1994 HMCS Project

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Originally Posted by ssgharkness020147

Aubs,
To really get out all of the scatches you will need to wet sand those areas. I would just use 1500 grit on it, instead of 1000. The downside is that you will need to polish the area with a real polisher, a high speed orbital. But, if you wet sand/polish when you are done the results that you will get will be flawless and I promise you'll be happy. Good work no less. I bought one of those power balls last week to do my wheels, holy sh!t I have never seen them so shiney, they look brand new.

I have been reluctant to do any serious polishing to avoid burning through the paint. I think the Power Ball will reduce the scratches enough to make me happy. Afterall, they are part of the character of the truck. But I will have to keep the wet sanding in mind.

I have yet to really do any of the mechanical work. That outer CV boot needs to be changed, but I need some Nordlock washers to replace the ones that come out. My parts guy is out on surgery right now, so I have to wait for him to return.

I do have to examine the possibility of Vampire. I find water drips down the side of the truck from the air filter, but it's not oily. It does leave weird water spots however. It's confusing.

[ssgharkness020147]

I would not buy the nord locks from the local dealer, last time I did that I spent something like 50 or 70 bucks for a full set (each axle). I'd call Dave B, or Travis at Rubber Duck 4X4.

[BigPoppa1411]

Originally Posted by BlueHUMMERH2

ERTHKLR

We are allowed 8 characters in PA.
I am considering:

1994
1994 H1
RED H1
RED HMCS
INURFACE
REAL4WD
OUTATIME
FOLLOWME

What about:

DEVLRIDR OR RLLNDEVL ?

[3Hummer]

just curious whatd your neighbors say when you pulled up with this?

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Nothing so far. There are about 3 acre lots here. However, I have had quite a few positive comments around town.

[Hummer Aficionado_VT]

You've come a long way all ready! Nice job, and keep up the good work!

Looks great!!

[mikejr]

so what kind of cash did you have to outlay to get the beast if you dont mind saying? How much do you figure you will have into it when you are done? Looks like an interesting renovation project. Have you had a chance to play with it off road? Keep the pics coming.

[Ground hawg]

She's startin to look realy good all that works startin too realy show.

why dony you call her "DEVELDOG"

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Originally Posted by mikejr

so what kind of cash did you have to outlay to get the beast if you dont mind saying? How much do you figure you will have into it when you are done? Looks like an interesting renovation project. Have you had a chance to play with it off road? Keep the pics coming.

Purchased for $22,000. With taxes, and all the improvments/repairs, it will probably end up around $26,000.

[Hummer Aficionado_VT]

I just went on a desert tour in a '96 with the same engine.

All I can say is, "I like!"

[BlueHUMMERH2]

I should add this update:

I've been trying to remove the rear passenger half shaft so I can replace the CV boot. Well, the shaft will not come out of the hub. So I've spent about 6 hours just trying to free it and I've made it out about 3/4".... No idea what's wrong yet. But I will need a new half shaft and probably some geared hub components...

[Longhorn94]

excuse my ignorance, but what does HMCS mean?

thanks!


jason

[BlueHUMMERH2]

HMCS is the wagon H1. HMC4 is the four man opentop. The VLCO had the zip out windows and the soft top. I don't know the rest off hand, but they were short-hand within AM General for the different models.

[Longhorn94]

thanks for the reply! its always fun getting to know all about a new-to-me truck or car.

do you know what the initials actually stand for?

thanks again!

jason

[BlueHUMMERH2]

http://www.hummerknowledgebase.com/general/civdes.html

There are all the designations, but no explanations. I will have to ask around next time I'm at an AM General event.

[hmcoleap]

You have doubled my production -- I have done 1 out of 4 leather covers on my truck so far since I got them in June '06

Originally Posted by BlueHUMMERH2

I have given up on that self-mutilation fest for now. I have 2/4 seats done.

I was just out removing interior panels to see where I can put sound insulation. I found a leak somewhere is bringing water down into the cab. I also removed the rear door panel on the passengers side, and I'm trying to determine why the door lock isn't working automatically.

