Build Rocklander 77-series build

[SNLC]

These are as previously mentioned Dobinsons leaf springs for a 77-series. These were the lightest duty leaf packs I could get from them.

I am going to tear these leaf packs down and assemble them as we see fit to suit the build, weight, desired height and so forth.

I have also decided to go with the leaf spring sliders for both front and rear axles. So this build suspension wise will not have any shackles! This should be fun and interesting as well, I am excited to do this build as planned! I just wish we could finalize with a few vendors and get it done so 100% of the build parts are in hand before tearing into it.

Our shop is simply not big enough for me to leave this Cruiser torn down, I have to plan and strategize for doing “phases” of the build.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Super simple truss for top of the rear axle, still need to cut the other side.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

I friggin’ like it! I am going to do something similar in this 77-series.

Cheers

 

[matzell]

I have a box of the axle sleeves to make it wider if the vendor does not have them in stock. @lcwizard

 

[SNLC]

I have a box of the axle sleeves to make it wider if the vendor does not have them in stock. @lcwizard

Awesome thanks!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Sitting at DMV right now doing title and plates. Can’t come up with any thing better for plates than HDJ77.

Here are some more pics of rear axle truss & skid.

I bought another skid for the front axle housing. Ballistic has changed their design a little bit.

Seems some suppliers just can’t stock certain things. I have had a difficult time getting fabrication brackets. Things like leaf perches for the axles and shock towers for the front. I do finally have some leaf perches coming and they should be here soon.

Cheers

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

I,

If you ever need custom built housings... Always willing to help out, DIY or welded out. Good work!

J

 

[SNLC]

I,

If you ever need custom built housings... Always willing to help out, DIY or welded out. Good work!

J

You got any 9.5” blanks ready to go now for either diy weld or not?

Cheers

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

9.5" Front or rear?

Just machined some 3.5" x .500" wall for the 80 balls for a 9.5"

 

[Guyute]

Sitting at DMV right now doing title and plates. Can’t come up with any thing better for plates than HDJ77.

Here are some more pics of rear axle truss & skid.

View attachment 4118251
View attachment 4118252
View attachment 4118253
View attachment 4118254

I bought another skid for the front axle housing. Ballistic has changed their design a little bit.

View attachment 4118255

Seems some suppliers just can’t stock certain things. I have had a difficult time getting fabrication brackets. Things like leaf perches for the axles and shock towers for the front. I do finally have some leaf perches coming and they should be here soon.

Cheers

I like HDJ77 but that is coming from a guy with plates HZJ73 and HZJ77 currently.

SOA77
HDSOA77
TRAIL77
ROCKPIG
H8PRIUS

 

[SNLC]

I like HDJ77 but that is coming from a guy with plates HZJ73 and HZJ77 currently.

SOA77
HDSOA77
TRAIL77
ROCKPIG
H8PRIUS

Certainly all good names and you are in more of a creative mind set then I was today!

I came up with
JDM POS
SNLC 77
RCKLNDR
Rusty 77
JDM RUST

A few other too, I went with HDJ77.

My FROR 80-series high steer kit shipped today! That’s so good because no matter what I do I can’t SoA the front with without high steer.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

9.5" Front or rear?

Just machined some 3.5" x .500" wall for the 80 balls for a 9.5"



View attachment 4118315View attachment 4118316View attachment 4118318

Front but all I need is a blank housing, I got your knuckle balls already. I am going 80 width so from my measurements that is about 45” from knuckle ball weld to knuckle ball weld. 63” finished wms to wms. Obviously I am staying with passenger side drop.

If you got that I will probably buy it. If not I am going to mod this 62-series housing I have. I never heard back from FROR about a 9.5” Diamond front and my patience is wearing out. I am ready to build!!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

I got front Eaton E-locker in route now so now I am ready with f&r lockers and 4.56 gears. My front 3rd is a brand new OEM just sitting in the shop collecting dust. I don’t really need much else to build it all out, I got all the outer axle parts in nearly new condition.

I got 80-series tcase low/high gears coming and also a part time kit. So we will rebuild and build one of the four 80-series tcase I have here as well in prep for the 1HDFT swap.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

The Dobinsons leaves unwrapped! Again, these were the lightest duty offered for a 1990’s 70-series. The front iirc is a 1-200lbs over stock and the rear is a 300+ over stock. Both are seven leaf packs. I foresee the front being a 3-4 leaf pack and the rear being a 4-5 leaf pack for my SoA setup and more or less “design”. I plan to keep the two main leaves and I already have the others in mind as well. This is not my first leaf spring build and I am actually excited and stoked to be doing it! I know 100% I can build and make this suspension flex excellent, ride like an old school Cadillac on road and off and just all around be fairly kick ass!! The last 10yrs coil overs and 80-series suspension swaps are the rage-popular but if you happen to be old school you know a leaf sprung suspension can be built to perform excellent. If that’s what you like keep following along!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Here is the pretty worn out OG exhaust system.

We have had this take off HZJ79 OEM exhaust for awhile now, left over from this build.

Thread '2022 HZJ79 to a 2022 HDJ79'

Nov 15, 2023

The owner of this Cruiser suggested we do a build thread. So here we go…

First up this is a 2022 double cab HZJ79. This Cruiser is used in the mining industry. We are not going to get into anything else about it here in the build thread. Simply sticking to the build.

We were contacted recently by the owner who was not real happy with the 1HZ. As most of us know the 1HZ will run forever but they are not known for power. So 1HDFTE with a H152 swap it is!

Here is the Cruiser.

It’s a totally stock truck right now. Besides the FTE swap...

• SNLC
• 1hdfte build thread hzj79 vehicle tech
• Replies: 199
• Forum: 70-Series Tech

• 
• 

It took a bit of shortening obviously due to wheel base and a few other fudging here and there but was fairly easy to fit.

It has been laying in the weather for a few years and we didn’t spend a lot of time fitting it but it is certainly better than the OG exhaust the Cruiser came with. Next round on exhaust will be 3” for the 1HDFT swap!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Welded out.

Cheers

 

[OGBeno]

I might have missed it, Ian. Will this be SOA or SUA? Looking forward to seeing how you set the leaf packs up!

 

[SNLC]

SoA

Here is the first assembled leaf packs, we may add or remove as needed from this.

What we currently pulled from the leaf packs.

Cheers

 

[OGBeno]

Nice. Thanks. That's gonna be rad.

 

[SNLC]

Man these are soooooo good!!

Cheers