I remember you saying that in the future you wanted to swap out the IFS in the h3 and go to a SFA setup. Have you given this any thought? Just wondering what axle you would use and if you would go leaf pack or coil suspension?

A local Junkyard has an h3 there that had an engine compartment fire, no motor,transfer case,trans or interior. The body is charred but straight (amazingly!) and the frame is straight. They will sell it to me for $600 if I tow it away. I was thinking of storing it and stockpiling parts so that when my son gets old enough we can have a nice project together.

If you don't mind I could really use your input as to what axles,t-case,tranny to go with. I have an idea but you know far more than I. I amnot sure what motor I want to run, trying to make it non computer controlled. Would be nice if a 327 wouldfit in there, wouldn't it?!?!

 

I have not given it that much thought. It's just something I'd like to do far down the road, if we end up keeping it a while. I haven't taken any measuements or anything along those lines. So, I only have a rough guess of the space I haveto work with under there. But I would more than likely go with leafs. If I could, I would likely try to find and axle that is the correct length wheel to wheel. But custom is always an option if stouter axles are needed. I'm not sure how the width compares to a Jeep, but that may be a place to take some measurements. It all depends on what you want to end up with, when said and done. Sometimes it all boils down to what you can find laying around, and make work. Sometimes you pass on an idea, andother times something falls into your lap, and turns out to be a God send. If I do it, it still won't be my main trial rig, so I won't go crazy on lift and tire size. So, I could probably get by with something like a D44 out of a Jeep if the width was correct, or close. If not, there are plenty of places that cut axles down to custom size. I would keep my stock t-case at all costs, with the 4:1. But there are aftermarket t-cases out there that offer much better gear options, but ata cost. I'd keep the same engine more than likely, but in your case I would find something that fits well, and makes good power. The options can be endless if your willing to put in the time scrounging through other 4wd boards to see what others are doing etc.

there is also the poss. that it may be my 9 yo daughters frist ride, when she is old enough. So I don't want to get too crazy with it. Just something that makes it more functional, with less chance of breakage.

Iv'e been collecting parts for my newest trail rig for a while now. I hope to get started on the build really quick. I'm waiting for my militaryH1 double beadlocks to get back from being re-centered (too much back space for my rig) and I still need to drop the 4.88 gears into my dana 60 front axle, and 14BFF rear. I also have many upgrades to put into the axles while I'm doing that. Chromoly axle shafts, and Longfield 300M axle joints, plus I need to put the detroit locker in the front with the gears, the back already has one. I still need a few parts for my hydro assist steering, but I can get that right down the road.I sold my old trail rig because the price was right, and I knew I could build another, and mine was getting a little beat up. So, I bought another stock K5, and had to start from scratch. But this one will be even better, by far, than the last. I've spent about 6000.00 in just upgrade parts... no bling .. no pretty's ... just parts that most people won't even notice, or even get a chance to see. But it's the type of stuff that gets you back home after a hard trail. Every link between my hubs, and t-case will be much stronger than GM ever thought of making it, and function better than they ever dreamed. I still have not even addressed rock sliders or my winch bumper. But, I'll make them after the other stuff is done so I can measure right off the K5. It will just help me to visualize it better with the suspension done, while I'm trying to see how low I want something to come down etc.

 

thanks bro, I was thinking of maybe a dana 44 up front with an atlas II t-case. I have the atlas II laying around my shop. I'm gonna do a little measuring and research first.

thanks again for your help.

 

I'm afraid I wasn't much help. But with Christmas, and my own build my old brain is packed with so much stuff it's not funny. Heck yeah, if you have an A2, I plan around that. Best bet would be to find a tranny that matches the pattern (will bolt up, as is). But advance adapters makes all sorts of stuff to work. I would certainly measure a D44 from a Jeep before I spent too much effort looking anywhere else. It may be right on the money, or close to it. A D44 isn't super strong, but you can always put some coin into it and make it better. Some Yukon moly axle shafts, and thier super joints would probably hold up to a lot of abuse. A nicely built V6 might fit well, and make all the power you need too. Soooo many options when you're doing custom stuff. It all biols down to how custom you want it, and what your needs are, and how much leg work you want to do etc. While you're at it, you may as well replace the rear axle with arear D44 too. Especially if you can get one from teh same donor vehicle. In fact, the more parts you can get from vehicle, then you save the headache of trying to make multi parts function together.

Best of luck with it, if you chose to do it.