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H3 Straight axle Swap

Dana 60 H3

Active Member
Messages
30
Location
San bernardino
Have the H3 on the lift. Starting my Dana 60 Straight Axle front and rear axle swap.
My plans are 3 link front with coilovers. 4 link rear with coilovers. Ill post pictures as I build
IMG_3333.jpgIMG_3334.jpgIMG_3323.jpgIMG_3328.jpg
 

Dana 60 H3

Active Member
Messages
30
Location
San bernardino
I'm going to run 2.5 fox 14" travel shocks. Probably going to run a sag spring to keep it as low as possible. I plan on running 40" tires. 37's are the size on it now.
It looks like i will be pushing the front axle forward 2.5- 3" to keep it as low as I can.
I am using a steering box off a 2002 gmc 1500. Fits pretty good up inside the frame rail.
Swapping the gas tank out for a Genright EXT TJ 05-06 tank. It uses a JK pump and sending unit that will be compatible with the 5.3l motor.
This will give me the room needed for the 4 link rear setup.
 

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
Messages
1,588
Location
Raleigh area NC
With 40" tires you will need to run ram assist. Check Recon's thread. ORE did it on his and they doing it on my H2. HMB has it too.
 

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
Messages
1,588
Location
Raleigh area NC
Not sure, ORE did all the work on HMBP back in 08-09. You may ask Recon with H3. HMBP is a Sierra 1500 so it may use different one.
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,499
Location
Meridian, ID
Psc is what Mel always runs...

Is the steering box pitman arm forward or rear facing?

Ditching abs? Traction control? Fuel gauge?
 

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,250
Location
Tardville
Is the steering box pitman arm forward or rear facing?

I wanted to shift my D44 forward of stock but, I ran out of frame rail for the steering system. The H3 has a very stubby nose, so you gotta split hairs to get a cross-over rig installed. I had a CJ (same Saginaw box as yours) installed but it sat way too far forward (into the bumper area). Flipping the pitman arm is an option but, this will also flip the function...left is right and right is left...so you have to re-valve it to operate in reverse.

You might check around...I think an Astro van box is the same Saginaw unit and I'm pretty sure it is already reversed. I'm not positive on that but, a lot of custom chassis Jeep guys seem to use them. Call West Texas (Redneck Ram) about the assist, and also about reversing your box. They can hook you up with whatever you need.

I sure could have used a lift like that. NICE.
 

Dana 60 H3

Active Member
Messages
30
Location
San bernardino
Thanks for the info on the steering box.
I might have to go that route. Astro or revalue.
I've been looking at it and it will be a tight fit.
It looked like a lot more room under when I cut everything out. Now thinking about cramming all the stuff tight to the frame will be challenging.
The lift will be helpful when I start cycling the suspension.
 

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
Messages
1,588
Location
Raleigh area NC
Are u dumping ABS? When I had my stuff ordered from Dynatrack my main consern was ABS, and e-brake on rear axle. They had to develop all new rear set up from donor axel to run ABS and e-brake (since April).
But they have done couple of H3 conversions, so front axle is ABS compatible.
 

Dana 60 H3

Active Member
Messages
30
Location
San bernardino
The pitman arm is rear facing. Fuel gauge will be an obstacle I'm sure. I would like to do without ABS and traction control. Never been a fan of either of these. Sounds like I might have too reinstall based off info I've read from various post. I've looked at tone rings from D-lux fab that will work if needed. I'm sure to have my fair share of bugs to work out with electronics when the time comes. Like 4speedfunk said it would be nice to take off the H3 body and put it on a Chevy truck chassis and scrap all the electronics.
 

Dana 60 H3

Active Member
Messages
30
Location
San bernardino
The rear axle is AAM 11.5. I got all the cables/ brackets to reinstall the E brake. I'm leaning away from ABS but if I have to I will take the time to install tone rings from Dynatrac or D-lux fab.
 

ReconH3

Guardian Angel
Messages
2,288
Location
Raleigh, NC
I'm running the PSC JK box with ram assist. If you want to run 40s you want to have your front axle as far forward as possible to not rub the rear of the wheel well.

2B4EF261-D9A1-44D5-A171-85F8785C99F7-1794-0000018A570093A2.jpg


Two things to look out for.

1. Rear 60 diff and driveshaft yoke may rub fuel tank at full flex.

2. Front drive shaft hits crossmember and will need to be modified. So will engine oil pan (no pic).

IMG_0374.jpg


High Angle Driveline are the only guys I know of that make a double cardan slip yoke drive shaft for our trucks. Your going to need one. Thanks to Bebe on that one.


"Ex Umbris Venimus"
 

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,250
Location
Tardville
On the front driveshaft, you'll need the double-cardan flange that mates to the stock H3's t-case flange. Its nothing exotic but, there is only one company that makes it...(I think I got a couple of them lying around). The rest of the front driveshaft can be ordinary full-size stuff. I run standard u-joints on my rear driveshaft, with a stock slip yoke. Depending on the travel...you might have to run a cardan on the rear shaft as well (I think Bebe runs this). As of right now...I'm not aware of anybody that makes a SYE kit for the rear output, so we're all stuck with the slip yoke.

