Big Pig the 03 H2

(23/08/15)

Hello all! Watch the transformation of my 2003 H2 from a sad truck in need of new tires and lots of TLC into a lean (sort of), mean, off road machine! (Cool factory options, factory like custom parts, and tasteful upgrades to come!

Here she is on the day I bought her with 192,088 miles on the odometer, dirty as all get out and equipped with 4 bald BFGs . Fresh from NC.



(8/24/15)

Bought new tires today! BFG A/T 315s.



(8/25/15)

Got a chance to detail the truck today. Here's a good picture!



(8/26/15)

Removed the running boards today in the name of ground clearance. Looks much better now!



(8/28/15)

Had to leave the H2 at the dealer today to have them do some work that I don't have time for. At least they let her sit on the display while she waits in line!



(12/14/15)

Installed OEM roof mounted off road lights (GM part #89006968). Factory light package stage 1/6 complete. Lacking grille mounted, rear and side off road lights.



(12/21/15)

Installed OEM wrap around grille guard (GM part #89006790). Factory armor package stage 1/2 complete. Lacking tail light guards. Will post a better pic in the AM.



(1/7/16)

Installed GM-HUMMER Edition Maglite. Rare dealer option. No part # available.



(1/14/16)

Installed two genuine GM-HUMMER hard shell roof storage pods. GM part #89006760. The grille guard has been removed, and is having the paint stripped again. Will be re-installed soon with more goodies.

(1/16/16)

Re-installed the grille guard with a fresh, glossy black paint job (I stripped it down to the bare metal and started over. I was dissatisfied with the previous paint job.) Also installed the grille guard mounted off road lights. GM part # 89006860. Factory light package stage 2/6 complete. She's looking mean now!




(1/20/16)

Installed two rare factory u-step packages. GM part #89006870. These steps are special, because due to their one bolt design, they can be removed from the vehicle in less than 30 seconds a piece for impromptu off-roading. Exterior convenience package 1/5 complete. Lacking exterior spare tire carrier, roof cargo rail handles, roof basket and side awning. These steps, while they appear to be fine, are flaking and need to be re-finished. Will post pics of the before/after paint job!



(1/25/16)

Acquired the Hummer H2 medical kit today. No GM Part #. H2 Emergency Package Stage 1/3 complete. Lacking Highway Emergency Kit W/Medical Supplies and fire extinguisher.






(2/7/2016)

Just finished restoring and installing the u-steps and tail light guards. Sooo shiny. (GM part #s 89006870(2) and 17801243 respectively.) The steps' paint was faded and flaking off due to corrosion...same with the tail light guards. I fixed that! Factory armor package stage 2/2 complete.






(3/09/2016)

Installed genuine GM-HUMMER trailer hitch covers. GM part #88964086. Trailering protection package stage 1/1 complete.

(3/28/16)

Purchased a new OEM chrome roof rail today, in preparation for the OEM roof basket being shipped from Ohio. GM part #88960231.




(4/7/16)

Installed OEM roof basket. GM part # 89006880. One piece aluminum construction. Super sturdy. Exterior convenience package 2/5 complete. Lacking Roof Cargo Rail Handles (part #88962914) and exterior spare tire carrier. Next on the upgrade list is a rear facing light bar and side lights.





(4/8/16)

Installed 4 OEM roof lights at each corner of the roof basket, on the OEM rail. I guess you could consider this my first "aftermarket" mod (gasp), since an OEM wire harness is not available in this set up. I'm on my way to 360 degrees of light. Almost done with the roof accessories. Just need another OEM light bar for the rear!




(4/27/16)

Installed an OEM switch in the dash today for the grille guard lights in the factory correct position under the rear wiper switch. GM part #15297124. No more janky autozone switch flopping all over the dash.




(5/7/16)

Purchased a used OEM chrome roof rail today, in preparation for the OEM roof lights being installed today as well. GM part #88960231 (rail) and 89006968 (lights).Surround lighting!
I need 4 more OEM 3 slotted rock guards if anyone has some for sale, in order to make the rear bar match the other lights.



(7/12/16)

Restored and installed a first gen H2 spare tire carrier (technically an SMA, but offered through the dealership for 2003-2005 models.) GM part #25954417. Exterior convenience package stage 3/5 complete. Lacking roof handles. Soon to come are bumper lights, tire cover and plate bracket. Big Pig is now rocking 2 spare tires!




(7/18/16)

Replaced original Hall Hummer (of Virginia Beach, Virginia) dealership tag that had fallen off of the rear hatch many years ago.



