08 Hummer H3 Base build

[08H3I5]

So I turned 28 on the 10th of this month, and got a awesome presant. I had been driving a 04 ford escape 4x4 that my mother in law had given me. It was coming to the point of major repair, like engine and transmission and new tires. So my wife made the call that it was time for a newr 4wd SUV.

We briefly looked at trail blazers.....briefly. We had found a used 07 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited with 80k on the clock for $24k.... Then I said why dont we look at a Hummer? Just to compare them...

Enter the topic of the thread. We went to the local CarMax (same place my wife bouhgt her Mustang at) they happened to have a nice clean used 08 H3. I thought really hard on buying a NEW SUV like a base Jeep unlimited... but that was $30k and we decided that was to much. I test drove the H3 and that was it, HAD to have it...


Then the paperwork began, we were really pleased with the trade in offer on the lil escape. They gave us $1700 for it even with the 215K miles on it. When it was all said and done we probably paid a little to much at $20k for the 08 but it had 48K miles on it and was really clean inside and out. Not bad for a low milage (compaired to local used trucks/SUVs) I5, Auto. Im super happy with her.


Here she was the day we got her!

Much to come as I can weasle the money away for upgrades. So far though, I have added a set of step sides for my short wife, a aftermarket receiver hitch, and modded the intake to get rid of that big usless box in the middle of it. I will be installing a 18,000lb rated tranny coller to replace the radiator system just to prevent any problems.

Also added some rear Strobe lights (front pending install) since I am the person several friends call when they break down....
little fuzzy there...

I want to replace the stick on vents with some in channel vents. Will also be looking for a push guard and custom Winch install..... eventually.

Did get a decent Radio with her though. Strob controller and CB to be mounter soon.

Of course best for last, the Sunday after I got her (while still within the 5 day return period) She had to go out to the farm and play some.

The primary use for my H3 is daily driver so I wont go to extream with lift and tires. At least not yet, she came with a new set of tires on her so for now they will do. I drive a whole wopping 3 miles one way to work so it wont be bad any way I build it. But I am also a hunter and we are a out doors family too. BTW thanks to my old boss, and my wife the H3 has affectionately become know as Bubbles....

 

[alrock]

Welcome and congrats on the new ride. I think you got a pretty decent deal with your purchase.

 

[n8rfastback]

How did you mod the stock intake? I'm interested...



Sent from Nates phone...

 

[08H3I5]

How did you mod the stock intake? I'm interested...



Sent from Nates phone...

The idea was a cold air with a cleanable Filter, however I couldnt get rid of the CEL being on. So I put the original air filter box and MAF sensor tube back in and left the cold air center section to the TB in place. Suprisingly it helped smooth out the idle some. Still has that odd ball vibration at idle a little, I expected it thought being that its a 5cyl. Ill get a pic if I can this weekend

Tomorrow I will be putting in the external tranny cooler and front strobes.... I used to work in a shop as a living, but as soon as I started to hate my job I got a desk job. Now I get to do stuff to my wifes Mustang and my Hummer and its fun again!

 

[n8rfastback]

Cool, I'd love to see a pic. I want to mod mine from the inside if I can so it looks stock, but is smooth tube inside instead of the chambered design.

Sent from Nates phone...

 

[WillieMo]

Congrats on the new H3... it is a great SUV... I'm on my second one and I don't see myself getting rid of it any time soon....

 

[08H3I5]

Cool, I'd love to see a pic. I want to mod mine from the inside if I can so it looks stock, but is smooth tube inside instead of the chambered design.

Sent from Nates phone...

here is the pic of the intake tube.

used my iPad so it's not the best but you get the idea

 

[n8rfastback]

What did you do with the crankcase vent?

Sent from Nates phone...

 

[08H3I5]

It's hard to see but it goes in at the bend in the aluminum section. It's a black line so its hard to see.

 

[Corey Barnes]

What aftermarket hitch did you use??


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[08H3I5]

What aftermarket hitch did you use??


