H3 Shop for SOA in Utah

[ConcealedGLOCK]

I've been calling around and a lot of shops don't want to take it on. Anybody from Utah know a capable shop that will do a SOA conversion on my H3? I'm in the Salt Lake area

 

[SlcHummer]

Have you tried Orion Off Road? https://www.facebook.com/ORIONOFFROAD/ or http://www.orionoffroad.com/index.php

I've used them for some minor work and have had a good experience although they are not very familiar with H3's, I believe mine may have been the first they worked on lol.

 

[ConcealedGLOCK]

Looks like I missed them. Thank you, I'll give them a call tomorrow.

That's the issue I run into. Most aren't familiar with h3's or try to stay away from SOA work.

 

[4speedfunk]

Here’s the basic kit you need...
https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.co...Product_Code=14BSS&Category_Code=AxleSwapKits
This fits the Hummer 10b housing like a glove. You’ll also need some front spring hangers, longer shocks, longer brake lines, longer vent hose, longer sway bar links, and some misc steel to make new bumpstop platforms.
The SOA will take about 6 hours, and in most cases you will also need a longer rear driveshaft. Total rear lift will be 4 to 5 inches with RuffStuff spring hangers. It will be 6.5 inches with stock front hangers. You will need a Rancho lift up front and stock rear leaf springs to get a proper stance.

 

[ConcealedGLOCK]

Thanks for the link.
Currently sitting on a 4" rancho lift but my leaf springs are worn out and sagging. My two options that Ive heard are the SOA or a leaf spring re arch.

 

[amrg]

You can also get emu leaf springs. They are rated as a 1" lift in the rear (over stock) but I read somewhere that it was for a H3 with an ARB rear steel bumper and fridge.
I got them for my H3 and sit 2" higher than stock (26.5" hub center to fender lip)

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[speedy]

pm sent. No promises

 

[ConcealedGLOCK]

Pm to me? Inbox is empty.

 

[speedy]

Pm to me? Inbox is empty.

Try again it was a little long:shame:

 

[alrock]

I had my rear springs rearched with an additional leaf and it has had up well.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[ConcealedGLOCK]

I may go that route and just get them re arched as I easily found shops that will do that. But first I'll give a few more a call before I settle on it.

 

[JPaul]

If you haven't already you can ask around on https://www.rme4x4.com/

 

[Jeepwalker]

I've had spring re-arched before (not H3). That was a less expensive and better way to go in my case. If it's not the right height you're looking for, they can re-arch. Try to go during a non-busy part of the day,

 

[ConcealedGLOCK]

It's kind of funneling down that path. These other shops don't like answering their phones lol. How much did you pay to get your springs re arched?

 

[jakesz28]

I had to add an extra full length leaf spring under the main leaf spring. This was on a factory set up without a lift. The H3 springs are on the light side.

 

[ConcealedGLOCK]

Yea they need to add a leaf for rigidity.

 

[atvspeed4]

Here’s the basic kit you need...
https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.co...Product_Code=14BSS&Category_Code=AxleSwapKits
This fits the Hummer 10b housing like a glove. You’ll also need some front spring hangers, longer shocks, longer brake lines, longer vent hose, longer sway bar links, and some misc steel to make new bumpstop platforms.
The SOA will take about 6 hours, and in most cases you will also need a longer rear driveshaft. Total rear lift will be 4 to 5 inches with RuffStuff spring hangers. It will be 6.5 inches with stock front hangers. You will need a Rancho lift up front and stock rear leaf springs to get a proper stance.

We were in a rush for a trip last fall and replaced the leaf springs on one of our wheeling trucks with a set from Rockauto as they were able to get them to us on short notice. Despite confirming they are the right springs for an h3 according to the manufacture, they sit just over two inches lower that the used stock springs that were on there. With our torsionbars adjusted to 23" we are still about 1.5" lower in the rear than the front. We were thinking of doing a SOA without the front rancho and due to these springs being arched less hoping to sit around 1.5-2" higher in the rear than the front. Thoughts?

 

[4speedfunk]

We were thinking of doing a SOA without the front rancho and due to these springs being arched less hoping to sit around 1.5-2" higher in the rear than the front. Thoughts?

I think you could get away with that as long as the shackle angle was not too flat. Usually when the leafs go soft, the spring looses arch and grows in length. Then the shackles will rotate rearward to compensate for the extra length. Not only do you loose additional ride height from this but, the shackles can bottom out against the frame and bind at full compression. This will bend the shackle or break the leaf (or both).

Having done many SOAs, I have always found that stock GM springs work great with the RuffStuff parts and this combo gives you the right stance & performance to go with either a Rancho or an SAS on the front. However, I really don't have an answer for guys wanting an SOA with a stock front IFS. Its sort of an "go big or don't go at all" problem. Perhaps you could french the forward leaf spring mounts up inside the frame rails? Perhaps you could design a shackle-flip (much like full size GM trucks), so the shackles are in tension rather than compression? I've never liked extended shackles or add-a-leafs...both have drawbacks. Sounds like custom springs would do the trick but, those can get pricey.

I do know the SUV springs are heavier than the T springs. I did a direct comparison awhile back, and the T springs sat an inch lower.

One other thing I have noticed is that the SOA will add quite a bit of extra side-to-side movement of the rear axle, during high-flex situations. EVERY SOA H3 I have seen, has the tell-tale stripe on the driveshaft from rubbing on the fuel tank skid. Because we don't have a rear Panhard bar, the eye bushings of the springs are the only thing to control this. Urethane bushings would be a great upgrade to stiffen up the lateral movement. I have this planned for my own rig but, I'm so busy working on other rigs, that I cannot seem to get to my own!...

 

[alrock]

It's kind of funneling down that path. These other shops don't like answering their phones lol. How much did you pay to get your springs re arched?

I paid about the same amount as two new leaf springs, minus the shipping cost. In addition to the re-arch and the additional leaf, I had them arch to about 1.5" above stock for a bit of a budget lift.

 

[JPaul]

I've got the Old Man Emu springs in mine and they've been great so far. They definitely sit a bit higher than stock, but the ride has been very good.

 

[ConcealedGLOCK]

Little update. Went with a re arch and she's sitting high again buuut first time for me. With that said she's bouncy up front. Normal? Or replace shocks?
Bounces 2-3 times.

 

[JPaul]

If you haven't replaced the shocks then the fronts sound like they are toast. Shouldn't bounce more than once, maybe twice if it was a really big bump. I've used both the Bilstien 5100 series and the Fox 2.0, you can't go wrong with either, though I like the ride with the Fox shocks better personally. Both are great replacements. Next time though I might go with remote reservoirs, but it will depend on how often I really get out on the trails.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[ConcealedGLOCK]

Fox 2.0 work with the Rancho lift? I will definitely look into those.
What made you want the remote reservoirs over regular?

 

[JPaul]

Fox 2.0 work with the Rancho lift? I will definitely look into those.
What made you want the remote reservoirs over regular?

I didn't see that you had a Rancho lift, sorry. No idea if Fox has shocks that work with the Rancho, but they might. You'd need to call them and ask most likely.

 

[ConcealedGLOCK]

SlcHummer
I see you have a 1" daystar lift. May I ask where you had it installed?