Hummer H3 6L80 Transmission Install - Telling Our Story Part 1

[@planboverland8736]

Wow, sounds like a nightmare! So sorry for your loss Natalie. Now I am really waiting on the next video.

[@TsarTrail]

@@planboverland8736 thank you ❤️

[@ryanmcintyre588]

Damn Jeff. That’s wild. Definitely paving the way. Keep it up!

[@TsarTrail]

@@ryanmcintyre588 I hope we are paving the way for But man, it’s not easy. 👍

[@NA-mk6ju]

So sorry to hear about your family

[@TsarTrail]

@@NA-mk6ju thank you!!! ❤️

[@sarahdell4042]

Sorry for your loss. What a debacle. Nothing worse than a company who sells half baked junk. I’m incredibly fortunate to live in an area with endless high end fabrication shops. Something like this could have been knocked out from scratch within a few weeks once scheduled with a number of them. Hate to see people get hosed

[@TsarTrail]

@@sarahdell4042 thank you ❤️ Yes, it is a mess. I couldn’t sell something that had not been tested.

[@BigPapi1965]

Thank you for sharing and good luck with your build. God Bless 🙏🏻

[@TsarTrail]

@@BigPapi1965 Thank you!!!

[@VDawg-cr1gb]

Man…….what a journey the H3 has been through

[@TsarTrail]

@@VDawg-cr1gb yes sir. It seems never ending.

[@VDawg-cr1gb]

@@TsarTrail I’m sure once everything is dialed in it’ll all be worth it

[@TsarTrail]

@@VDawg-cr1gb We are hopeful.

[@johndiaz7240]

You have the patience of Job.

[@TsarTrail]

@@johndiaz7240 Trying 😊

[@hereweare.overlanding]

So sorry for your loss. We have suffered two losses over the past couple years ourselves. Stay strong and positive. And for the poor Hummer..... What a mess. We unfortunately know the same type of situation with one of our Jeeps. Stay vigilant. Good things come to good people! Now we are curious where are you guys are living..... Take care of each other!

[@TsarTrail]

@@hereweare.overlanding thank you!!! Sorry for your recent loss as well. ❤️

[@IronWolfOverland]

Wow - thank you for sharing so many details. People who’ve never done significant aftermarket modifications probably don’t realize how many people like True Blue are out there selling these types of products promising a straight bolt-up installation. I hope this works out! It’s a cautionary tale to all of us gearheads with dreams of modifying our trucks!

[@TsarTrail]

@@IronWolfOverland it’s a lesson learned. Bolt on mods are fun, mods beyond bolt on are scary. At least to us right now. We will use much more caution going forward.

[@tclg1]

Lovely to have you and your family back - missed your videos :)

[@TsarTrail]

@@tclg1 thank you!!!❤️

[@everymanadventures9285]

Wow man! What a whirlwind of calamities! 😢 I lost both my parents within a year as well. I also sold my 2008 H3 base auto and bought a 2009 H3 adventure 3.7L with the 5sp manual. Had it completely raptor lined. Installed a run cool louver hood vent and snorkel. Transferred over my brush guard, winch, custom roof rails and basket, new wheels and tires. Added a solar panel and slide out refrigerator. Total cost for everything was ~$23,500 vehicle included. I really hope all this works out for you guys. Wish I was still in Colorado. I’d love to roll out with the Tsar Trail team and collaborate a video. I’m also in Florida now. I commend your patience on all this as well. I would probably have already lost it and taken legal action. You are a saint sir!

[@TsarTrail]

@@everymanadventures9285 Thank you!!! We have just been trying to keep moving forward. But it has been difficult. Would love to meet up some time. Your H3 build sounds great.

[@14rhatch]

Been there when doing builds on my old Mustang. It is very frustrating. Eventually I hope you put together a full build list of the 6 speed. This is something I want to do on my Alpha.

[@TsarTrail]

@@14rhatch I hear you. We will have a list once it’s all figured out.

[@TalsmaBRT]

Sorry to hear of your loss, lost my mother late last year and it multiplies the headaches of projects. Hope to see you at a H4O Black Sheep Week soon.

[@TsarTrail]

@@TalsmaBRT thank you!!! Sorry for your loss. Loosing a parent is really difficult.

[@amrel-ghawi4304]

Must be very frustrating! Ive seen others do the same output on their 6l80 swap and had zero issues so seems like a bad output shaft from the start. Keep us posted

[@TsarTrail]

I am pretty sure that we are the first H3 with this shaved down re-splined version of the factory 6L80 output shaft. Had we known, we could have done it differently. But we live and learn.

[@bradishee8666]

Looks like True Blue Motorsports sells Snake Oil. What a bunch of crooks. That’s terrible Jeff! God Bless y’all!

[@TsarTrail]

@@bradishee8666 yep, we found out the hard way.

