Are '67 CJ-5s Orphans?

A real Curiosity for me, anyway!

While searching parts for my '67 project, I often see them listed for model years up to '66, then for some range of years beyond, skipping '67. Tube & cam gear for steering is a good example.

According to the serial/VIN number, my Jeep was actually manufactured in Nov. of 1966, but it is titled and registered as a '67 model. Could I, should I consider it a '66 as far as parts go?

It was built with the Dauntless V-6, T86 transmission, D18 transfer case, Dana 27A front and D 44 (I think) rear axle.

Am I just a bit paranoid, or does anyone know why '67 model left out of many parts model year listings? :?

Thanks

 

just my opion they prob went thru some changes that year and the parts books just dont list them,for example my wifes car when getting a fan belt i get well it takes this one or that one,same for trans filter, in other words it more than likley was a transistion year,and they just choose not to list it,i have a 1955 and had a 1970cj5 all pretty much the same, they changed the brakes some and the master cylinder,every thing else was pretty much the same,hope this helps shed some light on the subject

 

well i left out a few things the 70 had the d27 front end, still had the 44 rear but the axels were diferent,some of the other guys will chime in

 

I've got a 67 and a 68.

The 67 has:
225 V6
T86
D18
single reservoir MC

The 68 has:
225 V6
T14
D18
dual reservoir MC

Those are the only differences I can find, but to confuse things more I pulled the T14 and TC to install on the 67.

 

Nov '66 would be the 1967 model year (mine was made in Nov of '65).

the feds did mandate some changes in '67 (ie: the dual res mc, seat belts not an option), while the factory made some changes as well (the t86 being upgraded to the t14, wipers mounted on the bottom of the glass and have electric wipers vs. the vacuum).

when in doubt, check to see what's on your jeep as parts interchange from 1941-1986 (not all, but some).

 

The bake pedal also has a bend in it to get around the bell housing.

 

Not all of them are orphans, yet - I'm still breathing air. I've had the same sort of issues. As far as steering goes, I found out that my CJ-5 came with Studebaker steering, from the factory! I always hated the giant steering wheel - it's a full 18" diameter. I had always thought the prior owner had swapped out the original for the Studebaker one for some dumb reason, so I ordered a stock Jeep CJ-5 wheel off of eBay (fits 55-71, allegedly), and found it would not fit the spline on the steering shaft. That's when I started researching on the web, and found somewhere, on a site similar to this one, that Kaiser was using up all kinds of parts during this model year, and that's why I had a Studebaker steering set up. So I bought a Grant adapter for a Studebaker, and a 15" wheel, and I'm off to the races.

 

Studebaker steering, WOW! That's interesting. I'm going to measure my wheel. Did your Studebaker equipped CJ still have the Ross steering box?

 

We need pics of this, I can't believe Jeep used this setup stock. Studebaker was long past the skinny columns and such that would have fit in a jeep. Someone probably swapped it in.

 

Well, I really wouldn't know Ross from Rachel steering boxes, so here is a picture. The nut on the side isn't original. That's the adjustment port, and I lost the plug - I've been looking for a new one to no avail. So is it a Ross or Rachel box? Also a pic of the steering wheel. Go here for more pictures - check out my chromed steering column.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll280/mfsmith77

 

'68 also....think it's called the "Lost Years"

I found different u-joints in front an rear driveshafts, 1 1/18" bellcrank instead off 7/8"

 

That setup is definitely not stock. Just that whoever did it took the time to do it cleanly. The column looks to be custom made. Your heater also is not stock and your dash has been modified to fit the custom column.

 

About 5 years ago is when I got the info. I opened a question on one of these tech forums somewhere on the net because I couldn't figure out why none of the standard CJ steering wheels or adapters fit my shaft. I'll have to see if I can find it.

A guy replied that he had seen Studebaker steering in 67 CJs before and that I should try the Grant adapter for the Studebaker. So I did and it worked. He also mentioned about Kaiser using up all different kinds of parts in 1967, so this model year is kind of like a box of chocolates. I guess I never questioned it because what would a PO gain with that swap? I can see when tall lifts are involved and the geometry changes, you might want to swap out steering components, but this CJ isn't lifted, so why swap the steering stuff?

So is that a Ross steering gear box or something else? GEMMER in the casting - you can kind of see it in the photo. I know the column and wheel aren't normal.

I have two heaters, one on each side, and they don't match. I've had the Jeep 18 years, so some memories are dimmer than others - but it runs in my mind that the passenger side heater core sprung a leak and I got this replacement from the junkyard.

The fenders aren't normal either, but they are original to the Jeep, I'm sure. This CJ was originally gold - that Champagne Gold, I think. The PO had kryloned it black, mostly, but he didn't do under the cowl, and places like that, so that gold you see in the steering box pic is the proper color. He did a really crappy job though, so I sanded it some, bondo-ed a few little rust spots, and gave it a proper krylon job - I used Rust-O-Leum! So, just as any woman has her "distance", Ralphie has his - the further away he is, the better he looks.

Anyway, the fenders aren't just chopped off in an amateurish fashion - the boss follows smoothly around and along the lower leading edge, just as normal, as fades nicely into the grill. So has anyone seen these fenders before?

 

The gain on the steering swap was the 2" or so the steering column is raised up into the dash giving more belly and leg room, it also looks longer (taller) than a stock steering column.
Other things different about your jeep, the battery box being moved to the front instead of the firewall. Your stock heater should have been on the firewall in the engine compartment on the drivers side.
The only way that steering setup came on the jeep new is if there was a dealer that installed it, to much work to add this at the factory for a few jeeps. Frame would have to be modified to accept the box, floor pan, dash , column clamp for dash and so on.
Oh and that is a Studebaker steering box, which means the bolt holes o nthe frame were altered from factory.

 

gemmer steering boxes were around for many years. the ones that come to mind that used them were hudson and ford and most likely others.

 

Didn't Kaiser/Jeep buy the Studebaker plant in Southbend IN about that time. This was the plant that was making army trucks. This was the plant that became AM General.
Could you have a Jeep made in that plant for some reason.
Andrew

 

South bend Lathe moved into the Studebaker plant on sample street in 1965. Plants 3 and 4 were used for government truck assembly for a few years. The Studebaker plant covered some dozen or so buildings that dated back into the 1800's. Alot of them were torn down several years back several more are slated for demolition in the next year or 2.