No, they were lengthened 5". I have front fenders and hoods from both eras and the difference on each is 5", measured from rearmost edge to frontmost edge.

The additional length in the fenders wasn't made only between the rear edge to the beginning of the fender opening.

The fenders were lengthen 3.5", you can actually measure it from the body edge to the fender opening.

The fenders were lengthen 3.5", you can actually measure it from the body edge to the fender opening.
The gas tank was moved in 1970.5, the same time that CJ Dana 44's went to one piece 30 spline axles. 70 also marked the 1st year that CJ's received the red white and blue AMC logo on its Jeep badge.
1972 CJ got Saginaw steering and swing pedals, 72 only used a clutch cable connected to the pedal, this became a silent recall that replaced the cable with rod style linkage used from 73-75.
1968 was the first year for low mounted windshield wipers but still used the same glass as early CJ5/6. 1969 they went to the taller glass. The 68 frame can be modified to the taller glass found in years 69-75.

Yeah, as I noted earlier, I blew it on the gas tank. Even after I typed it, I knew I had it wrong. Tried to rectify, but y'all beat me to it! I corrected my original post.

As for the hood/fender length increase, I got the 5" from my Jeep books, and also found it online to verify before I typed (should have done that with the tank!). There is a lot of good and bad info out there, so I definitely could have pulled some bad data....

Either way, great thread. I own an intermediate CJ-6 and have already learned from this thread....I dig that.

The fenders were lengthen 3.5", you can actually measure it from the body edge to the fender opening.
The gas tank was moved in 1970.5, the same time that CJ Dana 44's went to one piece 30 spline axles. 70 also marked the 1st year that CJ's received the red white and blue AMC logo on its Jeep badge.
1972 CJ got Saginaw steering and swing pedals, 72 only used a clutch cable connected to the pedal, this became a silent recall that replaced the cable with rod style linkage used from 73-75.
1968 was the first year for low mounted windshield wipers but still used the same glass as early CJ5/6. 1969 they went to the taller glass. The 68 frame can be modified to the taller glass found in years 69-75.

Some other items that came about with the AMC modifications in '72 were the addition of:

1) Swing pedals
2) Saginaw steering
3) Gas tank moved from under the seat to under the Jeep ('73 forward I believe)
4) Interesting note about the increase in length....the wheelbase was lengthened by 3", but the fenders and hood were lengthened by more...closer to 5". This is why '72-'86 CJs have kind of an overbite look from the side as compared to earlier CJs

The gas tank move took place in mid-70 actually.

The cover on my '75 is welded on. I've never paid attention to any other '75s, but I was kinda surprised to see that when I bought it.