H3 Rear Spring Over Axle Project

[Bebe]

bump

[07custom]

Bebe, I've read through your thread and know some of the positives of doing an SOA, but what are the negatives to doing an SOA? Especially if it's more of a Daily driver rather than an offroad rig?

[Bebe]

Originally Posted by 07custom

Bebe, I've read through your thread and know some of the positives of doing an SOA, but what are the negatives to doing an SOA? Especially if it's more of a Daily driver rather than an offroad rig?

None....zero. It's all awesome.

[HummerNewbie]

Originally Posted by 07custom

Bebe, I've read through your thread and know some of the positives of doing an SOA, but what are the negatives to doing an SOA? Especially if it's more of a Daily driver rather than an offroad rig?

It was her DD when the SOA was done and it rode great.

I loved seeing those snow wheeling pic Bebe, brought back some great memories.

[Bebe]

Originally Posted by HummerNewbie

It was her DD when the SOA was done and it rode great.

I loved seeing those snow wheeling pic Bebe, brought back some great memories.

Some really good times!!! Make me miss Rich

[HummerNewbie]

Originally Posted by Bebe

Make me miss Rich

Me too

[napalm]

Thanks for the LineX restore product info earlier in the thread Bebe, been off a while so catching up on a few things here and there. My local LineX guy stopped dealing LineX, narrowed his customer base too much so he went to another spray covering, looks identical but I'm sure no where as durable. Going to hunt some down as soon as I get back from a family vacation. Diamondback cover has lost most if it's shine so going to hit it up with some in the next few weeks and my roof top boxes before they fade, when time allows, summer is busy with kids, lol. Man, if I only had the access to a good shop and a knowledgable fabricator/mechanic like you guys and I would be all over a SAS and SOA on my T. No such luck that I've found in my area though (insert tears here lol).
That 3 just gets sicker and sicker.

Love that pic in post #53, thanks for a great screensaver, lol.

[06 H3]

In the process of this right now. I will get pics later but the clearance gain is insane.

[06 H3]

After having this setup for 8 months or so I have been really happy with the way it drives and performs and was doing some thinking/researching. I really think it would benefit the stock guys to do a spring over but most of them dont want that stock rake back which is unavoidable if you do it the way we have. So I thought of 2 options, Option 1 sucks and I wouldnt want to do it due to the added work. Going inboard, bringing them inboard will allow a mount on the side of the frame raising the spring up more and giving less lift which could bring them to a stock height but with the spring over advantages but the downsides are that you have that big gas tank in the way and you would need to redo the shackle mounts and bring those inboard and then the muffler would be in the way so you would have to put that in place of the resonator, as you see there are tons of obstacles to overcome but option 2 seems feasible, correct me if Im wrong. Option 2 would be frenching the spring hanger. It seems like some guys who do the 63in chevy spring swap go this route and it is notching the frame and welding the hanger inside the frame to net less lift and less hangups. So why cant a t bar cranked H3 just french the hanger and try to knock 1-2in off the spring over lift.

[SuperBuickGuy]

I like the stock rake - however, my limiting factor (seriously) is my garage and office parking garage. At this point, I'm not sure it's going to clear the new roof rack; and I'm pretty certain another 4" lift will kill any chance of it fitting.

[Bebe]

Originally Posted by 06 H3

Option 2 would be frenching the spring hanger. It seems like some guys who do the 63in chevy spring swap go this route and it is notching the frame and welding the hanger inside the frame to net less lift and less hangups. So why cant a t bar cranked H3 just french the hanger and try to knock 1-2in off the spring over lift.

That is the only option truly. We in fact held that as a plan "B" if the way we did it was unsatisfactory. I was fine with the stock rake, and for many of the same reasons GM designed the truck in that manner.

It's more fuel efficient, no buffeting from the sunroof or "A" pillar moldings, less brake dive and friendlier CV angles.

You could feasibly knock another 1" off by frenching in the hanger, I don't think you could do more as you would affect the range of flex on the spring.

[Bebe]

Originally Posted by SuperBuickGuy

I like the stock rake - however, my limiting factor (seriously) is my garage and office parking garage. At this point, I'm not sure it's going to clear the new roof rack; and I'm pretty certain another 4" lift will kill any chance of it fitting.

You need to get a bigger garage and a new job

[SuperBuickGuy]

Originally Posted by Bebe

You need to get a bigger garage and a new job

Don't forget the bullet proof vest, and a body guard



... for when I tell my wife that, despite having a shop with 14' ceilings (that we built 4 years ago), that we need to remodel the house to put in a taller, attached garage so I can park my soon-to-be-lifted H3 inside.

The shop is all the way down at the bottom of the hill from our house... I bet it's a good 50' from my back door - so there's no way I could possibly walk all the way down their in the terrible weather we have here in Seattle to go get my H3 (which I use to rescue people in the aforementioned weather)


suffice to say - it just doesn't play out well in my mind

[MTUH3]

I have, for the most part, buttoned up the SOA on my "stock" H3.

I just got of the phone with Bebe and there is a reason she is the "Queen." Smart cookie!

I followed 06's project and picked up the same parts he did for the conversion. Right now the rake seems too large, right now.

I did notice that the front end has sagged since I last drove the truck, so that needs to be brought up an inch to inch and a half. I am currently ~29" in the rear and just shy of 23" in the front (both measurements are wheel center to fender).

I have some other "homework" items for tonight, but will keep you posted.

Oh, and this is what lead me to do the conversion....

[06 H3]

Damn I'm at like 27... I have old springs though. Time to French the hangers?

[MTUH3]

I did adjust the front back to 24" where I normally keep the truck, the rear end came down a little to 28-28.5" Truck rides and feels much better now. Once I load the truck up with all the stuff that is normally in it, should bring the rear down a bit more

[06 H3]

Pics! I'm probably at 27 because I am at 26.5 in the front. The higher in the front it will lower the back and vice versa

[MTUH3]

I adjusted the front a little more after these, but only about .5" Sorry for the blurry pics, but my "project camera" is a piece of poo for a reason.



The truck is parked down hill a bit, so the rake looks more than it really is.

[06 H3]

Looks good you will love the added clearance. There's nothing to hang you up under the axle

[Bebe]

Moar pics....

[HummerNewbie]

Thanks a lot guys, you have got me itching to do the SO

[MTUH3]

Originally Posted by 06 H3

Damn I'm at like 27... I have old springs though. Time to French the hangers?

Might have to move the front hanger forward a bit. Bebe's makin' sure I am set up right

But step one to a SO... hire some slave labor

[06 H3]

Originally Posted by HummerNewbie

Thanks a lot guys, you have got me itching to do the SO

I toyed around with the idea of doing it for over a year. Read the spring over thread a billion times and was scared to make the first cut.

Now that its done I can truthfully say, WHY THE HELL DID I WAIT SO LONG?!?! My biggest regret was not doing it sooner. By far the best modification done to the truck.

[HummerNewbie]

Originally Posted by 06 H3

Now that its done I can truthfully say, WHY THE HELL DID I WAIT SO LONG?!?! My biggest regret was not doing it sooner. By far the best modification done to the truck.

My biggest thing was waiting until the warranty was out. Now that the bumper to bumper has recently expired I am a bit more inclined to move forward. After seeing how it preformed on Bebe's shortly after she did it I was pretty much sold.