Suspension, what to do

Recently bought my first Jeep, a '56 Willys CJ5. I then went about looking up as much information I could find about it. It's mostly stock and I want it to go right back to stock. The mods were few, poorly thought out, and poorly installed.

My Jeep is a bare frame right now and I'm comparing what I have to books and forums with all sort of pictures and mine doesn't match up very well.

The leaf springs may or may not be stock. The number of leaves looks right, but one leaf on each pack says Rancho. I'm worried about the possible lift, I don't want any. Does anyone know the stock height and how to measure it?

It also appears I have factory shackle reversal. There hasn't been any welding where the spring perches would be and the bushings and the boxed portion of the frame looks a little too good to be fabbed in someones garage. I'm concerned about the driveline. Do I need a long travel driveline to keep it out of my transfer case? How did the DoD avoid driveline problems on the M38A1? Also, the shackles which came with the Jeep in front were homemade and the one on the drivers side rested squarely on the Ross Steering box. Do I need to use the 'U' shackles to avoid this?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. This is my first Jeep. It's the second one I've driven. I had a high school teacher toss me the keys to his Grand Wagoneer to pick up bagels one day. I was 15, it's been a while.

 

Welcome. I would guess your driveshaft length/travel is fine if it the original size. If the springs say Rancho, I would guess you have from 1-2.5" of lift. But, I don't think I would swap them out until you see how the JEEP sits when put back together. They may be older and close to stock height with new springs. You could always swap them later if you think it is higher than you want.

 

Rancho made/makes stock replacement springs.
Like MOP said dont sweat till you see how it looks.

 

What about the driver side front shackle hitting the steering box? Are the stock box shackles narrower? Has anyone had problems with the 'U' bolt type shackle breaking or bending?

 

Could you post a pic?

 

I guess I could learn how. It might be a bit. I have to find all the parts. and my camera.

 

Some of the other guys with the factory flip can help you on the hitting the box part better than I can.
Those C shackles were used on alot of Jeeps.

 

I have no idea if this worked. There is supposed to be a picture here. If you do see it, this is the driver side front end shackle. The ground off corner is the part which rests squarely on the Ross steering gear. Even with narrower I think the articulation would be limited by the steering box.

 

Those look like home made shackles to me.
The stock ones are alot smaller.

 

This is the stance I'm getting rid of. I think all the 'H' shackles are too long especially in the rear. The soft top needs replacing. In the picture the soft top doesn't look right due to the roll cage. The hoop is too tall for the center support. The previous previous owner installed the cage. Bolted it right to the sheet metal, all 310 pounds of cromoly(sp?). I think the cage came out of small race car, like a pony class type car my Mom raced.

 

Welcome from Denver! Glad to see another '56 being saved! You'll need to know Carl Walck of Walck's 4wd, a great source for parts for the early stuff. For a restoration, get rid of those homemade shackles and go with the original C shackles. And yes, you should have the factory reversed shackles. Mine does. Here's how mine looks...

 

I can dig out my old set of c shackles if you need them.

 

I've found a few sources for new C shackles, but if you're willing to make it that much cheaper for me, I'm all over it. Did the rear end have C shackles also?
Thanks so much for the pics. It's nice to see there are others Jeeps out there just like mine.

 

Yes sir rears were C also.

 

I'll look on tues when I'm back home

 

Home early and found them all 4 front and back they are not clean (Greasy) but they are all there and they are free. tell me if you want them.

 

YES I want them. That's probably the easiest decision I'me made concerning my jeep. My internet access at home went out, so posting will take a bit more effort for a week or so. Clay, how do we handle the address and shipping?

About the stance of my Jeep, the springs have equal curve, the shackles are radically different lengths. This week I get to repair the corners of the frame. All four corners have or have had damage. Some of it have pathetic booger welds.

 

Shawn, looks the PO might have installed the top bows too far forward, resulting in the top not being tight enough & resulting in the slack. That's aside from whatever condition the vinyl is in. Just $0.02 of thought.

 

I thought the soft top thing might be the placement but when I finally took out the rollcage, the top fit nice and tight.