The Alpha's cast iron front diff....

[justforfun]

Will it fit the 3.5 / 3.7 H3's ? - if so, when can we order??

My front diff went around 3mths ago, got it replaced under warranty, BUT it had a whine coming from it which the dealer "couldn't hear" (6 times) until I took it for a service - asked them to look, and hey presto the replacement THEY fitted was daffy ducked :twak: seems like when they installed the "new" diff, they used the original casing(??), which obviously had flexed to the point it doesn't line up - so here I am waiting for another 2 weeks (diff ordered from the US) to get the car back :rant:

Mind they gave me loaner H3 which is getting ahem.... used

Cheers
JFF

[fourfourto]

I dont think it would be a simple swap,the cast diff is 411 gears we have 456 gears in the 5 cyl H3's.
I guess if replaced as a set (front/rear diff ) it might work but it would be costly and changing to a lower gear could change performance/ MPG.
The 456 gears might be able to be used in the cast diff housing ?If so that be the best way.

[Auggie Mathis]

Yes it will fit just fine. I have done this to my sons truck. Just order the cast iron diff housing and you can put the 456 gears from the old one into the new one. Its a easy swap.

[Desert Dan]

Auggie Mathis-Good Job
Maybe you should start a diff swap service

[Auggie Mathis]

Now I just need to find a locker that will fit in there.

[Desert Dan]

Maybe ARB will make a locker for the front?

[HummBebe]

Now I just need to find a locker that will fit in there.

Try the rear one :shhh:

[Auggie Mathis]

I tried this morning to make the rear work in the front. It is to large to fit in and the splines are different. If you have any other ideas let me know. Is there any trick that i am missing?Arb is still a ways from making one.

[justforfun]

Yes it will fit just fine. I have done this to my sons truck. Just order the cast iron diff housing and you can put the 456 gears from the old one into the new one. Its a easy swap.

:dancingbanana:

Great, will ask the dealer today if they can order one.... and if they have any workshop staff actually capable of doing it properly :crying:

Bit of history on that one :rant:

Cheers
JFF :beerchug:

[H3slate]

Yes it will fit just fine. I have done this to my sons truck. Just order the cast iron diff housing and you can put the 456 gears from the old one into the new one. Its a easy swap.

Do you have the part # for the cast iron front diff? Any pics of your install?

[Desert Dan]

I wonder if you can order it with the diff gears and carrier inside ready to bolt in. Then it would be an easy install.

[Auggie Mathis]

The housing part # is 15920599. Sorry i did not take any pics. And no you cant order it with non alpha gears.

[Desert Dan]

So is the casting identcial?
Does everything bolt right on?

[HummBebe]

I tried this morning to make the rear work in the front. It is to large to fit in and the splines are different. If you have any other ideas let me know. Is there any trick that i am missing?Arb is still a ways from making one.


Did you try the 4:56 rear or the 4:10 rear?

[Auggie Mathis]

Yes the casting is the same its bolts right on. And i tried 4.56 gears

[Desert Dan]

Cool

I could bolt in the axle houseing but I don't feel comfortable setting up a diff and ring gears.

[RuggedH2]

I thought that this cast iron housing was the one originally built for the ZR2 Blazer, it was being brought back specifically for this application.

You only need the housing, you should already have the ring and pinion. ;)

[3Hummer]

i would like to do this to mine too if it isnt to costly, anyone have an approximate price?

[HummBebe]

It's a little more complicated than that. And without photo's, I reluctantly want to call BS on Auggie. I know enough to be dangerous, so you should know more....cough up the pics:D

[HummBebe]

I thought that this cast iron housing was the one originally built for the ZR2 Blazer, it was being brought back specifically for this application.

You only need the housing, you should already have the ring and pinion. ;)

Yes, but they stopped production in 2003. I'm sure it's been redesigned as well. So technically, the application is the same, but the actual housing is different.

