Boyink! - Spring Forward on the Web

I took the time today to give SSDutch a long-overdue oil change, and also finally installed the 1.5” wheel spacers on the front wheels.  I’ve had them sitting on the shelf for over a year, and hoped they would improve the turn radius of the already-long CJ6.  They did!

First, some comparison photos.  Here’s the front stance before installing the spacers:

And after:

Side view before:

Side view after:

Inside clearance before:

After:

The results?  A 20% improvement in turn radius.  Before installing the spacers I could do a 41’ foot circle turning hard left.  After installing I could turn a 33’ circle.  I neglected to measure the right-turn results but seat of the pants feel is the same or better.

I wish I would have measured the radius of the CJ5 with these same wheels and tires mounted - just to see where the CJ6 with spacers comes out against it.

I do have fears of tire-to-fender interference now though, and will soon try some ramp testing to see how that pans out.  I do have different springs to put on yet so that may affect it as well.

Comments are closed, but you can read the comments other people left.

1. Andy on August 19, 2008

   Nice. little exra is always good.

   I’m about ready to call Stockton and order the same rims as you. I might just have them search the database for your order. I believe you have 8” wide, and had a problem that the calipers didnt fit, so you had to send them back. anything else I should note?

   Thanks for the advice as always.

2. Nicole on August 19, 2008

   I cannot even express how happy I am I came across your blog!!  I just purchased my ‘74 CJ6 this morning, and she’ll be delivered this Saturday!  I’ve learned so much in the last hour that I’ve been reading through various subjects here.  You will be a staple through my journey of getting her from a heap to happenin’!

3. Boyink (Author) on August 19, 2008

   Hey Andy -

   Mine are 7” wide, and Stockton made them with the Ford center hole size, which is too small to fit over the Jeep hubs.  I had to have the centers machined out.

   If I were to do it over I’d probably have the wheels made with a different offset, such that I wouldn’t need the spacers at all.

   At some point I’d like to go to a narrower tire - I think BFG makes a 33 x 9.50 - and that would help some of the interference issues that I’m having to solve with the spacers.

4. Boyink (Author) on August 19, 2008

   Hi Nicole - thanks for the comments.  When you get your 6 shoot me some photos and I can add it to the collection here.

   Also make sure to join http://www.earlycj5.com as there are a decent number of CJ6 owners there as well.

5. Jason on October 16, 2008

   Hey Mike, love the site, love to stop in and see your shots from time to time.  Question on your spacers.  I have an 81CJ5 and have been debating spacers as well.  Are you running power steering, or manual, and did it make it any more difficult to steer with the spacers on.  I am manual now, and can turn fairly easily, just wasnt sure how much spacers would change anything.

   Thanks,

6. Boyink (Author) on October 16, 2008

   Hi Jason - thanks for the comments.

   SSDutch does have power steering - and I notice no difference in steering or road behavior.  I don’t think spacers would affect that with manual steering—seems more tied into tire size.

7. Troy Davis on August 02, 2009

   Mike, love you blog - awesome.  I’ve learned a lot.  Can you say what specific specs you would order (if you had to do it all over again ) on the wheels?  I am thinking about ordering some for a ‘66 CJ-5 (with the Dauntless) that I just bought.  Thanks!

8. Boyink (Author) on August 03, 2009

   Hey Troy - No, I can’t really say specifically but roughly something with 1.5” of additional offset over the stock specs.

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