hello All,


I just picked up a boulder Grey 2008 Alpha with 88K miles on it. I plan to use it to tow boats and jetski's, to hit the sand dunes here in Michigan and to do the occassional offroad event.


Historically, i'm more of a musclecar guy, but I've leased two hummers in the past and I really wanted to have an Alpha as a 4th. It runs and looks great and I feel i got a decent deal on it.


It needs a break job and some other maintenance things done, but the the body is in really great shape. it also came with some great extras including a huge brush guard with a built-in 8000lb winch and a GOBI rack. 33" all-terrain as well (nearly new). Very little rust underneath and none on the body. I have pics, but no longer maintain my own website, so i'll post some up later. My questions are as follows:


1. The entire exhaust looks like one 'pancaked' restriction. Is there anyone that makes a complete aftermarket one for this beast? And are there MIL elimanators out there for the CATS?


2. Are the aftermarket PCM tunes i've seen mentioned really worth it?


3. What mechnical failures should I be looking out for going forward?


thanks all,
blacksnake305

 

Welcome and congrats on the Alpha. There are after market exhaust systems from Magnaflow and possibly others. I would say the PCM tunes are worth doing.

 

Howdy from SE MI.

Yeah, the Alpha exhaust had to be squished to fit the maze of cross frame supports and T Bars. To address what's in front of the Cat, you'll need to visit a local custom exhaust guy for that, but a cat back can provide some more rumble.

PCM tunes are impressive for the LH8, like through PCMofNC.com, but you can always to a hand held Superchips Flashpaq and have complete control over the tune.

The complete performance package is an intake, PCM tune, Efan conversion, PP TB and Cat back, it will grow you truck a set.

No mechanical failures that any other FS GM 2008 V8 might have, except you might want to have a spare half shaft for over doing the skinny pedal when bouncing the front in and out of traction. The way the radiator is mounted can cause wear and cracking at the top bracket, but not all of them have that problem and there are some steps to reduce that as well.

Welcome to HF and enjoy.

 

Welcome to HF from MI.

X2 on what doc said. Super Chips Flashpaq is the way to go for tuning an 08-09 Alpha.

 

Welcome

 

Thanks for the warm welcome. I just bought a set of brakemotive zinc rotors and pads. next up with be an exhaust (mid-pipe on back). i've already modified the stock airbox and have added a K&N. I don't see much restriction there, so no need to spend the $$$.


Also, i've found doing a P&P on the TB usually is a waste of time.


After the exhaust, its all about some nice black wheels. Maybe something like this: 16x8 Black Alloy ion Style 174 Wheels 6x5 5 5 Lifted Hummer H3 | eBay


But I have to be honest that I like how the stock wheels sit in the wheel wells. I'm not looking for any change. But the stock wheels could use an upgrade. So i'm looking for the same general offset/backspacing as the stockers. I don't mind if they come out a little more, but the offset on the link provided is wayyyy off (even though they said it fits an H3). Any suggestions on a similar set of wheels that will fit my criteria?