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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Maybe ARB will make a locker for the front?

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

Try the rear one :shhh:

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

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.

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

: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:

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cool

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

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

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. ;)

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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"?

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

Now that's funny.

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

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

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

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

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

:popcorn::popcorn:

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

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

:popcorn: :popcorn: cool .......

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

Yep.


Yep.




Yep.

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

... any news yet?

:popcorn:

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

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

Bebes, any news yet?

Cheers
JFF :beerchug:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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