THORparts SAS #2 project...

[cgalpha08]

Pics don't do it justice....yes I'm bragging that I've seen it In person!! Haha

 

[Woodtick]

Wow,did that turn out nice. Great work.

 

[RamRod]

I'll probably crank a few adapters out and sell them if anyone is interested. The shaft can be bought from any driveline shop...all standard stuff.

I'll be watching for this, I replacing the broken CV with another one know the new one is not going to last!



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[silvrzuki77]

Looks great!

 

[jphh20]

Wow, it's looks unbelievable... Very nice work


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[amrg]

Love the truck! Both of them actually!

 

[4speedfunk]

So today I ran a couple of errands in the T...trying to get stuff to "settle-in" a bit. I made a few stops and I could not get five feet from it without somebody hitting me up for info. It certainly draws a crowd. I saw a red H3 all alone in a church parking lot and I could not resist pulling along side and taking a few pics. This comparison shows how crazy massive this truck really is...

It looks cool as hell but, it is sprung too stiff. The ride feels much like a 3/4-ton truck...very firm on smooth roads, and downright harsh on pot-holes and rail-road crossings. The nice thing is, there is almost no body roll (and no flex, either). The owner provided me with the front coils (Skyjacker #186S) and the application is listed as "FORD +6". While its true...they do fit F150s and Broncos, BUT they also list the F250s and F350s among the applications! Judging from the ride, I think these springs are more suited to F250-F350 sized vehicles. The dimensions are the same as mine but, I noticed that when you try to bounce it...it doesn't even budge! To make matters worse...I pumped up the rear airbags to level it, and that added harshness to the rear suspension. So right now...both ends are very stiff. I can raise the spring buckets on the frame, and that will lower the front end...but it doesn't change the spring rate. So I am going to recommend replacing the front springs with the same ones I am running. This is a very easy procedure, and it can be done in a matter of minutes without disassembling anything.

I run similar coils on mine (ProComp #24412) listed as "81-96 FORD Bronco +4", and my H3 is quite comfortable and far more flexy. I can actually "bounce" my truck by jumping on the front bumper. Stupid as it sounds...the "bounce test" tells me a lot. I notice that the wire diameter is smaller and the coils seem wrapped tighter on the ProComp springs...no doubt a key to the better ride. Once I get the springs swapped...the nose should drop 1.5" or so (with the coil buckets in the same location). I can then let some air out of the rear bags, and hopefully this will soften-up the ride. Its hard to get a handle on shock-valving until the springs are figured out. Tires are no where near rubbing, so there is plenty of room to go lower. Front axle yoke-to-header clearance is my only concern.

 

[jphh20]

That is a beastly looking rig. The shot from behind really shows how massive it is.


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[rsc]

That is freakin amazing! Awesome job! Yesterday my wife asked what I wanted for Valentines day, I think I have the answer now.

 

[humvee]

This looks bada$$!

With 5.13s on 37's, what are your thoughts on power?

 

[4speedfunk]

Overall...its got good power, and the revs are very much like stock...70mph at 2500rpm. It stays in 4th gear on the highway unless you get to a good size hill...just like a stock H3. I have a PCM tune on my truck, (same set-up) and it helps with shift points and speedo correction. Low range is of course...insane. Lock both diffs, and it turns into a Sherman Tank. Power has never been an issue in low range on any H3 I've driven. Its the highway performance that suffers from big tires, and the re-gear helps the little 5-cyl do its job much better. Power is very much like a stock 4.56 geared truck on 33"s.

 

[06 H3]

CJ, are we gonna have a SAS h3 round up soon? This summer in colorado?

 

[IISPEEDYII]

Every time I look at this thread, I almost cry at the fact that Im in school and don't have the money to do this haha. I want it so bad.

 

[poncho1965]

So, what is the cost for all parts needed to do this?


Mike

 

[06 H3]

I know CJ will better answer this but the famous and ****ty answer no one wants to hear is it depends! lol

He is running a hi pinion housing which is taking a ford dana 44 (which is driver drop) and cutting the tubes out then pressing in new tubes to make it passenger drop. He did this because the ford dana 44 is a high pinion the chevy one is low pinion. Hi pinion is stronger. He also bought everything new which raises cost.

