Hunner's Alpha H3

[Mark]

Looking great Hunner, didn't realize you got a set of Hutchinsons

[Hunner]

Thanks,
I decided if I am going to keep this thing I want everything I can get that was made for it, like I did not already start down that path, and have made a few things.
I was laying in wait ready to pounce on the first good deal. It must have been fate!

[nugget]

Bit of kick left in the old dog yet by the looks...love the personalised touches

[Hunner]

You set a tough row to hoe my friend.
I still want an awning but the pickens are slim around here. I may try to adapt a camper type unit, but you should see the looks I get when I go to the high dollar motorhome places and ask about them. Someday I will get the motivation and attack!

[wpage]

Well done Hunner!

[Hunner]

We need a "Thanks" button. Thanks, I'm trying.

[Hunner]

Time to freshen this thread up a bit.
I'm getting ready for a spring expedition of unknown destinations.
After getting the Hutchinson beadlocks that came with Cooper STT tires I decided those rim bolts were going to get damaged without some protection. Scraping against narrow ravine walls around here and out west on rock shelves.
Called on the guy that laser cuts the skids for help. We played around in a CAD program, push send to laser and went back to see the outcome.
His laser can cut 1/4 fairly fast. He says 1/2 would work it hard but new an outsource he could work me in with.
The 1/4 still leave 1/8 of the rim studs sticking out. Screw those up and I might not get the rings off without screwing up the studs and then maybe a die would clean them up. Rather than risk it I tried two rings. I think I like that. Later I can get some one piece 1/2. Sounds heavy, I know but the Alpha did not seem to be affected much by the 315's and these rings. I stuck in the Flashpaq tow mode to smooth out some shifting and a bit more torque which evens things out all around and for towing. The rings can be run with or with out the plastic stud protector but I think they could get scraped up as they sit flush. So for hardcore rocky terrain probably leave those off. It does not look as finished but this is about functionality.
The last shot was just a quick test until I get out in some rocks to show the tire with 10 lbs of air sitting on just that wheel against the curb. Just to see if the tire flex was going to hit the rings. So it should be ok for mall crawling over speedbumps!
I tried a heavy solids aluminum paint and they matched but it did not seem like it was tough.
I media blasted them and clear coated them. After some rock rash I can blast and re-coat.


I have seen some plates out there that cover the entire wheel. I wanted access to my lug nuts. Yes, I do torque my nuts!! and less weight is always good. I suppose I can figure a way to cram a rock in there but since 06 that has not happened. Just in case I got 4 more Hutchinsons.

[Hunner]

A small addition awhile back was the RAD1 inclinometer (either a brag meter or OH chit meter)

[Hunner]

I also went for the Warn wireless remote which allows you to do your own hook up point. I hate having someone else do that. Works with my anchor winch pal setup really good so I can get it started digging in. I can also get out of the way and watch the vehicle I am winching from a safe distance.

[Hunner]

I also upgraded my front sway bar adjustable links. I put the BulletProof tie rods on the Alpha and decided I needed some better ones. I found some Curries that had the proper size connecting bolts and cut the inner link to get close to my length then adjusted them out.

[Seth]

I like the beadlock rings. Very well done. Your mods make me jealous. All mods seem very functional. If you make it out to SoCal this spring on your journey we will have to meet up for a trial ride or some food.

[JGBB04]

Trolling for some ROTM votes over here are we

As usual another great Hunner mod, now all I need to do is find a set of those rims so I can buy a set of your rings

[Hunner]

Trollin. trollin on the river.
Nah but I come back to my roots and keep up my Garage/builds threads. There is lots of cross forum jumpin, but some great folks here I like to keep up with. I put alot of work into threads on Hummer X that I am working on building a web site with.
I'm building up for a run out West just not sure when. I would like trying to hook up with others instead of wandering around, although I'm good at wandering around.
I ran across some info on a stash of Hutchinson's after hearing that some were found in Texas. It seems at one time Sewell or some affiliate bought up the stock. I heard a rumor somebody cooking up something but it got quite. I think an "all or none" deal may have come up and killed the deal.
Hutchinson will sell you some for $500 each!!
I got some hand me downs that 1 person bought as spares and one other person had and ran them some. When I got those they had Cooper STT 315's on them with less than 3000 miles on them. Then I found four more that came from the GM proving grounds in MI. They have BFG 285 already mounted and look slightly used. So I'm what we call in the south "tire poor" with yet another set of Bridgestones 285 but only 1 new MT/MTZ left that was a spare, spare. I got two sets of theOEM aluminum wheels. I'm looking for a replacement for the Bridgestones, sort of an aggressive A/T for the desert and red rock. I never understood mud grips for that? I ran the MT/MTZ and then the Bridgestones and got good traction with the Bridgestones because of more rubber on the rocks and good sipping. I still like the MT/MTZ as an all round, pun intended tire. The Coopers are more aggressive and louder but hey, it's a truck!
So I will also add a bit about trimming my E&G flares. The 315's stick out more from the fenders. They increase the already huge amount of spraying crud all over the vehicle. I like the contained look, not the monster truck tires wider than the vehicle. I trimmed about 1 1/4 of the underside lip off the flares and opened up the bottom end to let out water and mud. Still messy but not as bad and I like the way it looks. It does somewhat kill the lifted look as the outside edge comes down some. Now with 315's they do not rub. I left the rear flaps off as they are low. I like the fronts which don't seem to have hit yet. I got spares or can make some for up there, maybe rubber with chrome sillhouette of a woman like the truckers have

[Mark]

Nice work as always Hunner and I really like those rings

[Hunner]

Doing a little spring modding in preparation for some Expeditions out West.
Finally! Since 06 I have wanted to do this. This is on my Alpha. I wanted to protect those tranny lines that are right behind the front skid on an Alpha and the next thing in line when you slide off the end of the UCP. Rocks in Arky land are sharp pointed.
I would have liked to take the time after mocking it up to get it laser cut where we had to cut an arch in the flat iron to go around the cross member. In the interest of time and just wanting to get mine done for a run tomorrow, it "ain't" pretty but hell for sturdy, the guy cut it with a torch, heck it's only a truck We tried to weld in places I could use a thin blade grinder to remove it if needed. I went thru several ideas of bolts, thread tapping or inserts and just went for welding.
Then used a small piece of 1/4" X 2" X 2" between that and the 1/2" X 2" X 23" strip running aft for the transfer case skid to fill in the small gap.


Then for the transfer case. I wanted to protect the part that projects down close to the UCP in the gap. I chose 3/8" X 6" X 19" so it would go on over and protect that huge gap under the biggest area of the transfer case, big enough to cram a bowling ball size granite rock up in there. There is about 1/4" clearance between the case and plate. The angle of this shot appears it is touching, it is not. We also removed the ground clamp!
Then I ran a 1/2" by 2" X 23" strip between the cross members.
I figured $30 steel, $30 welding, if you had to pay to have it done. Cheap protection for expensive parts!



I must go field testing now.
giterdun,..