I used 2 full 2 pound spools of .035 fluxcore wire welding my disaster up.
Mine happened on the Rubicon trail, it cracked the frame completely, the spring pushed the front of the frame up, made a 90degree angle, and the middle section between the four bolts holding the steering box on came off and the steering box fell off breaking the rag joint completely.I let mine go, without paying any attention to it, for way too long.
When I did finally get to looking at it, the frame had nearly cracked in half. Causing the steering wheel to be 1/2 turn off of center.
I had to use a ratchet strap to pull the frame back together, with the frame under the cab sitting on a jackstand, it was very sketchy, and took a ton of welding and "adding" reinforcement to get it back to where I wasn't scared of it.
Did the Amazon plates ever show up? if did you measure them.I bought the cheapies off Amazon and am going to compare thickness with ORD
Thank you for the pics and quick write up.I put the rough country plates on the last frame I did.
No issues. Just basic welding metalwork required.
For those saying you need heat or a big hammer. You don't. C clamp is the right answer.
Toss some bolts in the holes to line them up. And c clamp it down.
Even using vise grips won't do it. You need the mechanical advantage of the screw to bring it in close contact. View attachment 442975
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reading this.... I'm gonna think again about having a trail welder with meMine happened on the Rubicon trail, it cracked the frame completely, the spring pushed the front of the frame up, made a 90degree angle, and the middle section between the four bolts holding the steering box on came off and the steering box fell off breaking the rag joint completely.
I had to cobble it back together to drive it out.
I used a come-along to pull the frame back in, a 2" wide ratchet strap to hold the box in place and some bailing wire loosely woven back and forth to connect the steering together.
Drove it off and all the way to Sacramento.
I ended fixing it myself at home with pieces from 4wheel parts.
Both pieces had to be massaged in place to match my slightly tweaked frame.
is your digital caliper from amazon too? mine usually has numbers on it?$26 bucks Amazon plates. They look identical to ORD and wouldn’t surprise me if they are. View attachment 442987
especially with the rosette in the center of the plate, how did the box fit, and did you have to shim under the mounting tabs of the box? or did you just torque it and hope the ears don't snap off?I put the rough country plates on the last frame I did.
No issues. Just basic welding metalwork required.
For those saying you need heat or a big hammer. You don't. C clamp is the right answer.
Toss some bolts in the holes to line them up. And c clamp it down.
Even using vise grips won't do it. You need the mechanical advantage of the screw to bring it in close contact. View attachment 442975
View attachment 442976
View attachment 442977
View attachment 442978
Shim as is washer(s) between box ears and outer frame, where the bolts go through into the box, so the bolts clamp on them instead of pulling the steering box ears in (towards the frame) thus leaving a gap that could crack them? Washers would fill in that gap?especially with the rosette in the center of the plate, how did the box fit, and did you have to shim under the mounting tabs of the box? or did you just torque it and hope the ears don't snap off?
Ground down the plug weld flush, where it was high. Tried to weld it so it was low.especially with the rosette in the center of the plate, how did the box fit, and did you have to shim under the mounting tabs of the box? or did you just torque it and hope the ears don't snap off?
This is why I bought theirs...Here is my 2 cents on ORD being more expensive.
Yes they are more expensive but they are a true grass roots family company... They wheel what they sell and excellent customer service. I have sat on the phone with Stephen for probably hours. My truck is damn near a catalog of ORD and I will pay extra for the tech and knowing the stuff will work.
Most of all they support the site and Blazer Bash.
Battery died a long time ago. I can read them manually so havnt needed to replace batteriesis your digital caliper from amazon too? mine usually has numbers on it?

that was exactly the problem i had, and others have had, that made them decide not to use the reinforcement plates at all.Shim as is washer(s) between box ears and outer frame, where the bolts go through into the box, so the bolts clamp on them instead of pulling the steering box ears in (towards the frame) thus leaving a gap that could crack them? Washers would fill in that gap?
Why would they make this product and not factor that in or does the box sit flush somehow? I don't see how it can be flush but, pics are scant on the web