Search and Rescue H3 Alpha build

[SuperBuickGuy]

and one more small issue - an oil leak

 

[silvrzuki77]

I have a super super slow leak in the same area also. Not sure where its coming from.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

everyone I've polled says it's that block-off for the oil cooler. So Sunday, along with changing the water pump, I'll replace that gasket.... crossing fingers (and there will be pictures)

 

[H3Ray]

Excellent " HOW TO " Thread by Super Buick Guy [ BIG Thumbs Up ].

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

waterpump....
these, are useless


this, works really slick


waterpump


remove




this gasket, doesn't work


silicone on this gasket = awesome


yet, somehow, I don't think I've fixed all the oil leaks


oh well, cutting them down is a good thing

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

no leaks... woohoo

 

[RamRod]

Atta boy

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

now this is interesting, my lights go brighter - dimmer - brighter - dimmer while cruising or when the car is idling.... I'm thinking I got a crap alternator from AC Delco.... they had the 'normal' hummer brake dim before (hit the brakes and the headlights dim for a millisecond) - but this is that same dimming, just all the time. I think I'll put my old one back on then get a quality one from someone else..... annoying, it is.

the other interesting thing - when I hooked everything back up, the door/key in the ignition warning bell didn't work (yay)

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Powermaster 225 amp on order... should be here Thursday.... I'll send the other back.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I think I found the problem... but, simultaneously, let me advertise for them



for those who have trouble with "where's Waldo"... note the nice, black wire coming out from the inside of the alternator

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I know these guys are forum sponsors, but that is not why I'm saying this.... I like them, I think they do a quality product... however, as people do deserve outsiders impressions - here's my critique so far

I took the NC Tune off my H3. I liked the extra power/torque when pulling a hill; but I didn't like the harder shifts, longer holding gears (about 200-300 rpm) and the 1.5 mpg loss I experienced. I've asked them to re-look at the tune (they're good about that) and hopefully they can send me a tune that I like better. I suspect that the harder shifting, and holding each gear longer were the reasons for the mpg loss - we'll see, but for the really minor increased torque I gained, honestly, I would rather have the mpg....

I was a bit cynical when they said they would get me 1.5 mpg gain because my commute to work is about has terrible as one can get mpg-wise. It's 10 miles, and climbs/descends 2 steep hills (if I'm not going up, I'm going down) with absolutely no highway driving.... I did send them a recording of my driving, and I plan on sending another strictly of my drive to/from work ...

However, and in any case, I didn't purchase the tune from them for better mpg. I've been working on a Fiat with a Cadillac 3.6 motor in it - and I wanted to see how the pros handled tuning, it gives me a comparison of what GM did vs. what the aftermarket does and gave me a real world ability to compare it. So I would absolutely refuse any refund from them because they met EVERY expectation I had with the tune AND their service after the sale is exemplary

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I love learning things on here, like Panavise. I bought an iCobra radar detector because I got tired of the false alarms that is my commute to work.... but I needed a bracket to hold the phone in a place where I could see it.... welcome to my Sat. night project

I really hate crap bouncing around in my vehicle, and I needed a place to mount the detector where it'd get good range, yet not have cords hanging in front of me.....



my contribution



a block of oak painted black with some hook n loop to hold the detector on

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Finally summit racing got the alternator to me. For those who wish to order this, don't search under H3 Hummer - search for 2008 Avalanche, it's the same thing




it's a Powermaster 225 amp alternator... not cheap, but 75 more amps than stock. I turned everything on including the air compressors, and it still was making 14.88 volts at idle.

 

[RamRod]

That's some great future knowledge! I don't need to replace mine yet, and it helps that I am able to switch so many lights over to LED to help with that, but I want to run a fridge and other power hungry accessories soon so this is great to keep in mind!

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

coming soon to an Alpha near you, headers.


there should be 2 bolts holding that exhaust manifold in place... since I have to take it off anyway... I'm taking an educated guess that Avalanche (08, 5.3) headers are close to perfect fit. Stay tuned

oh, and the power steering leak isn't my problem, I had a mechanic shop install it; so I'll have them fix the leak (since it's what they connected)

 

[High Five H2]

ooo, cool! what kind of headers are you going with? I had my eye on gibson shorties, but when I compared the alpha 5.3 to every other 5.3 out there, the LH8's manifolds kind of bent inwards a bit more. I'm interested to see how this goes.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

OBX
I've built headers (most recently) for my turbo 3.6vvt Fiat, and my 1970 Buick Skylark.... I'm most concerned about getting the basic shape, changing them a bit isn't a big deal to me.

 

[High Five H2]

are you doing long tube headers or shorties? I had my eye on those Doug thorley headers but it looks like the obx ones are cheaper and come with cats.

Sent from your mom using Tapatalk

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

shorties, my H3 has to pass emissions tests - so I can keep my stock cats in their stock location with the obx shorties

 

[amrg]

Im also interested in headers for the alpha. The doug thorley ones dnt work coz of the torsion bars according to the maker. Are there any alternatives?

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Im also interested in headers for the alpha. The doug thorley ones dnt work coz of the torsion bars according to the maker. Are there any alternatives?

the only currently-available ones I've found are for the I5... that said, they also say there's no high-amp alternator available; but there is.

IIRC ages ago, some small company made them and poof, disappeared. Long tube headers would be a problem because it'd move/eliminate your cats - that said, there are a few threads of people talking about using the Doug Thorley headers for the Colorado pickup that require a slight dent to clear the torsion bar but otherwise would fit.... IDK, I think GM used the Avalanche motor when they put the LS in the H3, so were I trying long-tube, I'd start with ones made for the Avalanche (they're also half the price); however, I build my own headers so cutting perfectly good headers apart to make them fit is something I'm pretty comfortable doing.

In any case, they'll be here Thursday and, presuming this flu doesn't keep me down, I plan on doing the install on Sunday....

 

[Mb30sdl]

Some muffler shops can build you a custom set. My shop build my complete exhaust for GMC and installed cats for smog.

 

[RamRod]

When I bought my truck they told me they installed long tube headers.... then a month or two after the purchase I saw it didn't have any and screamed at them over it, but they never did anything about it.... then I found out that there were none available on the aftermarket, now I have hope again!

http://www.protuninglab.com/hds-gy9...medium=adwords&id=18283950120&utm_content=pla

Those look half decent!

I am interested in how much tuning it will take for a set of these to fit!?

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Some muffler shops can build you a custom set. My shop build my complete exhaust for GMC and installed cats for smog.

IMO there are a lot of people who could build headers themselves, but are convinced by the marketeers that they cannot. With that said, it's a lot easier to start with something close as opposed to starting from scratch... thus, I'd buy the Thorley headers uncoated and have at them rather than letting a muffler shop hack something together (even so, you could have a trusted muffler shop modify the Thorleys)

 

[amrg]

When I bought my truck they told me they installed long tube headers.... then a month or two after the purchase I saw it didn't have any and screamed at them over it, but they never did anything about it.... then I found out that there were none available on the aftermarket, now I have hope again!

http://www.protuninglab.com/hds-gy9...medium=adwords&id=18283950120&utm_content=pla

Those look half decent!

I am interested in how much tuning it will take for a set of these to fit!?

With your setup the oem manifold wld be a huge restriction esp with how much air ur pushing.
Anyway, personaly I wld try with thorley headers since someone made them work on a truck with probably a similar setup as the H3 rather than an untested thing.