sooo confused

[canuckcj5]

so im in the process of doing a body swap right now, gotta `76 CJ5 body, and its on a 81 CJ5 frame, so heres my issue that i dont understand,

we took the 81 body off and put the 76 body on, but we used the 81 column and steering shaft that FIT in the 81, but now the steering shaft is 3.5" too short, but there out of the 81 frame, anywhoo im thinking ill just get a whole new steering shaft, anyone have any reccomendations?

 

[Torxhead]

Not exactly sure about the '81 shaft, but the later model shafts could compress in case of an accident. As I recall there was about a 1/8" diameter nylon pin that held the two halves together. Hammering on the shaft should shorten it enough. This might be a good time to replace that coupler at the end of the shaft also. After purchasing and installing one of those expensive aftermarket ones, I wished I had kept the oem shaft and just replaced the coupler instead.

 

[canuckcj5]

It's got a borgenson in it already with a damper, it's too short now thou, I will take it in and have it lengthend properly, I don't like to half *** things, especially when it's steering or brakes, it's just weird cuz it had a 3" body lift before, and when we put the new body on we put a 1" body lift in instead and now it's short lol,

 

[mtnwhlr]

The shaft is a differant size wether you have power or manual steering. So if you are using a power shaft with a manual steering box it will be to short.

 

[canuckcj5]

The shaft is a differant size wether you have power or manual steering. So if you are using a power shaft with a manual steering box it will be to short.

the only thing that we used off of the 76 was the body, the 81 has power steering and everything was upgraded when it was converted to power steering a few years ago, were using all the steering parts off the 81, like i said earlier only thing we are using off the 76 was the body, it all fit on the 81 body but now that we have the 76 body on the 81 frame its 3" short

 

[mtnwhlr]

the only thing that we used off of the 76 was the body, the 81 has power steering and everything was upgraded when it was converted to power steering a few years ago, were using all the steering parts off the 81, like i said earlier only thing we are using off the 76 was the body, it all fit on the 81 body but now that we have the 76 body on the 81 frame its 3" short

Sorry that was the only thing I could think of that would cause this.

 

[canuckcj5]

I thought of the same thing, I have 3 different columns and shafts and there all short

 

[Tinman22]

Is it at all possible that the shaft got compressed during removal?

 

[canuckcj5]

I don't think it could have been cause it was in a box by itself lol,

 

[TrailGecko]

Is it possible that the 76 sits further back on the frame and so therefore the shaft is shorter now?

 

[TrailGecko]

Or that the area behind the dash is wider on the 76 I guess is what I was trying to say

 

[canuckcj5]

It can't be possible cause we used the same body mounts on the 76, they all lined up,

 

[TrailGecko]

Right I figured that. Measure from the mounting hole to the firewall on each. What I was thinking was the firewall is set back a few inches further from the steering box than the body on the 81 so it would push the column away from it in essence leaving more of the frame exposed in the front.

 

[canuckcj5]

Old body already went to the scrap pile, it's no biggie really, I'll just have to get it lengthened that's all

 

[canuckcj5]

So I'm a dumbass, it's been a while since the steering was in, and turns out it was just collapsed that's all lol durrrr

Anyone know where I can find wiring diagrams for a 76 and 81 CJ5 ?

 

[Tinman22]

Don't feel bad I set my firing order 18436572 clockwise and just about rebuilt the barn before I figured it out