Hobbs 96 Z71 Build

[Z71Hobbs]

Well.. long overdue for an update.

Got the lower control arms, upper control arms, knuckles, torsion bar crossmember and some other little pieces sandblasted and powder coated. Then installed all new bushings and ball joints.

I've slowly been working on the truck a few hours a week and finally starting putting things back together instead of taking them apart.

I bought a stainless steel oil cooler line kit from lubrication specialists and got it installed. Wrapped the lines with heater hose slit and tied with zip ties to prevent rubbing. Soo much easier without the front diff installed.

Also replaced the pitman arm and idler arm. Talk about a pain in the arse!!! I still cannot separate the idler and pitman arm from the dragline! Good thing I don't need it for the lift!

Today I thrashed on it and got the upper control arm relocation brackets installed. I've read quite a bit on the 4" rough country kit, and I'm convinced mine was made on a Friday. I had to cut quite a bit extra off of the bump stop brackets compared to other installs I've seen.

Also picked up a core diesel bumper and dropped it off at the chrome shop. Also picked up a new filler piece for below the grille and have that and some other bits at the paint shop.

Anyways, here are some pics.

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[Z71Hobbs]

More pics

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[Z71Hobbs]

And I also cleaned up the front diff. These 6.5 are oily ********!!! I've lost track of how much time I've spent degreasing and removing oil grime from parts and the chassis.

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[Cokeman95]

Real nice progress man. Love the look of freshly powder coated parts.

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[Z71Hobbs]

New present in the mail today!!!

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[Cokeman95]

That's awesome! I didn't know they were making these again.

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[Z71Hobbs]

That's awesome! I didn't know they were making these again.

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They just started back up. They were offering a discount for folks who ordered through end of July. I got the unfinished ones and saved another 50 bucks.

 

[Z71Hobbs]

I am convinced my lift was assembled on a Friday...missing washers, and the lower rear crossmember has caught me every step of the way.

First I put the diff in, then tried to get the lower rear crossmember on, no dice. Pulled the diff, massaged the lower rear crossmember, the reinstalled everything. Got it all torqued down, and then I decided to check my clearance between the ground down diff and the chassis...it's barely touching, but enough that I probably should pull it and grind another 1/8 to 3/16 off!!! So I get to pull it all. I'm convinced I'm never going to get this done!!


On a positive note, went to pick n pull and scored a really good gmc grille! Only one small crack in upper driver bracket. I'll save that for a winter project. Still not decided it I want the gmc grille or not, but it was there and cheap enough. Most of the ones I find are jacked pretty badly.

More pics cause everyone likes pics.

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[BowtieBrody]

I vote for the GMC grille with a billet insert,
Loving the progress on this truck! I wish I could throw a lift kit on my old K2500 but it'd be headache to work on or work with;

 

[Z71Hobbs]

I vote for the GMC grille with a billet insert,
Loving the progress on this truck! I wish I could throw a lift kit on my old K2500 but it'd be headache to work on or work with;

Thanks!

I like the billet look, but would rather do a mesh insert or a custom one made by Tindust Custom Grilles (see pic below).

If I had to do this again, and because I am OCD about these kinds of things, I'd find a donor chassis and do the suspension parts, paint everything, then swap the cab, fenders, and bed over.

I still might do that at some point. It has not been fun crawling in and out and constantly being covered in grime and crud. I am hopeful that once I get the lift done I'll be able to pressure wash the underside a bit easier.

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