[HummBebe]

Yes the casting is the same its bolts right on. And i tried 4.56 gears

So where/how do you have a spare e-locker/differential laying around? Do you have both axles open right now?

[Auggie Mathis]

I work at the dealer so I can get any parts that i need . My son is out of town till Monday and i will take you a dam picture there is no BS here just trying to find a front locker. I cant find anything that works. The one that amstar uses was modified to the point that I cant justify the cost of it.

[HummBebe]

I work at the dealer so I can get any parts that i need . My son is out of town till Monday and i will take you a dam picture there is no BS here just trying to find a front locker. I cant find anything that works. The one that amstar uses was modified to the point that I cant justify the cost of it.

Sorry, I just know someone who has used it. The rear Eaton in the front CI case.

So by how much does it not fit? And if they are both 4:56's it should work. If it is a tight fit, you could use a dye grinder to make "a little more room"?

[H3 Builder]

Now I just need to find a locker that will fit in there.

Maybe you'll be able to go to your Hummer Dealer and order one in the future.

[justforfun]

So... some say yep, it can be done and others say it can't hmmmm....

someone must know for certain :confused: ... H3Builder - can you give me a definitive answer before I move hell and high water with the dealer to get me a cast iron casing?

[3Hummer]

why dont you just ask the dealer if itll work, theyll be the ones who would probably know best about that one.

[Sewie]

why dont you just ask the dealer if itll work, theyll be the ones who would probably know best about that one.


:giggling: :giggling: :giggling: :giggling: :giggling:

Now that's funny.

[HummBebe]

:jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump:

[HummBebe]

If everyone can just hold on, we will have the definitive for you in a couple of days.

[H3slate]

If everyone can just hold on, we will have the definitive for you in a couple of days. :popcorn::popcorn:

[justforfun]

why dont you just ask the dealer if itll work, theyll be the ones who would probably know best about that one.

Have a look at my posts and you'll get an idea about the "capabilities" of my dealer here.... ;)

If everyone can just hold on, we will have the definitive for you in a couple of days.
:popcorn: :popcorn: cool .......

[RuggedH2]

:giggling: :giggling: :giggling: :giggling: :giggling:

Now that's funny.

Yep.

Originally Posted by justforfun
Have a look at my posts and you'll get an idea about the "capabilities" of my dealer here.... ;)

Yep.


Originally Posted by HummBebe
If everyone can just hold on, we will have the definitive for you in a couple of days.



Originally Posted by justforfun
:popcorn: :popcorn: cool .......


Yep.

[justforfun]

If everyone can just hold on, we will have the definitive for you in a couple of days.

... any news yet?

:popcorn:

[justforfun]

BTT coz it's important... to me!! :fdance:

Bebes, any news yet?

Cheers
JFF :beerchug:

[dbongard]

G'day guys,

Could anybody tell me if the differential carrier is swappable between the aluminium housing and the cast iron housing? (i.e., are they identical differential centers simply bolted into different housings?)

If anybody has some pics of the inside of the cast iron housing and of the carrier then we'd love to see them.

Also, in case anyone isn't aware, we have a model for the H3 rear.

Best regards,

-daniel
AIR LOCKER
dbongard@arb.com.au

[Desert Dan]

Time to get the cast iron diff and add the ARB for the front!

[Auggie Mathis]

Just giving everybody a update on my front locker.
I finally got the part numbers and and it fits on just fine. It is a eaton but totally different that the rear. I had to make a retainer to hold the wires in place.
The part number from gm is 25831502

[pdsq99f4]

The 09 H3 adventures have a locker in the front just like the back. Should be pretty easy to retrofit one of these in to an older h3 with a switch and relay.

[Desert Dan]

I wish GM would offer a bolt-in cast iron locker package for our older H3's

[Auggie Mathis]

I used the locker that is for the front on a 09 modle .

[wpage]

I used the locker that is for the front on a 09 modle .
Any details or pics?