1955 Experts....

Who is knowledgable on the particulars of the 1955 cj5? I have a few questions. I drug (or is it dragged) home what I was told was a 1962 roller with drivetrain today. After I got it home and struggled to unwedge from the trailer, I realized the factory shackle reversal. So, I'm pretty sure it's a '55 or early '56 chassis. Not M38A1, I'm sure.

Planning to part it but, I have a question about the grill the guy included and the front driveshaft with the shackle reversal.

 

There were many runs of the 5 over the years that had shackle reversal.

 

Really? I thought only the 55 and early 56 had the factory reversal. Hmmm. I've never heard of another year cj5 having this.

Howard, the holes in the grill for the parking lights,...there is stamped sheet metal like spot welded behind the holes. Used to mount the parking lights. Looks original. I've not seen this before. Sound like 55 stuff? I'll try to get some pics tomorrow in the day light.

 

My late '56 (titled as '57) has the "reversal" - although I consider it normal and everything after that to be reversed!

An M38A1 would probably have a reinforcing plate closing the open end of the U-shackle.

 

The description of the parking light mounting sounds right for the two 55 grills I have.

 

Pics of the grill. You can see the flat bottom on the parking light holes left over from the M38A1 design.

And the front spring mounts. Frame kinda looks like it took a shot. Both spring hangers appear pushed to the passenger side but the frame horns look like they point inward at bottom........like this.....\ /. Maybe optical illusion. Maybe I can straighten it if I decide to use this frame? Yes? No?

The front driveshaft question.....I've read where doing you're own shackle reversal requires a longer slip yoke and longer spline because of how the axle moves when encountering and obstacle.....it moves rearward vs moving forward with our standard front shackle set up. For this reason, I questioned whether the factory driveshaft on a factory reverse shackle might be different.

Daryl......I didn't mean to question your vast knowledge. You've been through way more JEEPs than I have. I just have never seen anything other than the M38A1 and the '55- early '56 with this spring set up from factory. The seller told me all these parts came from the same JEEP. Just trying to know what I have here so I can describe it as accurately as possible.

 

The shackle reversed Jeeps all came with a longer slip on the front driveline.

 

Thanks H. I may have to pick your brain at some point, should I decide to keep this frame. I think I have verified it as 1955 by number stamped on frame rail.