Recent content by jscherb

I am mostly self-taught; I read a lot of how-to books and I've been working in a home workshop since I was old enough to hold a hammer. When it comes to painting, my good friends at Elmira Auto Paint gave me lots of advice and suggestions. For fiberglass, also mostly self taught, although I...

I've always used and had good results with PPG ShopLine epoxy primer: https://max.ppg.com/adaptivemedia/rendition?id=9179d0e69a49041a16501b85e08112a28e898d54. I've also used Eastood 2k paints with good results so I wouldn't hesitate to try their epoxy primer.

A few years ago I designed a tailgate prop specifically for the MORryde hinges (I also designed the hinges and tailgate reinforcement for MORryde BTW). It mounts inside the hinge using factory holes; no modifications to the hinges are required. They've been in use on my LJ and my Jeep-tub...

I use 2-part epoxy primer as a first coat for everything. Sticks fine to SMC, fiberglass, metal.

Thicker than normal paint, but not really all that thick. It's intended to fill very minor sanding scratches from prior sanding, it's not thick enough to fill any damage to a panel - damage needs to be filled/sanded before high build is applied. Typically bodywork is done and block sanded...

If you want to do a roller application and have it last 10 years, I recommend a marine topside paint such as Petit EZ-Poxy. It's a one-part polyurethane designed to be applied with a brush, spray or roller. It contains UV filter additives for long life outdoors. It's a gloss finish, but a...

The paint prep depends on the finish you're going for. Here are three examples, from quick and easy to automotive grade: I built this half cab hardtop by modifying a CJ full top. I wanted a textured finish, which wouldn't require extreme sanding, so I think I went with 120 grit for the final...

The OEM radiator in my 2006 LJ Wrangler/pickup lasted 16 years and 120,000 miles. About 2 years ago I replaced it with an aluminum one from Summit. It lasted about 4 months before it started dripping. I called Summit and they gave me credit for it and recommended a slightly more expensive...

Any body filler that's rated as SMC-compatible should be fine - Wrangler hardtops are made from a variant of fiberglass called SMC (sheet molding compound), which includes a mold release component and because of that ordinary body filler doesn't bond very well to it; SMC-compatible fillers and...

Relative to the LJ 4.0, everything about the Grenadier is much more expensive. The price of a well-equipped Grenadier like mine is maybe 50% more than a JL Wrangler Rubicon; service cost is basically at BMW levels and parts aren't available at your average auto store, most things so far are...

I was planning to do Colorado the last week of July/first week of August, including the Alpine Loop, Imogene and more, but a family medical situation has caused me to put that trip off. I'm sure the Grenadier will have no problems with any of those trails. By the time the medical situation...

Yes. Can't recall exactly what I used but probably rattle can Krylon for a small repair like this. Before primer: After: Fiberglass isn't as hard as people think it might be. The hard part is when you make original parts, or when you make new sections to replace broken or missing...

All of the factory hardtops I have worked on have the panels molded with white tinted resin. This is a JKU Freedom panel, if you check the cracked edges you can see they're white all the way through. BTW I was able to repair this damaged panel and return it to use. This next photo is a...

For most of my fiberglass projects I start with a layer of 3/4 oz. mat followed usually by two layers of 1 1/2 oz. mat. I apply the resin with a brush and then push the resin into the mat with either the same brush or sometimes with a brush with the bristles cut short to make it stiffer when...

I asked my main contact at MORryde if they will still honor the introductory pre-order deal and they said: It's a great deal. I used one of the two preproduction samples they sent me in my JKU and it's worked very well: The other sample has done some time in my Grenadier: