Why I've disappeared lately - Lots of pics

[adventr]

Figured you guys might want to see some pics of what I've been up to lately. My h3 has been set on the backburner while we finish up our two SEMA builds. Pretty in-depth builds, so they've consumed most of my time (like all of it). Didn't even go home Thursday night... Feel like I've been on a different planet or something. Just read about the Oregon shooting and Russia attacking Syria this evening. Had no idea...
This is the first night I've had to catch up online, so I've been dumping pics from my phone to my photobucket account.


For the offroad build, we chose to use a 2012 Jeep JK8 that we already had. JK8 is a 4dr Wrangler that has been converted into a 2dr pickup. Pretty cool rig, and I had some different ideas for it. My goal is to be functional. Something that a LOT of SEMA builds lack.
So, I spec'd out the following gear for it:

- Custom bed rack setup
- Lots of overland gear
- Armor
- Rockjock Dana 60 axles (5.13 gears and ARBs)
- 5.5" Rockkrawler Long-Arm suspension (with their big 3.0 coilovers)
- Ripp Stg2 supercharger
- Rigid LED lights
- Fridge/Freezer
- Onboard generator
- Onboard air
- Rhinolined interior/bed/underside
- Powdercoated frame/suspension/wheels/rack...ect
- 17x9 Enduro Beadlocks (very nice quality wheels BTW)
- 40" Nitto Trailgrapplers


Entire build started out on the computer. Tons of time coming up with an initial design. Once we had that, sent it out to the companies we were interested in using, and ended up getting almost everything sponsored. Actually had companies fighting to give us parts to use. Rigid Industries liked it so much that they are putting it in their booth. :thumbs:




Here was the initial rendering/design:









And here's how the rig sat as of 2wks ago!












So yeah, lots of work. Here are my design pics:





















And here's how it sat as of today!

 

[IISPEEDYII]

That bed rack is beautiful dear god!


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[adventr]

For the 2nd build, decided to go all out.... Definitely the most in-depth build that I've ever been a part of. Luckily we have some VERY talented people to pull this thing off.

Bought a brand new 2015 duramax 3500 single wheel short bed truck. Converted it into a short bed dually. Then converted the front end to 2015 denali. The amount of work to make all that happen is really indescribable. The dually bedsides had to be sectioned down and welded to the bed, the front doors had to be cut and a new body line had to be built into them to flow with the denali front end. The OEM frame had to be tossed in the dumpster. Rear axle had to be narrowed 12", new axle shafts had to be made. Since we're running some crazy 26" wheels, nearly every single part on this truck had to be moved or sectioned. To include the factory blower motor box and dash.

Anyway, here's the initial rendering for it:










Here are my design files for it:











The body is dropped 8", so a new frame had to be designed/fabbed.... LOL




















The good news is that it fit! All of the body/bed mounts lined right up, and everything bolted into place. Was very pleased with that part. If any of you have experience with this kind of stuff, you'll understand what kind of a feat that really is.



More progress pics:

 

[Bigunit]

Great work!

 

[adventr]

Some more stuff that I've designed in the past few months:



Turned our old shop truck into a bit of a show truck (but still gets used as a shop truck!):


















Designed a bumper for our dually:
























And even designed a set of wheels and had them machined out of a 6061 billet: :giggle:

 

[3Hummers]

That is some great looking work.

 

[adventr]

Have also been building hummers! I try to take on every hummer project we can get, not that I'm biased or anything..




Built this 2006 H2 SUT. It's on a 6" fabtech suspension system and 40" tires. It's an adventure model, so OEM rock rails and rear diff lock. Currently for sale, but I use it as a parts getter while my H3 is down.











And my 2yr old loves it












Currently building a 1999 H1 for a customer. This one is getting a bunch of stuff. To include a fully built cummins 12v engine conversion, VGT turbo setup, built trans...ect

Will be finishing it up SOON. Just waiting on the transmission to get back from being built to handle the 12v.



















Out with the old 6.5, and in with the fresh 12v. It's a '97 12v engine, so has the good P-Pump that has been flowed to a higher number. Old 6.5 was good when we pulled it, and is currently just sitting on a stand in the shop if anyone needs one!

 

[IISPEEDYII]

haha tell him to invest in some better rims for that h1

 

[adventr]

haha tell him to invest in some better rims for that h1

It's on the list. :thumbs:


Going to try and talk him into some original 12 bolt or 24 bolt wheels with 41" tires.

 

[IISPEEDYII]

It's on the list. :thumbs:


Going to try and talk him into some original 12 bolt or 24 bolt wheels with 41" tires.

such cool stuff though, I wish I was in this line of work

 

[High Five H2]

I'm not into low riders, but the fab work is super mega impressive on that dually. I mean... from what I could tell. I'm not an expert.

Also, it looks like that H1 is transforming.

 

[deserth3]

Very nice. Wish I could afford that H2 you have for sale.
Don't get me wrong the others are very cool. But no matter what you do. They're just not Hummers.

 

[RamRod]

Those are some amazing projects! Great work! Keep us updated with those builds as/if time permits


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[Mr_Rich]

What can I say but "Wow!". Thanks for sharing all these show quality builds.

 

[cgalpha08]

Wow! Awesome builds!

 

[Ryan212]

Very nice builds. Amazing when you do the work in cad and engineer all of the parts how well things turnout.

If I make it to Sema I will defiantly check them out. They appear to be well build functional builds unlike so many other all show no go builds


Ryan

 

[High Five H2]

a few people prefer the cummins over a duramax for the H1. why is that?

Also another question - What would it take to put a backwards hood on an H3 so that it was as similar as possible to an H2 or H1? How much would that cost?

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

wow, neat stuff.

and now feel it's pointless to post my crap builds... cool, I have more time

 

[Big2dabank]

Very sweet builds. What's your address, I'm shipping you my H2!


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[adventr]

Thanks guys. If any of you all wind up at SEMA this year, be sure and hit me up!
The game plan is still to drive my h3 out there with the new 6L80e... Lol gonna use it as a chase vehicle for our two tow rigs.




For an update, got the jungle gym back from powdercoat last night. Looks awesome on there.
The jeep is getting assembled and wired overnight, so by morning it should start to look complete.

 

[Ryan212]

Show on Friday wheel on saturday?

I am sure some.magazine will cover it.

 

[adventr]

I'm totally down for that!


Saw a pic where Starwood posted up one of their jeeps on some rocks at moab. I can top that... Lol

 

[owlxxx]

I love the gold/bronze color on the jungle gym on the jeep and the grill on that GMC. This is awesome metal fab work. I used to do that as a living but on spaceships and experimental aircraft.

 

[CaddyStrophic]

This thread is metalporn. Amazing work. (And as a former lowrider dude, that bodydrop is sick!)

 

[Synthetickiller]

I can't believe I haven't seen this thread till now.
This is some great work! I, for one, would be happy to continually see updates of any and all things you build. Just awesome.
The custom frame on the low rider, as caddy mentioned, is awesome. Makes me wonder if there's any improvements that could be made to the H2/H3 frames.

That 6L80 upgrade for the H3 is something I see come up now & again. I think everyone will be keeping an eye on that. I know I will be.
You know, you'd get a ton of interest in a 2.8L duramax dropped into an H3/H3T.