Build Rocklander 77-series build

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Kinda janky with me just holding it up here but man these FROR knuckles and arms are going to be super good!

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The steering arms are “keyed” taking most of the load off the hardware!

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Cheers
 
Some numbers as it begins to finalize.

-wheel base is looking to be around 112”
-23” under mid belly frame rails
-low point in belly, trans crossmember is 20.5”
-both diffs have about 12” of clearance
-oil pan is 23.5” off the ground
-1.5* of rake front to rear (stink bug stance)

Width is looking like (with 4.5” backspaced wheels and 13.5” wide tires) 76” or 6ft4”.

Height is looking like 85” or 7ft!

So really, fairly well balanced height to width! That’s great!

It’s arse with the pants dropped!!

IMG_2952.webp


Cheers
 
Last edited:
SNLC said:
Some numbers as it begins to finalize.

-wheel base is looking to be around 112”
-23” under mid belly frame rails
-low point in belly, trans crossmember is 20.5”
-both diffs have about 12” of clearance
-oil pan is 23.5” off the ground
-1.5* of rake front to rear (stink bug stance)

Width is looking like (with 4.5” backspaced wheels and 13.5” wide tires) 76” or 6ft4”.

Height is looking like 85” or 7ft!

So really, fairly well balanced height to width! That’s great!

It’s arse with the pants dropped!!

View attachment 4128598

Cheers
Click to expand...
Knocking it out of the park Ian !! love the stance & wheel base.
Have you checked out the Kanati Mud Hog m/t tires ? There available in a 39/12.50 /17 and when wheeling side by side with the Patagonia's they out performed them by a large margin.
Plus they just look dam good
1777129162646.webp

1777129426687.webp

I have been running them for about 5 years now, on my second set. I really like them. One of the only tires that's over 37" tall and still 12.50 wide
 
matzell said:
What are you going to do for the cooling and extra fluid for the black box? If any?
Click to expand...

It’s own little pump and trans cooler with a trans temp gauge.

Cheers
 
I am soooo torn on the body because I would say at least five out of ten if not more body mounts are completely wasted from rot. Some like the rear most are not even holding the body on the chassis anymore since the steel for that has evaporated!! I am at least slightly worried when I start off-roading this Cruiser it’s going to get way worse fast! We have had a joke in the shop about how I should carry some big ratchet straps in case it starts to go I can just strap the body to the frame for the drive home!

I talked myself 85% of the way into a 2024 single cab pickup body the other day and almost bought it!

That is extremely tempting to do and I may still do it! I think a single cab 79 with a bed bobbed real short would be awesome too! Especially on 38’s! I could by bobbing the bed keep the wheelbase not to long as well.

What I would really really like to do though is find a not rusty LHD 76-series body with say dash, HVAC system and wiring harnesses. An HZJ76 would suit me best but I really only need some Middle East junkyard Cruiser. I don’t need all the rest of the Cruiser so paying extra for that is just not worth it to me.

So who out there has feelers on Middle East junkyard Cruisers!?

Cheers
 
76 series are few and far between in the ME. I saw a handful during my stays in various countries there. Sharjah scrapyards might have some, but they’d likely be Australian (ergo RHD). The take off bodies are usually pickups.
Now, I have heard of new bodies from Toyota Gibraltar being sold off but the cost quoted was ~10-15K USD before shipping.
You’d probably be better off getting a body from the 79 since it’s available “locally”.
 
SNLC said:
I am soooo torn on the body because I would say at least five out of ten if not more body mounts are completely wasted from rot. Some like the rear most are not even holding the body on the chassis anymore since the steel for that has evaporated!! I am at least slightly worried when I start off-roading this Cruiser it’s going to get way worse fast! We have had a joke in the shop about how I should carry some big ratchet straps in case it starts to go I can just strap the body to the frame for the drive home!

I talked myself 85% of the way into a 2024 single cab pickup body the other day and almost bought it!

That is extremely tempting to do and I may still do it! I think a single cab 79 with a bed bobbed real short would be awesome too! Especially on 38’s! I could by bobbing the bed keep the wheelbase not to long as well.

What I would really really like to do though is find a not rusty LHD 76-series body with say dash, HVAC system and wiring harnesses. An HZJ76 would suit me best but I really only need some Middle East junkyard Cruiser. I don’t need all the rest of the Cruiser so paying extra for that is just not worth it to me.

So who out there has feelers on Middle East junkyard Cruisers!?

Cheers
Click to expand...
Ian, there is show called "Build for Offroad" in season one he builds a rock crawler with an aftermarket FJ45 single cab that is a bit more roomer in the cabin than the original FJ45s.
 
Iron Pig Off Road is building one now on a 80 frame. This is not theirs but the company who makes the tubs,

www.hardbody4x4.com

#4503 1964-1978 FJ45 Cab - Stretched 6"

#4503 1964-1978 FJ45 Cab - Stretched 6"
www.hardbody4x4.com

I also have a 70 series bed for sale but shipping would kill the deal, unless I talk the GF into heading to Yellowstone over Memorial day weekend.
 
I don’t really want to turn it into something other than a 70-series. So we are sticking to that.

Got these adjusted a bit, welded in better too. Still welding and boxing them in to do though.

IMG_2961.webp


Cheers
 
This is turning into a pretty epic build, though I would expect nothing less from @SNLC! I'm a big fan of the 4-door wagons, it is really cool to see one getting fully built out.
 
matzell said:
Iron Pig Off Road is building one now on a 80 frame. This is not theirs but the company who makes the tubs,

www.hardbody4x4.com

#4503 1964-1978 FJ45 Cab - Stretched 6"

#4503 1964-1978 FJ45 Cab - Stretched 6"
www.hardbody4x4.com

I also have a 70 series bed for sale but shipping would kill the deal, unless I talk the GF into heading to Yellowstone over Memorial day weekend.
Click to expand...
Interesting! I had no idea that there was a company building aftermarket 40 series body components, let alone less than an hour from me.
 
AirheadNut said:
This is turning into a pretty epic build, though I would expect nothing less from @SNLC! I'm a big fan of the 4-door wagons, it is really cool to see one getting fully built out.
Click to expand...


Thanks!

I also found a Prado with a smokey 1KZ for not bad of a price. I forgot, the 77-series and the early Prado share the same body from the firewall back!

Cheers
 
SNLC said:
Thanks!

I also found a Prado with a smokey 1KZ for not bad of a price. I forgot, the 77-series and the early Prado share the same body from the firewall back!

Cheers
Click to expand...
Yeah, the similarity between the 77, 78 Prado and 76 is really handy from a parts perspective, most body and interior parts are interchangeable.

A linked Prado with a V8 swap would be a pretty awesome build too.
 
I went ahead and grabbed this. I measured compared to a wide nose to see if a wide nose would fit in a narrow nose. It would but it is like 7-8” taller and I don’t want to deal with that hanging down below the frame rails here currently in this build. So this is just your standard narrow nose 70-series radiator.

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My rear shocks have arrived.

IMG_2976.webp


I am currently working on getting the pinion angle set on the front axle, no it’s not even close in this picture!

IMG_2977.webp


Cheers
 

1995 Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ77 Diesel 5-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ77 Diesel 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #156,289.
bringatrailer.com bringatrailer.com


Cheers
 
I have gone and done it now!

🤦‍♂️

I have gone and bought a 79-series pickup body from @scrad. It’s LHD and new!

🤣🤙

Cheers
 
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