prospective H1 owner questions...

[h1powered]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ckhagman:
Well Beastmaster pretty much told you everything that I would have said. I will however emphasize the fact doing your own service WILL save you a ton of money and to top it off is kind of fun.

I did not make the jump from a Disco but I did do it from a D-90 after 4+ years of owning one and can say I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have driven a disco many times and can say you will definitely like the Hummer more. The floor panels on the Hummer are flat but I noticed the Disco to have slanted to the side floor panels. I hated that.

Good luck with your purchase. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Like most drunks and crack addicts, you make no sense, lay off the bottle & pipe will ya

[ckhagman]

DiscoDuck: I sent you a private message

[Beastmaster]

The first time, it took me about 4 hours to do the kit on a friend's 97.5 Wagon. Now that I've done it a couple of times, it's easier. Here's the short list on how to install it....

-Drain about a gallon of coolant
-Disconnect the engine batteries
-Undo the interior (nicknamed the doghouse) to get to the engine cover. This includes disconnecting all your AC and electrical harnesses to the engine computer (which is mounted on the engine cover)
-Open the engine cover
-Remove the turbo and manifold heat shield
-Remove the blocking plates over the #7 and #8 engine cooling ports
-Clean the gasket remnants off
-Install the new blocking plates with fittings
-Route hoses and install hoses to blocking plates
-Cut heater return line. Fit T to heater return line.
-Install hoses to T and then to heater return line T. Make sure hoses do not contact Glow Plug controller relay, or you'll melt your electrical system.
-Tighten everything one time more, and then add a gallon of new coolant into engine.
-Test drive vehicle (with engine cover off) to check for leaks
-Reinstall engine cover, doghouse, and interior trim.

Once I get the Arizona Hummer Owners Group web site back online (it's a victim of Hurricane Javier thanks to lightning storms that hit Phoenix), I can send you the link on the review that I wrote on it. It goes into far more detail....

You don't need special tools at all. A screwdriver, some Loctite Red Gasket sealant, a metric and a SAE basic mechanics set, and a utility knife will function.

You'll be safe once you get it back into Canada. Be aware that you might have an easier time of it buying a Hummer that's already in Canada.....There's a guy on EBay selling one in the Prince Edward Island area for 40kCDN at current bid.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2490305388&catego ry=5360

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DiscoDuck:
I had a quick question about the cooling kit for the 8th cylinder issue...
If I purchase a wagon in Arlington Texas that hasn't had the workaround completed would it be difficult to do the upgrade in a parking lot (before I try to make the drive back to Canada) or does it require special tools etc?
How long (aprox) did it take to complete?

Thanks Again,
Shawn <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Beastmaster]

No problem. The H1 fraternity is rather small - you'd be only one of 10,000 owners. 3000 more if you look at the HMMWV's.

We gotta stick together!

[DiscoDuck]

I have seen alot of the information that I seek on this site and appreciate it greatly but have a few questions that I want to make sure I get straight before taking the H1 plunge...

Q1: Currently (not an H1 owner) I think the H1 is about the coolest vehicle on/off the road. If I purchase one, will that feeling fade?

Q2: I hear all about the huge costs of the regular maintanence but when I found the list of what is done in A, B and C service visits, it looks like most of the stuff is "inspect this" and "verify that" type things. Does that mean that the high costs are because the service is always finding things wrong with the trucks or that the Hummer dealerships are making a killing off of inspections?

Q3: I currently own a '96 Land Rover discovery and am wondering if anyone else has made the jump from a Disco to an H1. If so, do you have any cautions to offer?

Q4: I have measured my garage and think I can fit the H1 in but the only width measurements I have found don't include the mirrors. Will an H1 fit through the opening of a standard 9'x7' garage door? Will there be much space to spare?

Q5: Is the cracking of the hood a real problem or is it simply a result of off roading?

Q6: Is there any other tricks that can be done to an engine that is at risk of the Cyl 8 failure? I have read on flashoffroad.com about a way to use coolent to keep the temps more under control but does that completely solve the problem? Has anyone had a failure after applying that work-around?

Q7: When I calculate the MPG that I am getting in my Disco I get about 13.5 (calculating it based on a US Gal). I have read that the H1 is right in that ballpark too. Is that correct?

Q8: If I was to use it as a daily driver, would you consider me crazy? I would be selling my Disco and my 300ZX to justify the purchase to my wife so it would be my only ride for a while.

Q9: My wife and I have 6 kids and like the idea of putting the two bench seats back to back but I can't find anything about where you purchase these seats and how they install. Does anyone have pictures of a people hauler installation like that? Also, any comments about the usability of the middle seats? Is there enough foot room behind the dog house to put your feet?

LAST ONE:
Q10: I live in Canada, does the 6.5 TD have any starting problems in cold weather?

If you got all the way down to here... Thanks for reading. If you can provide any answers, Super!

Happy wheelin'
Shawn

[DiscoDuck]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Beastmaster:
Oh...and I gather you're aware of this:

http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf

It seems that the H1 automatically passes through as long as there's documentation showing it passes US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements (FMVSS). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yup, that was the first thing I looked at.


I gotta say, so far, the Hummer community is great!

Thanks again,
Shawn