[@tommymetz5563]

Did you read the thread on one of the hummer forums about the 6l80 swap? There is at least one complete working swap but I don't think they used anything from true blue motorsports. I think the main problem they have is shifting while in 4lo. He had it all done by a shop in Arizona I think. I have been trying to find the thread but I can't find it right now.

[@TsarTrail]

@@tommymetz5563 A buddy of mine has the 6L80 on his h3. He installed a 6.2 also. That is a much easier combo to work with. But, he has been very helpful in helping us navigate through this.

[@johnbelveal4775]

Im in the planning stages of doing this swap. Id love to talk about what you would recommend as far as doing this. I may have access to getting parts made

[@TsarTrail]

@@johnbelveal4775 Sounds cool. We are still figuring out a few things. Heat has become a challenge.

[@johnbelveal4775]

@@TsarTrail keeping the transmission cool?

[@TsarTrail]

@@johnbelveal4775 engine and transmission

[@mnyhomie]

Love your attitude! Have you been successful in getting your money back???? Unbelievable! I would lose my mind 😮. That transmission cooler fan looks like it could get clogged or damaged by rocks, mud and debris pretty easily, is that a concern?

[@TsarTrail]

@@mnyhomie Thank you. We are not sold on the transmission cooler location. The exhaust heat is an added issue. Still working on it.

[@Matthew_Compton]

Fellow 08 Alpha owner, I have wanted to do this to my truck but the issues you are running into... Did you ever consider taking the 5-speed manual from a base and swapping that in?

[@TsarTrail]

@@Matthew_Compton We never really considered that because the 6l80 swap was supposed to be easy. 🤣

[@Matthew_Compton]

I wish you had made a video showing how easy and painless it is to do this. Hopefully part 2 is where it all comes together. Good luck with the truck and the family.

[@TsarTrail]

@@Matthew_Compton Thank you!!!

[@dougg8280]

Jeff, you video was stressing me out and it's not my H3 or bank account getting depleted. Yikes, that output shaft is unbelievable. The fact that True Blue Motorsports can sell that says a lot about the type of company you are dealing with. So frustrating how they can speak so nice of the phone and deliver on nothing. What a contrast to Kimmer Transmission. I just saw dollar signs blasting by. I am so sorry you are going through that.

[@TsarTrail]

@@dougg8280 Doug, you said it all. Dollar signs blasting by. It feels like a never ending bad dream. If we knew what we know now…. But we learn from our mistakes.

[@timothyfoley7751]

@@TsarTrail Wow!! I spoke to that Tru Blu a couple years ago almost did it!! it had looked like the company either sold or changed names so I backed off!! went in another direction and sorry we did that as well. I finally listened to my wife and glad I did! Thanks for coming back and brining this to light. Your the best! lets stick together!! you've answered me a couple times on Facebook thanks again.

[@TsarTrail]

@@timothyfoley7751 Well, you dodged a bullet on that one. 🤣 We were not so smart.

[@squeakin3]

True blue motorsports is trash. My 6l80 has been working great in my H3. I know you will get this thing handled long term.

[@TsarTrail]

@@squeakin3 yes, I hope so. Looking back… we should have gone 6.2L. But here we are. A solution shouldn’t be too far off.

[@RobK-q8fg]

For what you’ve spent on this thing you could have bought a Jeep and swapped in a 392 with and 8 speed! Plus you would have unlimited aftermarket support instead of a customized H3 that is going to be nothing but trouble if you lever get it running.

[@TsarTrail]

@@RobK-q8fg Well, for the money we have spent, we could have done a lot of things 😂😂😂. A Wrangler is not the right vehicle for us. At least not now. You know, you live and learn.

[@timothyfoley7751]

@@TsarTrail wow we were about to consider this swap, one of the reasons we have an alpha is to flat tow behind our rv. Its works for that, but is little finicky shifting in and out of transfer case neutral. I have put a tremendous amount of money into our H3. I decided to stop it and we bought a used 2022 Gladiator Rubicon. Glad we did. With all the factory goodies and connectivity. The factory HD cameras! I could see easily putting another 15 k into the h3 trying to make it even more powerful and capable.Glad we didn't. I will be selling our Alpha soon probably at a great loss to just stop the bleeding its a great truck if anyone interested. nothing wrong with it, no dash lights passed NJ DMV inspection. I have my own story about getting ripped off by a machine shop, Im done.

[@TsarTrail]

@@timothyfoley7751 Man, I feel your pain. It is so hard considering the lack of aftermarket support for this platform. We stuck with the H3 because we need better towing than what you get with a Wrangler. Plus the H3 is more comfortable on the road. It’s all about trade off balance. Sounds like you have a good plan. Hope your H3 finds a good home.

[@timothyfoley7751]

@@TsarTrail Yeah we spoke about about the ride etc. I spoke of getting lift spindles made by Michigan Metal Works!! OH bOY!! don't do it!! Took my money well over a year AGO. They are all over social media its all a scam. I have the cc receipts thank god. They don't answer the phone, emails or Facebook after they have your money!! Next steps coming.