I got front ABS rings that work. You'll have to do some machining to install them on your D60 hubs, and you'll need to mount your stock sensors somewhere on the knuckles to read them...but, I'm sure it can be done. On the rear ABS...you got two choices. You can adapt some stock rear H3 rings (they look more like sleeves than rings)...these will sit inside the tubes much like they do on a stock H3 rear axle. OR...you might be able to mount the same front rings to the rear brake rotors or hubs somehow. I'm not familiar with the Sterling but it can probably be done. Depending on what it came from...you might be able to simply re-use the ABS rings that are already on it. I do know that you must have separate RH and LH rings for the H3 to operate correctly....so any type of single sensor on the diff won't work. More & more trucks are going to the four-sensor layout...so its possible that if the rear axle is newer than 2010 or so...it might be a plug & play.

I have no idea what sort of issues you will have by simply abandoning the ABS. On older GM stuff...you're problems were limited to just "putting up with the dash-light". But on the newer generation systems with integrated TCS and Stabilitrac...you're probably opening up a barrel of monkeys. 07custom has been driving around for years with his ABS missing....he would be the guy to talk to.
 

silvrzuki77

Well-Known Member
Messages
556
Location
Vegas
4speedfunk, just curious did you ever look into the dodge AAM axle? My friend is SAS his 05 duramax and the abs was plug and play. Wondering if that would work on the H3?
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,499
Location
Meridian, ID
Silverzuki they wont work because they are passenger drop we are driver drop. I posted up a thread about a low buck SAS for an H2 with a dodge AAM axle. It should work their electronics work with the chevy trucks and I assume the H2 is the same seeing they have the same halfshafts and hubs.
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,499
Location
Meridian, ID
When I first installed my rancho lift I forgot to properly secure the ABS sensor. It clipped the tire and teared it. Off road my system was going haywire leaving me with zero traction.

Im stoked to see this, I am probably a year behind you. I wont be on a lift, I will be on jackstands, in the middle of summer in 110 degree heat.

You can buy the dynatrac D60 hubs and use them for ABS for the front. Not sure what your gonna do on the rear. JK boxes have forward facing pitman arms or atleast my brothers JK does...but I remember recon said its not powerful enough for the H3.

My goal is to follow 4speeds rig. daily driving ability is a must, comfortably at that. At anytime hop in the truck and drive across country without concern. Off road capability will come. The lowest ride height SAS H3 is 07 custom. 4speed and I talked about that. If I could I want to keep the rig as low as possible and I have been thinking of some ideas to do that. Possibly as low as I have it now, spring over rear nets 5in for me and then 5in the front. I am not afraid to cut those HUGE fenders! 4-5in of uptravel would be nice but not sure how feasible that is without frame rail notching and oil pan clearancing.
 

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,250
Location
Tardville
Yeah. Nowdays, a passenger-drop is a definite handicap. It's not that it's any less awesome or less capable....but it drastically limits your choice of donor parts. The stock H3 t-case (and its traction system) is awesome, and I think its truly what sets the H3 apart from other 4x4s in its class. Its what makes the H3 go further and deeper into the bush, with comparatively little effort. Keeping it was paramount in my build, and it sort of drove my project to keep the driveline on the passenger-side.

That being said...if I were going to dump (or ignore) the electronics...I would swap to a drivers-side NP-205...chop holes in the floor for a twin-stick...and run a Ford high-pinion front axle (or any other front axle). To hell with the electronics! I don't see a problem with this but, I didn't want to gut my 30K mile vehicle just yet. Maybe someday.
 

RamRod

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,914
Location
AB, Canada
Yeah. Nowdays, a passenger-drop is a definite handicap. It's not that it's any less awesome or less capable....but it drastically limits your choice of donor parts. The stock H3 t-case (and its traction system) is awesome, and I think its truly what sets the H3 apart from other 4x4s in its class. Its what makes the H3 go further and deeper into the bush, with comparatively little effort. Keeping it was paramount in my build, and it sort of drove my project to keep the driveline on the passenger-side.

I wish the TC worked as good in deep snow like it seems to everywhere else! It almost caused me to get stuck in a very bad spot this weekend...
I was deff wishing I could turn off all their electronic systems then!
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,499
Location
Meridian, ID
hold traction control button till its off...

I still want some H2 to do the SAS with a dodge axle, it will be much cheaper the dynatrac and should work.

I wont ditch the electronics unless its a 3k POS salvaged H3. a 203/205 double with a driver drop 60 would be sweet though but I still think a clean simple swap only fixing what our problem (front end strength) is very appealing.
 

RamRod

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,914
Location
AB, Canada
hold traction control button till its off...

Did that but there is still the electronic control that you can turn off that was buzzing away and cutting the throttle way back... unless I didn't hold it fo long enough or something but the screen said TC off...
 
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