I think that a JD dealer can provide all the parts needed to build your gauge, but I bought my stuff from a local hydraulic repair shop. You may/may not have a hyd shop near you, but check around and see. If not, you can always order the parts online but you pretty much have to know exactly what to order then. I don't have the part number for the quick connect fitting I used, but maybe some else here can provide it?
If you do drop off the BH, you will need some ballast. The boxblade should be sufficient, but if you pick up a large chunk of wood and the back end gets light, you will know it! If so, just add more weight by whatever means you have. One quick, dirty, cheap way would be to strap down a 35 gallon drum on the boxblade and fill it with water.
I am confused on one thing though..... you refer to the "extension" on the ROPS. Do you mean the top piece on the ROPS that bolts to the two upright pieces?? If you remove that, you pretty much can't count on the ROPS to do it's job should you do the unthinkable (rollover). That's an integral part of the ROPS structure, but I understand sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do!