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I went with a draw tite hitch it's a 2" rated to pull 5,000 pounds. I got it on eBay for about $170 and I custom mounted a 7pin RV plug flush with the hitch and bumper. I will take a picture later if I remember.

 

[Bigunit]

Nice looking rig and great to see you are already making it better than stock. You made the right call by getting an H3.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapataint

 

[Pappibri]

Congrats on the purchase. So far so good....:thumbs:

 

[08H3I5]

Thanks guys, I took a few pics of the trany cooler install today. I'll see if I can't get them up soon.

 

[WillieMo]

Awesome... That's definitely top of my list...

 

[08H3I5]

I went with the Hayden 403 ultra-cool tranny cooler. Ordered from Amazon for about $34 shipped and it was totally worth it. They say its rated for 18,000lb GVWR towing up to 3,500lbs. seeing that the H3 weighs in at about 5k lbs and I dont tow over 1500-2000 lbs I should be safe. So far the rig is shifting smoother and runs a little cooler on the temp gauge.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C39C9A/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

some install pics. I realize the whole front end didnt need to come off but it made it tons easier...



used some thick Alum. stock for the mount, cause i didnt want to mount to the AC condenser.


FYI the supplied hose with the kit is long enough that you dont need to buy more,



Since I couldnt ust the factory clips to hold the lines I got creative with some left over hose and zip ties to the sway bar. Used the split hose to isolate for the hard lines.



All finished up, the small led lights are the front strobe lights too...

 

[08H3I5]

here are a few vids of the different patterns ( cant figure out how to link them in to play so click on the pic to play )

 

[08H3I5]

What aftermarket hitch did you use??


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Here is a Pic of the setup I used for a plug. My trailer already has a 7 way RV plug on it and so does the other pickup we have so I figured it would be easier to keep it all the same.

 

[Corey Barnes]

Here is a Pic of the setup I used for a plug. My trailer already has a 7 way RV plug on it and so does the other pickup we have so I figured it would be easier to keep it all the same.

Very clean looking! Looks great mine didn't come with a hitch, so I will be adding this one over the summer!


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[08H3I5]

Very clean looking! Looks great mine didn't come with a hitch, so I will be adding this one over the summer!


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Thanks, I needed mine to pull my 6x12 trailer when I have to go mow my mother in laws lot. I loaded it down the first time I pulled it with the hummer and was really surprised how well the hummer pulled it.

Im still thinking about a SCT power tuner though.

 

[DJinCO]

I like your install photos. Nice work.

I was wondering if anyone considers the design of the transmission cooler integrated with the radiator as necessary to maintain the transmission fluid at a specific temp. You know warm in the winter and cool in the summer? Cool being relative to around 200 degrees.

Would a practical mod be to replace the radiator with an aftermarket version that is better cooling and more robust in the ability to withstand failure that plagues the H3 and thus have a more reliable internal cooler for the transmission?

Would the regular flush fill of the transmission fluid with a high quality fluid, combined with regular flush fill of the radiator fluid serve to benefit of reduced wear of the transmission while keeping the design features of the internal temp of the ATF for winter/summer driving?

Just a thought.

 

[Hans3T]

Congrats on the new rig and welcome to the forum.

 

[08H3I5]

I think the next mod is either a grill guard or a cat back exhaust to get rid of that big ass muffler and resonator? Only problem is I don't want it to loud but I want it to flow better than it does now. The factory exhaust kills me how quiet it is and it just feels like its robbing power from the I5. Any suggestions?

 

[rascole]

It's an addiction, the wallet dries up faster than the ideas. As far as the exhaust, I put on the Gibson cat-back and I love it. It sounds slightly louder and eliminates the muffler from the very rear. Have fun.

 

[Neo]

congrats man i think 20k is a good deal for medium mileage trucks that haven't had the $hit wheeled out of em. it's cool you took the whole front off and your mods. divin in like that you will fit in perfect here :cheers: