Early CJ5 seats

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:46 am

I realize the M38a1 and CJ3B are directly
related, and that the CJ5 is a later model designed
off the two.

Are there seats and frames from the first two
that will fit the early 1950's CJ5?

My son in law needs seats, and being unable to find
OEM, is planning on building some.

I'd like to save him the headache.

Thanks,
Brian

Post by **wesk** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 10:41 am

I realize the M38a1 and CJ3B are directly
related, and that the CJ5 is a later model designed
off the two.

Actually it goes this way.

M38A1 first produced 1952
CJ5 based on the M38A1 body first produced 1955
M170 first produced 1955 based on the M38A1.
CJ6 first produced 1955 (model year 56) based on the CJ5
CJ3B based on the CJ3A first produced 1953

So you should see now that the CJ3B and the M38A1 are not directly related.

CJ3B driver's seat frame 670384
CJ5/6 driver's seat frame 3 spd 688960 / 4 spd 694694
M38A1 driver's seat frame 680257

CJ3B pass seat frame 670366
CJ5/6 pass seat frame 953454
M38A1 pass seat frame673511

I did not list bench type, 60/40 or 3/4 / 1/4 front seats.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:28 pm

Hi Wes,
Thanks for the clarification. I guess I was thinking about the high hood necessitated by the F engine on the CJ3B, but yeah, the CJ5 is essentially the A1 design

So on your list of seats. Are all three of those seats interchangeable
in a CJ5 as far as mounting and fit?
Thanks,
Brian

Post by **wesk** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 1:30 pm

The driver's side only fits the driver's side. The pass side only fits the pass side. Same as all the jeeps I listed. In all the driver side seat straddles the gas tank and the pass side seats are all hinged at the front to the top of the tool box so the answer is No. all three listed CJ5 seats are not interchangeable with each other. The 4 spd seat vs the 3 speed seat is to allow shifting room for the 4 spd handle so a 4 spd seat works with a 3 spd but not vice versa.

The only thing all the 3B's share with the all the CJ5's is the running gear.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:34 pm

Sorry Wes,
I should have been clearer.

Understand driver only works on driver side and vice versa.
What of the other two vehicles seats will fit the CJ5?

Interesting about the 3 vs 4 speed .

Thanks!
Brian

Post by **wesk** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 6:35 pm

You can make just about anything fit with a large hammer, big kahoonte's and a torch.

Otherwise do the smart thing and look for the correct seat frames as the part numbers show. Do notice that not a single basic frame part number matches anywhere in my list. There's a reason for that.

Over 600,000 CJ5's were built. They have one of the longest continuous production runs in history. There are plenty still out there.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 6:42 pm

The seats seen to be scarce for some reason.
Asked over on the G, nothing.
Nothing on EBay except today found one passenger seat.
Nothing else on the net except for aftermarket.

I guess like many M frames Bubba carved them up to cut more
beer, or they rotted away.

Thanks Wes.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 7:28 pm

I would post a Wanted ad on the CJ5 board: http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/forumdis ... lassifieds