Image Credit: Autotopia LA / YouTube.The original Hummer was created from the military Humvee, but this 1995 example has moved far beyond its battlefield roots. Owned by former professional fighter and podcast host Brendan Schaub, the civilian Hummer pickup now combines 40-inch tires with a 600-horsepower LS3 V8.Schaub commissioned SIG Motorsports to transform the truck after its previous small-block Chevrolet engine began failing. The project initially went in an extreme direction with a massive 632-cubic-inch racing engine, although that setup proved far too aggressive for a vehicle intended to remain usable.The team eventually replaced it with a more manageable Blueprint Engines LS3 connected to a heavily upgraded automatic transmission. The result is still seriously powerful, yet it should be easier to drive regularly and significantly more reliable than the earlier four-figure-horsepower combination.AdvertisementAdvertisementAutotopia LA recently joined Schaub and builder Bruno from SIG Motorsports for the Hummer's first proper drive in its latest form. Despite its size, beadlock wheels, and military-inspired body, the finished truck behaves like something Schaub could comfortably use every day.A Civilian Hummer With Military RootsImage Credit: Autotopia LA / YouTube.Although it closely resembles a battlefield vehicle, this particular Hummer is a civilian 1995 model rather than a military-surplus Humvee. Its factory equipment included paint, air conditioning, interior trim, a stereo, and other comforts that would not normally appear in a service vehicle.The truck also uses a pickup-style body that is less commonly seen than the enclosed wagon configuration. Schaub bought it because the body was straight, the interior was usable, and the aluminum structure showed no serious rust.It originally arrived with a Chevrolet 350 small-block V8, which Schaub used while driving the Hummer around Los Angeles. That engine was adequate for ordinary cruising, but it lacked the performance he wanted and eventually reached the end of its useful life.The First Engine Swap Was Too MuchThe initial plan involved installing a 632-cubic-inch racing engine producing approximately 1,500 horsepower. Fitting such a large powerplant required considerable fabrication because the Hummer's enormous exterior does not translate into an equally spacious engine compartment.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe drivetrain sits high and deep within the chassis, surrounded by structural components and an angled cooling stack. Packaging the oversized engine turned the build into a complicated showpiece that looked impressive but was difficult to use reliably.Schaub and SIG Motorsports eventually decided that 1,500 horsepower was unnecessary in an older Hummer. They removed the racing engine and replaced it with a 600-horsepower LS3 from Blueprint Engines, prioritizing drivability without making the truck feel slow.A Proven LS3 And Built TransmissionImage Credit: Autotopia LA / YouTube.The LS3 uses Texas Speed valve covers and a Texas Speed camshaft, giving it the uneven idle and sharp exhaust note expected from a modified American V8. A Holley engine-management system provides modern tuning capability and allows technicians to monitor the drivetrain through a digital dashboard.Power travels through a Monster Transmission Stage 3 4L80 automatic. The transmission was selected not only to handle the LS3's output, but also to cope with the mass and additional load created by the Hummer's large tires.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe original four-wheel-drive system remains in place, including the factory transfer case. Much of the suspension is also stock, with the truck retaining its original-style C-spec shocks rather than adopting an elaborate long-travel conversion.Built Around 40-Inch TiresImage Credit: Autotopia LA / YouTube.The Hummer rides on 17-inch Raceline beadlock wheels wrapped in 40-inch tires. Schaub believes anything smaller looks out of proportion beneath the enormous fenders, and the current combination reportedly clears without serious rubbing.SIG Motorsports also fabricated a rear tire carrier and installed additional oil and transmission coolers at the back. Those additions help manage heat while preserving the rugged appearance of the original pickup body.A custom three-inch exhaust uses Holley headers and Flowmaster components, including a muffler with an integrated X-pipe. Side-exit outlets provide a muscular soundtrack while solving packaging problems beneath the tightly arranged chassis.The Cabin Mixes Old And NewImage Credit: Autotopia LA / YouTube.Inside, the Hummer retains many of its original gauges and utilitarian design elements. Modern additions include a Holley digital display, custom PRP seats finished in brown leather, and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel inspired by modern performance cars.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe combination gives the interior a cleaner and more comfortable atmosphere without making it look completely disconnected from the truck's age. Schaub specifically wanted to avoid an excessively modern cabin that would clash with the Hummer's square military-derived body.Surprisingly Easy To DriveDuring the first road test, the LS3 delivered a dramatic improvement over both the original Chevrolet small-block and the low-output diesel engines fitted to many factory Hummers. The truck accelerated with unexpected urgency while remaining manageable enough for normal street driving.The ride was also smoother and less bouncy than the Autotopia LA crew expected from a Hummer on 40-inch tires. Braking performance was identified as one area that may need further attention, especially now that the truck can build speed far more quickly.Fresh builds often require additional sorting, and Schaub expects minor issues may appear as he adds miles. Even so, the combination of a proven LS platform, Holley electronics, and a strong 4L80 transmission should make future troubleshooting relatively straightforward.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat do you think of Brendan Schaub's Hummer? Let us know whether you think this Hummer works better as a daily-driven performance truck or an all-out off-road showpiece.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
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