be set a couple inches too far rearward?
Is there a spring lift in this?

One of my primary goals right now is to remove some of the lift and get the seating situation tolerable.

Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

Tim

Pics:













Body mounts:

 

Yep something is screwy wheel is way short and seats probably add to it. They probably cut the steering column down to much when doing the steering conversion. Removing the body lift could help as well.

 

How tall are the seat risers? Any chance of lowering them?

 

The body looks to be shifted on the frame back some. That would put the dash in the wrong place on the steering column. I mean the distance between the front bumper and the grill looks too long.

 

I have those same seats in my 55 m38a1. They are Summit racing seats. Try leaning them back, They actually not that bad once you get the angle right,I am 6 5" and 300 puonds and dont have any problems except setting to high. I have to duck down a little to see through windsheild

 

True, I was thinking Ross box.

 

It does look like the body is shifted to far back somehow. Look at the spatial relationship of the fenders and tires. The rear axle does not look even close to the center.

 

Wow. You guys are quick.

The jeep is "up north" at our cabin but I think I recall the risers are level with the rear bed and the seat backs are against the wheel-well. The body does seem back too far but doesn't the grill get set at a pre-determined spot on the the front cross member as such:



...and that dictates the location of the remainder of the body? is there any adjustment/alignment one can do to change the body position?

 

It measures 28" from bottom of steering wheel to the column mount on the floor.
Tim

 

Another thought...could you get a smaller diameter steering wheel?

 

here is a link to my 1960 dash i have it open in another smaller window for comparison
your wheel is a lot lower. can't exactly compare throttle...

wish i had mine a little cleaner back then

 

Welcome to the forum!

Your body does seem to be mounted further back for some reason. I think the hat channel in picture 7 should line up with body mount on frame, but it doesn't. Same might be with the bolt in picture 8 and the body mount shown. Hard to know for sure with a fiberglass body. Does it look like someone moved the front cross member when they did the saginaw swap? Like patrick said, if the column is mounted to the body the position of the body on the frame shouldn't matter. Column may be too short. If the dash is too tall (extending down too far), that will also force the wheel downward causing problems.

Rear of body should be nearly flush with rear frame cross member:

 

-Napaguy: Definitely on the list! Perhaps with 2-3" of dish.

-Zoomer:Thanks for the welcome.
The bolt in the last pic is actually further forward than the mount. Lining them up would make the problem worse. Maybe this is just a lower quality reproduction body? I'll check for signs of cross-member relocation when I get back to the cabin this weekend. I'll measure the dash height too. The back of the body does line up with the rear cross member:
(probably a little hard to tell here and not to say this area hasn't been modified as well)



-Thanks for the comparison pic jwjeep. Definitely sticks up higher than mine.

-w3srl - I think I understand what you're saying - you slid the mount 2" further down the column? I'm not sure but I don't think that's an option for me, is it? Here's a pic of the firewall side of the column/shaft. There's no extra column sticking through to pull back out. Am I thinking corectly? Do I need a new column maybe?


-Would one of you mind measuring from the back of your steering wheel, near the hub,down to the floor mount when you get a chance?

Thanks for all the help folks. It is well appreciated.
Tim

 

Yea I’ve got those too and I’m getting rid of them.
They’re so thick at the base it adds a lot of height to the seat. I’m 6’1” 250 and I have the same problem, have to duck to see traffic lights and my head contacts the roll bar, so I’m putting the stock low back seats back in.
Also, those things are cheaply made. Unless you brace it at the backrest the only thing holding it in are threaded inserts along the bottom. Wheel much and they’ll rip out, also part of the reason I’m getting rid of them.

Edit: I almost forgot, besides being taller at the base they’re also thicker front to back of the base so it has to sit further forward than a stock low back seat meaning you have less leg room.
Add that to the height thing and an insert ripping out and I’m done with them.

 

Agreed. This mod is worth it if you need leg room.
May be a bit more difficult with a glass tub but I’m sure it can still be done.