(7/26/16)

Re-installed OEM tail light guards (GM#17801243) and OEM U-steps (GM#89006870) after stripping them, and coating them with Cerakote, a super tough, high temp ceramic coating used to paint firearms with.

(9/3/16)


-Installed OEM seat cover, exterior vehicle cover and cargo bay liner. GM part#s 19155354, 19158339 and 89006836.






(10/23/16)


Installed a new roof console (GM#10358690), rocker switches (GM#15297124 x4) and modified light wire harness #4/5 (GM#15296880). Factory light package 4/6 complete. Right side lights are now hooked up to the switch! Booya. Just need to finish the left side, and upgrade the bulbs all around.




(11/21/16)

Installed 4 OEM roof handles. GM#12499199. Exterior convenience package 4/5 complete.Lacking roof awning. Current mileage is 212,660.




(12/18/16)

-Installed OEM HUMMER Edition awning. Exterior convenience package 5/5 complete.





(1/2/16)

-Installed new heavy duty Rare Parts tie rods. 3x as thick as stock!




(1/2/16)

Restored (stripped/painted/installed new light) a factory SMA license plate bracket, and installed.Removed tire cover, and installed new hub cap on the spare tire. Big Pig is road legal now!

(1/12/16)

-Installed Cobra 40 channel CB radio in the place of the OnStar unit in the dash board. The antenna will be mounted on the passenger side hood louver where the AM/FM radio antenna would go in a 2004+ H2. Will post pics of that later after I mount it. Stay tuned!





(1/13/16)

-Installed Warn 4 lamp light mount for the H2 brush guard. Lots of light now!




(1/20/17)

-Installed Firestik CB antenna using a modified 2005+ H2 fender mounted AM/FM radio antenna mount and fender louver. Could pass for factory. Stock black H2 pic included for reference.





(2/15/17)

Installed a new factory original body color grille and repainted the brush guard.





(3/4/17)

Installed heavy duty Outfitter Design front differential bushing and refurbished the original cross member. No more wiggly differential.



(3/7/17)

Replaced the OEM pitman arm with the Rare Parts extreme duty version, RP# 20609 3 master spline pitman arm. Steering is buttery-smooth now.





(3/10/17)

Replaced the OEM idler arm with the Rare Parts extreme duty version, RP# 20608. Also replaced OEM idler arm bracket with HD Moog replacement.





(4/3/2017)

Installed OEM low profile steps from a 2006/2007 Limited Edition H2 (GM#15294290), and the rocker panels to match ((GM#19120874 (RH), 19120873 (LH)).






(4/17/17)

Installed new Daystar torsion keys, and aligned the front wheels. Gained 2" of clearance in the front end.

(4/27/17)

Installed Warn Hidden Winch Bumper. Now to locate the intended winch for the bumper, and install that!




(4/27/17)

Installed RH side GOBI ladder, and new interior grab handles with dry cleaning hooks. These grab handles originally only came installed on very early production 2003 model H2s, and Limited Edition 2006 H2s. GM#15079241/15079242






(5/15/17)

Installed full width Truck Vault. Perfect for protected tool and firearm storage.





(6/30/17)

-Installed new 37" BFG KOs. Ground clearance is now 13.5" at the front differential, versus the stock 9.9". No wheel well rubbing as far as street performance goes. Will test the truck for off road purpose here within the month.



(7/28/17)

Installed OEM rear air dam on the roof basket. Basket is now symmetrical.



(8/10/17)

Installed a custom decal, and acquired/installed a Hummer dealership sign in the garage.





(9/09/17)

Installed RubberDuck rear UCP (RD# RDH20-DLP-PC-R) to replace the crappy OEM stuff (OEM weighs 22lbs combined, RD is 79lbs), new OEM rear differential cover/gasket (GM# 12479235), and a Purple Cranium differential guard (PC# 63421).





(10/7/2017)

Had the stock tire carrier modified. Jerry can mounts were made, and a table installed.

16 FEB 18
Installed Outfitter Design front differential upper, and side bushing upgrade kit. Much more snug, and tough than stock.





30 March 18

Installed HD rear panhard bar. One piece welded steel tube, grease fittings, and poly bushings. Much stiffer and heavier than the stock bar. Old bushings were beyond shot.






