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| Project "Orpheus" a.k.a Project "Orange Crush" - part #2 |
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(06.28.13) I have wanted to swap the wheels out on the Orange Jeep since I got
them. There is nothing wrong with the Outlaw II wheels, but I just got them because they were in stock, available,
and went with the theme at the time. What I have always wanted to do was put stock, or more like stock wheels on
it. I also wanted to put a roll cage in it. I have had one in there since I got it, but it was an existing one
that was modified to fit and I always hit my head on it, as well as my lower leg.
I have decided on the slot wheels for the Orange Jeep, but they are 15x7 and the Outlaw II's were 15x10, so I have
to run a set of wheel spacers to get the wheels where I want them, but all in all, the tires on the chrome
wagon wheels whown will be used. I am looking forward to it, but I have to polish out the slots first :(
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So, a lot of things came together, so I was able to get yet another
ROCKHARD 4x4 cage. I have one in my Silver Jeep as well
as one in the Scrambler I am building for my daughter. I got it through 4wd.com after a bunch of fiascos I had
with their customer service and things were looking good... until I went to install it.
The whole kit came from UPS and it looked like they played football with the box. It was destroyed. It is all
metal, so I unpacked it and it was all there, except there was a hardware kit for a later model CJ5, not the
early one that I have, so a quick call to the boys at
ROCKHARD 4x4 and a new kit was on its way with a return
label. I was happy. I then took out the old cage and disassembled the Jeep so I could put the new one in and that
is when we started to have problems.
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The kit was too short! Well, that is what I had thought. So I call the boys back
up and we go back and forth on what is what. I measure my wife's Jeep, my Jeep, they measure their jigs and all
said and done it looks like whoever put my Jeep together did so on a Friday before a long weekend! My roll bar
is laid back 1 degree more than it is supposed to be and it is mounted on the fenderwells an inch back further than
it should be. I was shocked... wait, no it is a Jeep, no shock there.
So, we talked through it all and they are going to send me some new side rails that are the correct
distance for my Jeep and I will send back the ones I have. The guys have been stand up and outstanding so far.
I hope to see the new bars next week and get moving on the Jeep cage install. I will work on the wheel situation
until then!
cb (06.28.13)
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(07.16.13) I received the new parts so I can put the cage together to where I need
it to be. I got all the parts relatively unscathed. Once I unpacked it all and started to assemble, I saw
that it was just perfect and would work for what we wanted to do.
I can't say enough about the guys at Rockhard 4x4... they really went out of their way to get me up and running
with a cage that will work with my Jeep. I know my Jeep is stock, but for whatever reason, the rollbar was mounted
back a bit and the angle of the layback was a degree more that others I measured. I don't have an explanation, but
in another week, I will have a painted and installed cage!
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I put the 2 side bars in place and measured a bunch of times left/right and up/down
to make sure it was all square. Then I was able to tack them into place and finally add the cross bar and the
top part and make sure it all fit. For the most part it did. I think my Jeep is a little tweaked on the passenger
side as things weren't fitting as I expected them to. Some heat and a big hammer helped things out.
I made a slight modication while I was doing this as well. I did this on my Silver CJ7 and I loved it.
Rockhard 4x4 doesn't make a provision for the 2nd hold for the grab bar. So, I marked it while I was mocking it
up, shaved a little off the side and then was able to get it to line up perfectly.
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I then disassembled everything, wiped everything down with alcohol/water solution,
then with some prep cleaner and then I was able to do the first coat of ZeroRust paint to help seal all the metal
and not rust. I will top coat it with some Rustoleum Semi-Gloss Black so it matches the rest of the black parts
on the Jeep.
I did however, have to grind off all the extra weld that was on the rear part of the fenderwell mounted cage.
This took some doing and I was pretty dirty/sweaty when I was done. I still have more painting to do and then
I have to reassemble, but I am on my way to pick up another project...shhhhh!
cb (07.16.13)
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