[hmcoleap]

That was a unique one, Aubs - make sure you post some pics of your halfshaft adventure here!

Let me know if you end up needing a new geared hub.

Originally Posted by BlueHUMMERH2

I should add this update:

I've been trying to remove the rear passenger half shaft so I can replace the CV boot. Well, the shaft will not come out of the hub. So I've spent about 6 hours just trying to free it and I've made it out about 3/4".... No idea what's wrong yet. But I will need a new half shaft and probably some geared hub components...

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Originally Posted by hmcoleap

That was a unique one, Aubs - make sure you post some pics of your halfshaft adventure here!

Let me know if you end up needing a new geared hub.

Thank you for the offer Manny. I should know in the next 2 weeks.

I'll try to post up some pics tonight.

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Alright, this past weekend things shifted from the cosmetic to the mechanical, and I decided to get started on the CV boot. I thought it would be difficult as it's the first major mechanical thing I've done. Well, it has been more difficult that I ever imagined!

So I parked the truck, dropped the t-case into N, and then put it in park and jacked it up. Now the right rear wheel could spin independently. I took off the tire, removed the halfshaft retaining bolt, and then the six bolts on the rotor. This took about 30 mins. I was feeling pretty good. Then the "fun" started.

The next step is to simply pull the half shaft out the back of the geared hub. I tried this, and it wouldn't budge. So I pulled harder, pulled left, up down, right, etc. Nothing. I decided maybe there was something in the way, so I removed the parking brake cable, and still couldn't get it to come out. Well, I was really stumped at this point.



I called up a buddy from the HML, and asked him what to do. He'd never heard of one being stuck like this, and suggested that I thread a 3/8" screw into the slot where the retaining bolt was that would miss the retaining washer. Hopefully this would push the shaft out. Once it was in, I started banging, and to my dismay, there was no reaction....

I posted on the HML at this point, and it was suggested I try to remove the gear and halfshaft as one. I took the rear access off from the upper gear and then started tapping on the screw again. Finally, I got some progress. About 3-4 hours had gone into this by now.


This shows the progress, with the upper gear in the hub moving out.




Here, you can see the CV joint coming out.



I kept banging away at this point, and decided to give up for the night. I sprayed the whole thing up with Bolt Buster, put the wheel back on, and let it sit. In the morning, I came back out and started the process again, and I guess my renewed effort was enough to get it out.

But now I have to figure out why exactly the halfshaft wouldn't come away from the upper gear. Something either has failed to bind it in there, or the previous owner applied red loctite and bound it in there.

Here's looking at the outer end of the halfshaft with the upper gear from the geared hub stuck on it. That small 1.5" or so circle in the middle is the end of the halfshaft. It should not have the gear stuck to it.






Here is a side view. Everything from that round black thing on the left (CV joint) should be off of there with just the splined end of the halfshaft showing.




Here is the outer bearing/race which won't go back where it belongs:




So it looks like I will need a new halfshaft at the very least. If it turns out that Kascar is at fault, I hope they will reimburse me for the cost of their halfshaft. I have the box, etc, and there is only about 1,500 highway miles on this thing.

As for the geared hub, I will need to take it apart and examine all the parts to make sure nothing is bad. I think it will require an extensive rebuild or an entirely new hub. I would prefer a rebuild personally because full replacement parts are going to get harder to find I suspect, and I hate to do that if what I've got will work out ok.

Originally Posted by BlueHUMMERH2

http://www.hummerknowledgebase.com/general/civdes.html

There are all the designations, but no explanations. I will have to ask around next time I'm at an AM General event.

More info on designations can be found here:

http://flashoffroad.com/features/Trivia/trivia.htm

(Look under "Hummer History - UPC/ Model codes i.e. HMCO")

HMCS = HuMmer Commercial (or Civilian) Station Wagon

The H1 Alpha models (not listed in the link above) are as follows:

HMDO - for HuMmer Duramax Open Top
HMDS - for HuMmer Duramax Station Wagon