Original Dashboard placement

Has anyone ever stopped to think how extremely difficult it is to find a clear picture of an early cj5 dash in original condition?

Almost every picture you see, there have been switches, extra guages, heater duct holes, radio slots, toggle switches, buttons, horns, holes, etc.

Does anyone have any idea where to see a clean, original condition 1955 CJ5 dash photo?

If not, how about stories of the weirder things you have seen in the dash?

My starter button is relocated to the dash right where I hit it almost every time I get in it with my knee....gotta move it this summer! I have left it in gear and bumped the button and had to catch up with the jeep to get in it!

 

yep, that's a pretty good one that looks fairly original to me with the exception of the cluster under the speedometer... I also don't think a 55 ever had a cigarette lighter, I also can't tell what the thing to the right of the cigarette lighter is.

I just think its crazy how hacked up the dash gets from the previous owners. Mine is a mess right now.

 

Your's looks really clean, and everything seems to be labeled. What is that under the dash right below the speedometer? Is that a heater control of some sort?

 

Ok, gotcha.

My 55 has a heater from a Ford of some sort, it just has a toggle switch to turn it on or off.

It is really funky the way it was done, but I will say it heats the entire inside of the Jeep up to an unbearable level if you leave it on.

Mine won't be a restoration either. I am going to try for a classic, clean look that modernizes it a little bit but doesn't destroy the vintage feel.

 

I like the sound of that! keep us posted on progress and post lots of pics....yup, like pics....

 

Was there always a hand throttle and a choke on a 1955?

Did my 55 have that kind of windshield wiper system and a horn on the wheel originally?

Anyone know these things?

 

Hand throttle was an option I think. The horn has always been there, just different caps. A manual choke has always been somewhere, it moved around some. The wiper system changed over the years too, but I think thats representative for a '55.

 

I have collected many jeep dash pictures, from this site and others, to help me decide far how to restore mine. 44 pictures so far.

http://s1086.photobucket.com/albums/j444/eddiememphis/

If you have some more, let me know and I'll put 'em up there.

 

Thats a great collection of pictures.

Thanks for posting that!

 

I am not near it now but I want to say my fsm has a diagram of what switches and such go on the dash

 

Send your dash pictures to classiccjdash at gmail.com. I'll post them and leave it up at a reference/ resource.

 

I just picked up a nice factory bench seat two weeks ago from another member and after fitting it, I still don't have as much room behind the the wheel as I'd like. I'm 5'11" and when I'm in 1st or 2nd gear my right leg gets pinned between the transmission shift lever and the wheel and makes it almost impossible to get on the brakes or turn the wheel..my solution so far is to bend the shift lever over to the right about 2.5 - 3 inches and I should be good to go. May be an option? Good luck

 

Strange Im about 5'10" and around 230pnds and my vehicle is entirely stock in terms of where the steering wheel, seats and shifter stick is placed and I have no problems with space for my appednages in the jeep. Although I do smack my freaking left arm on the inside door handle to my meyers top every time I turn left.....it hurts lol

 

You also have an intermediate Jeep. The factory moved the steering column up into the dash as compared to an early.