4 May 2018

Installed Bilstein 5160 remote reservoir shocks,front and rear. Re-installed OEM steering stabilizer. They ride a little stiffer than the 5100s, but the body is much more controlled. I've had lots of issues from the 5100s either busting seals or fading super fast when I'm offroad, and I'm tired of dealing with it. From what research I've conducted, this is the next logical step upgrade wise. They run cooler for longer, have a little more travel and are more heavy duty than the OEM spec shock. (Bilstein #s Front 25-187625, Rear 25-187618, Clamps 11-176015, steering stabilizer ACD50925).






6 June 2018

Installed Hotchkis heavy duty fully boxed lower trailing arms and new upper trailing arms today on Pig. The OEM lower weighed about 5lbs a piece, HD weigh about 11lbs each. Noticeable improvement in on road handling. That rear axle stays planted to the pavement at high speed cornering, speed bump suspension punish tests etc. I installed them on my H2 because I’ve heard of unnecessary flexing from the OEM lower trailing arms, and bending when being smashed on rocks. This fully boxed set up fixes that issue. Highly recommend this upgrade to pavement pounders and off-road H2 enthusiasts alike. Big Pig officially has a less than 2 year old suspension and steering system. Handles better than a brand new H2. Not bad for a 245,560 mile truck. Lower trailing arm part number: Hotchkis #1305 (stock is GM#15286145), upper trailing arm part number: GM#15767252.








13 July 2018

Installed 37x1250x17 BFG KM2 Mud Terrain tires. Bye-bye drag radial quality all terrains.

16 July 2018

Modified two sets of OEM rock rails to make extensions. They also double as side steps for short people. My welding isn't pretty, but is functional! Hopefully this will prevent more door damage in the future. Current mileage 249,046.







27 July 18

Installed HD RubberDuck front UCP section. The steel RD weighs 50lbs, replacing the OEM 19lb aluminum unit. Much sturdier, and you can completely service the front end without having to drop the skid plate. (grease steering, change differential/engine oil, change out steering parts etc). No more beating the aluminum skid plate back into shape after wheeling. Next project is to get the winch back online, so I can hit the dirt again. It's been too long. Paying for this truck and going to school is taxing my wallet!






29 July 2018

Installed Cognito steering braces (PISK2008). These braces prevent unwanted rotation in the H2’s centerlink, tightening up the steering and preventing excessive wear on pitman and idler arms.






21 AUG 2018

Modified the rock rails again. Had a friend make a couple new panels. One that mimics the roof basket pattern, and a thick slide panel for the bottom of the rail as well as closing the gaps I left in the tube with the initial mod on each side.

13/11/18

Vehicle has been sold. I enlisted in the Army after graduating college, and the H2 is too large to store at my parents house while at OSUT. I have purchased a 2009 H3T Alpha Off-Road to supplement.

Nice build. Who made that table?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks! A buddy that does fabrication work on the side in Houston.

B-HMMWV said:

(9/3/16)


-Installed OEM seat cover, exterior vehicle cover and cargo bay liner. GM part#s 19155354, 19158339 and 89006836.

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(10/23/16)


Installed a new roof console (GM#10358690), rocker switches (GM#15297124 x4) and modified light wire harness #4/5 (GM#15296880). Factory light package 4/6 complete. Right side lights are now hooked up to the switch! Booya. Just need to finish the left side, and upgrade the bulbs all around.

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(11/21/16)

Installed 4 OEM roof handles. GM#12499199. Exterior convenience package 4/5 complete.Lacking roof awning. Current mileage is 212,660.

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(12/18/16)

-Installed OEM HUMMER Edition awning. Exterior convenience package 5/5 complete.

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(1/2/16)

-Installed new heavy duty Rare Parts tie rods. 3x as thick as stock!

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(1/2/16)

Restored (stripped/painted/installed new light) a factory SMA license plate bracket, and installed.Removed tire cover, and installed new hub cap on the spare tire. Big Pig is road legal now!

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I had thought about the roof console as a space for switches. Glad to see someone has already done it and it turned out so clean. Had wondered if there was enough room and how to run the wires. Do you have some wiring information that you could share? Thanks


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The roof console required a little modification, but I made everything fit. As far as wiring, I don't on hand. I basically cloned the factory wire harness and made it much longer. If you find info on the oem wire harness, it is the exact same thing. Even used the factory correct connectors etc.

I would help you out with pictures or something, but I am currently overseas and not set to return home any time soon.

B-HMMWV said:

I would help you out with pictures or something, but I am currently overseas and not set to return home any time soon.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the information. Thanks for your service. Get home safely.


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Wow, quite a lengthy write up for a vehicle that you sold! I think you bought every H2 factory accessory

No problem. Thanks for the support!

I stripped this truck before selling. Kept all the parts but the rubber duck UCP.