Opinions: H3 aftermarket fab lacking?

[Chocflip201]

Something like tube doors or tube fenders I could offer in either steel or aluminum, whichever that person would want.

 

[954paulo]

Tube doors it is!


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[Happy Hummer]

I'm going to pick another total different path...
I'd love to see a mount and bracket to adapt a strong steering system.
The rack and pinion is a weak design. And before all the Fane fare about the add on bracket gets started let's just say a turd is a turd lol. I'd love seeing a serviceable UCA made of t6066 Al.
Chris

 

[Chocflip201]

If I do a UCA it will be heat-treated chromoly 4130.

If I do steering it will be a "hydraulic assist" system using a double ended ram and retaining the factory steering rack, but with HD tie rods.

 

[amrg]

If I do a UCA it will be heat-treated chromoly 4130.

If I do steering it will be a "hydraulic assist" system using a double ended ram and retaining the factory steering rack, but with HD tie rods.

Would that UCA allow for more travel? I think everyone would be interested in more travel upfront, it reduces wheel spin/tire hopping upfront when climbing and this is when alot of damage happens at the diffs! I was reading about the silverados mid travel kits, 11" is really good to be honest!
Plus Id like to go baja in my h3 here!
Wouldnt this be costly though?

 

[Chocflip201]

No not necessarily by itself, the benefit of a UCA would be strength, serviceability, and it would be part of a modular system that would allow for coilovers.

The coilovers would eat up a lot of the problems with the torsion bars, would would essentially get rid of the issue of the LCA always resting on the bump-stop. So if you were to do control arms and coilovers, (still using the factory geometry) you could get a couple more inches of travel, but the main benefit there would be ride quality improvement and strength. And ditching all the torsion bar stuff.

The UCA is designed to contact a bump-stop that's on the frame from factory. This is so you don't over extend the capabilities of your shocks and CV halfshafts. If you ditch the shocks for coilovers, you are then only limited by the travel capabilities of the CV halfshafts and steering linkages. A level 2 system would of course address all of those issues.

 

[Chocflip201]

Also, by switching to coilovers and increasing the up travel, be aware you may need to clearance more fender for 35" tires. You may rub when baja'in. Or go to 33's.

Something else that I could make would be a bolt-on assembly for air-bumpstops, to replace the factory design. But that would pretty much only be for coilovers too.

 

[atvspeed4]

Since we already went down this road with the upper control arms... You have three options for the upper balljoint, either a heim (like Bebe is running), a uniball or a cartridge style joint that you can rebuild. All of these options require a custom machined bolt or pin to work with the factory knuckle. (This is not difficult but takes time and $$$) Next issue we found was that when you change the shape of the upper control arm to try and clear a coilover the tire will rub the control arm bad! at full lock. The upper control arms we made were about 0.22" wider at one point and the 35s rubbed hard. We finally have a working set of upper control arms but in the end they are at a price that no one would pay (they are pretty bad ass though)

 

[Chocflip201]

The best R&D is someone who has been down that road before

 

[RamRod]

Tube fenders!!!!!!

That is a pretty trick front suspension you posted there, wouldn't mind installing something similar into my T!

 

[Highatop]

I like the idea of tubed doors and fenders. I would think, front half doors would not be that hard to fab and would be able to mod them, cover w/ sheetmetal or open or even canvas.
Just a thought and I'm sure there is more to it but, I like the idea...

 

[Chocflip201]

Sounds like tube doors are first on the list. Who would be interested in 4? (All doors) and who would only be interested in the front 2 doors? Just trying to find out if it's worth it to R&D rear doors if nobody would want them anyways

 

[Highatop]

Me, front. I would think, the rear doors would or maybe have to incorp w/ the tube fenders? But front first w/ the idea of the rears to match later maybe?
I think, if you can keep cost down from manufactin and then to us. This could be a winner...Keep us posted...:corn:

 

[Chocflip201]

I'll get some ballpark prices posted up for steel and aluminum.

All will be 100% TIG welded, with option of powdercoat or raw.

 

[RamRod]

It would be fronts only for me as my rear doors on the T are different

 

[Chocflip201]

It would be fronts only for me as my rear doors on the T are different

I'm sure someone local with a H3T would be willing to get a set of doors at cost-of-materials in order to make production runs for the T's.

 

[digglesworth]

I'd be interested in seeing some sketches if you had any... Of any possible projects your thinking about..... I think tube doors would be sweet but not real high on my priority list. Personally speaking.

 

[Airborne]

+1 to see how much a set of front tube doors would be...

 

[954paulo]

Yup fronts


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[Spectre]

Keep in mind the mirrors are mounted to the doors. You would probably have to incorporate them into the tube somehow.

Could be interesting. I avant wait to see what the cost comes out to be.

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[Chocflip201]

Keep in mind the mirrors are mounted to the doors. You would probably have to incorporate them into the tube somehow.

Could be interesting. I avant wait to see what the cost comes out to be.

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Yes I'm aware

 

[rsc]

Fitting mirrors is too easy. Grab a pair of cycle mirrors and a drill, e-z

 

[digglesworth]

Yep. Any cheap, aftermarket mirrors should do the job.

 

[Highatop]

Ok, mirrors solved. Back to the doors. For me, I think I would like to have sheetmetal on the inside to help seal the door for water crossings and catch some mud too, from gettin inside. Some anyway...
Frame showin on the outside would be just fine. Just another option if, you want an outside skin.
Also, the latch...Strong enough, to help seal and easy open...
Just somethin else to think about...:huh:

 

[Chocflip201]

Sealing against water wasn't on my design list, but sheeting a portion of it was. Here in Utah technically the law requires; mirrors and some kind if sheeting to prevent things from rolling out of the passenger compartment.