I had 1000 bucks into my axle for a locker, 5.13s chromo shafts, new BJs, seals, etc. I bought used and that guy had probably over 2k maybe pushing 3k in his axle. Not sure what geno's T build cost. Cheapest way is to go buy a built axle. Then bracketry also varies. I would say It can be done for 3k maybe more or less depending on how you shop for deals or go all out and spend a ton. It all depends. No one right answer. It just what fits you and your wallet. If you slowly buy parts for a year or two it can be much more affordable.

 

[poncho1965]

I guess I'm waiting for CJ's kit[emoji106] All parts needed, tried and true. Ready to adapt to an H3. Since I want to keep my 3 I'm looking for upgradability and reliability. Thanks for the input Chris.


Mike

 

[Cyouincourt007]

Where to start...this is totally awesome, looks rough and tough as heck, love how you pulled up by the Prius and then by the other hummer at church for comparison(something I'd do), like cgalpha described, if this thing looks like this on pics I can only imagine in person(same with yours). I would definitely like to sign up for something like this and if my 5cyl can't hack it then I guess an alpha is in order down the road.
well done sir and thanks for sharing.
:hubba:

 

[Pappibri]

Love the way it looks. Definitely beastly looking. If I had that T and did not need the bed, I would mount the tire in the bed. Love the look of the whole truck from the rear minus the tire, just my preference. This truck looks awesome. Nice job.:thumbs:

 

[4speedfunk]

Thanks everybody. 06H3 is spot-on with the pricing. There are so many variables and I would put this one toward the top of the range. This axle was built over a year ago, and parts have been bought and stockpiled since then. The idea is that everything is "on-site" when cutting begins. Labor on this truck is around 130 hours and that includes some stuff that normally wouldn't be required. Count on $3k to $6k for parts....and of course deals on used stuff are everywhere.

Kit? I won't stock anything like this but, I can put together custom kits on a pre-pay basis. Lots of different options and grades of parts.

No concerns about 5-cyl. power. A 5.13 geared H3 will smoke a stock one in a drag race. (But it's no less thirsty!).

Tubular tailgate coming soon. It will have the spare mounted at an angle, pre-runner style.

 

[08H3]

Looks great! Makes me question why we are even looking at my axle.

 

[amrg]

Looks great! Makes me question why we are even looking at my axle.

Same here! But SA desert running?

 

[4speedfunk]

Makes me question why we are even looking at my axle.

Its easy to see stuff like this and jump right into the "I want" mode. Just remember: everything is a compromise. Most of us off-roaders are willing to trade practicality and drive-ability for better off-road performance. Even a simple tire-swap is in some small way, a compromise. Off-roaders are famous for compromising...sometimes to the point of absurdity. They simply "live with" whatever weird traits their rigs exhibit, for the sake of trail superiority. That's why many rigs eventually reach such a level of compromise...that they become full-time trailer rigs. You can only give up safety, handling, braking, and daily conveniences so much...before you are flirting with the trailer.

On this level of build...the compromises are big and many. They come flyin at your face like angry Wizard of Oz monkeys! About the best you can do is try to minimize the compromise!. Given the stats of this truck on paper, (5.13s, 37"s, 4:1 low-range, F & R lockers, bead-locks)...its remarkable that its street legal at all! But its actually very docile & drive-able compared to other rigs of the same stature but, it is not without compromise. I will be the first to say...this truck will not win any slalom course competitions. I will also say that it takes some getting use to (ie: compromise) when driving it. I personally feel that this is about as far as you can go with an H3 and still have a nice, capable rig for daily duty. Unless you do frequent medium to hard-core wheeling, its hard to justify the compromise.

 

[06 H3]

You are spot on. Even then for me personally when I was at hammers and seeing these buggies do whatever the hell they want, I cant. I then remember their piles are going on a trailer and sit on the trailer till next time it gets taken out.

I enjoy driving mine and feel its as far as I can go with having a rig that can drive cross country and still wheel tougher trails. Its a tough balance!!!!!

 

[rsc]

Aside from longer braking distances and a more top-heavy feel, what other compromises would this build bring if one were moving up from an I5 Adventure on 35's? Once you get the spring an shock rates ironed out that is. Does this SA setup have a better ride than a typical JKU on similar tires? Does the 5.13 gearing start to get too harsh on and off the gas or would a 4.88 be a better compromise?

 

[08H3]

Ha ha! We're all about compromise in our family, 4Speed. Don't forget, the Hummer is my wife's dd. For me to have it where it is serves as a testament to how great she is. We've talked about a solid axle swap before....that's where the line was drawn. It's all good.