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Lockout hubs?

amrg

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So this guy says he had built a lockout hubs conversion for the H2. The video shows the parts but doesn't show how the t-case side is addressed.
I tried reaching him by email to get more info, also to see if there was something for the H3. Anyone have any info on this?
I know the toyota landcruiser 80 series have a part time 2wd conversion kit for the t-case plus selectable hubs for approx $700 so y not?

https://youtu.be/bc-eNl5qMOY



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Mcssls

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For some reason as I remember, in the past there were kits for various vehicles and I dont remember them doing anything to the t-case at all. All the driveline parts turned, just disconnected from the wheels
 

amrg

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I did find on another two forums someone claiming to be able to modify the tcase to become 2wd instead of 4wd. Not the same person though!

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scoreh3

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The Colorado had a 2 wheel drive button. I wonder if you could swap out t-case , trans control unit and dash buttons to convert it. The full time 4X4 in the H3 vs the 2WD mode in the Colorado was a dumb idea. Worse mpg and more stress on moving parts.
 

JPaul

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The Colorado had a 2 wheel drive button. I wonder if you could swap out t-case , trans control unit and dash buttons to convert it. The full time 4X4 in the H3 vs the 2WD mode in the Colorado was a dumb idea. Worse mpg and more stress on moving parts.

Until you have to drive in snow, rain, or just cruising dirt roads. It'd be nice to have all the options, 2wd, full time 4wd, 4wd high locked center, 4wd low locked center.
 

atvspeed4

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One of our H3s has a 2wd transfercase and we have been driving it around with cv stubs and no front diff. Its a waste of time to save mpg. We are talking 1mpg average better at most from when we had the diff installed and cv shafts.
 

amrg

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So there is someone modding H3 tcase to convert them to part time 2wd when in 4Hi. Videos were posted to fb and like what ive seen done on Toyota LC, the internals are welded to achieve that. 4HI lock and 4LO Lock are retained
 

JPaul

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So there is someone modding H3 tcase to convert them to part time 2wd when in 4Hi. Videos were posted to fb and like what ive seen done on Toyota LC, the internals are welded to achieve that. 4HI lock and 4LO Lock are retained
That sounds horrible and pointless. Why the focus on driving around in 2wd when the vehicle was designed with fulltime 4wd? Unless it's because they want to do donuts in the parking lot.

Due to the carnage in Moab and scheduling with the shop rebuilding the diffs, I have been driving my H3 in 2wd since, what, at least July? And I can tell you this, I hate it. It drives and handles badly and I saw zero improvement on fuel economy. It is absolutely not worth it in my opinion. Tire wear is more uneven between front and back, handling goes down, traction goes down, etc.

I think the only people that think it is a good idea are people that don't understand how much of an improvement full time 4wd is over rear wheel 2wd, and even front wheel 2wd.

Andrew St. Pierre White has a good rant about it, and in my opinion and experience he is right. https://youtu.be/4Mo1xOX3PHQ


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amrg

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As to handling etc, some like it and some dont. I havent done it yet so I have no clue but I know on the Toyota LC they claim its more torque that when in full time 4WD and the truck feels lighter around town (cornering wise).
 

JPaul

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As to handling etc, some like it and some dont. I havent done it yet so I have no clue but I know on the Toyota LC they claim its more torque that when in full time 4WD and the truck feels lighter around town (cornering wise).
You're not going to change the amount of torque available by a perceptible amount just by going to 2wd. The amount of torque needed to turn the front drivetrain itself (just the driveshaft, differential, and axles) isn't that much really. You can spin the entire front drivetrain by hand easily. Getting the front tires to spin at the hub however does take a bit of torque, but you have to spin them whether it's in 2wd or 4wd so that is moot.

As for feeling lighter, that's from the oversteer you typically get when running RWD. FWD vehicles typically experience understeer so they feel heavier. 4wd is more towards neutral steering which I feel is far more stable and safer than either over or understeer. Oversteer lets you take turns tighter and do stuff like donuts and 180's and such. Which is fun and all until you're driving a 2.5 ton vehicle with a much higher center of gravity than a sports car, then it can get a bit dicey. Understeer just sucks but you learn to live with it in a FWD car.


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amrg

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You're right about everyrhing you said. Obviously to get the benefit of mileage the front end would need to be disconnected.
As for the need for 2WD, my type of wheeling is all desert and this suits me more for the fun factor. If I do get stuck, 4Hi locked is all I need. Ive been on so many trips and stay in 4HI unlocked but I can feel the Hummer just keeps pulling and pulling no how much I try to kick it around in the sand, eventually I learned to live with that fact.
Jeeps are part time and dont have locking hubs and they drive fine, and they get to do all the cool stuff while I stay on the side and watch!
 

Lauren

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My boyfriend found a dude who has an H3 Alpha and he modified it so that he could switch to 2WD purely for the fun factor in the sand, I forget whereabouts in the Middle East he was.. maybe Saudi..??.... Anyway, it was on instagram and I'm pretty sure he explained how he did it, but this was a while ago... I'll see if I can find the page for you.
 

amrg

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How about a front axle disconnect from a chevy colorado? Would that work? Colorado tcase too?
 
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