87 CUCV project

[speedmachine]

hello
fairly new here but already on squarebody number four haha, started with a 79 shortbox 4x4, then a 87 3/4 suburban 4x4, 83 shortbox 4x4, and now ive gotten smart and found myself a 1 ton.

Truck is a 87 M1008, injector pump went on the 6.2 and im not a fan of the 208 so here is my current plan. yank out the deisel and install a 6.0 lQ4 with the fuel injection, and perhaps mate up to it with a 4L80E np205 combo. i just have to aquire the tranny and t case now.

Other plans include a lift and definetly some body work

heres some pics, ill post some more as i go.

[DBLSPRT68]

LOVE the CUCV's. Sounds like you've got a good plan

[86454k30]

Those are cool trucks! My buddy just finished one, 12" lift and 43" Swampers! I will post a pic tomorrow.

[mopar346]

So I gotta ask what is a CUCV and what is special about them, not that a 1 ton 4WD isn't special enough mind you.

[motornut]

looks nice,solid
I like those bush bars, got one for the 78,great to step on while workin

Wikipedia says The Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle or CUCV Program was instituted to provide the United States military with a cheaper Light Utility Vehicle to augment the purpose-built, but expensive, Gama Goats and M151 series "Jeeps" approaching the end of their service life. It initially provided Dodge D Series and then Chevrolet C/Ks with several military modifications. The vehicle has five basic configurations; cargo, utility, ambulance, shelter carrier, and chassis. The vehicles were purchased in the late 1970s and early 1980s from Chrysler Corporation, Dodge Division, and in the mid 1980s from General Motors Chevrolet, and GMC Truck divisions.

[speedmachine]

stripping her down... box and front clip were shot.. cab may be salvageable but will need rockers and corners in addition to a few small floor patches. frame is good though.. also sandblasted my 6.0 and gave it some paint.. tore the garbage iron heads off and im on the hunt for some aluminum heads.

[77shortstep]

Originally Posted by DBLSPRT68

LOVE the CUCV's. Sounds like you've got a good plan

Agreed
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[Squareforceone]

Nice project man.

[speedmachine]

project is goin slow.. heres a few more pics.. i sandblasted the frame and axes... everything has been painted and im back to a rolling chassis again... ill post more as i go.

[y5mgisi]

Should be a fun truck when its done!

[speedmachine]

doing a disk brake swap on the 14 bolt... got held up because one of the hub bearings was shot so im waiting until tuesday for that... i aquired solid box from an 83, theres a few dents but nearly no rust.. gave the underside a shot of paint because it was blue.. my heads arrived so im pretty excited about that. I also bought a nearly mint 87 3/4 2wd suburban 6.2. the truck was a one owner and had been oil sprayed every year since 1987.. theres zero rust on this thing but the injector pum went and it had 280 000.. im going to use the front end off it and the interior for my cucv.. i very much prefer 4 headlights. not really truck related but ive been doing a full frame off resto on a little M274 a2 my father bought a few years ago... its nealy complete now so i can concentrate on my build a little more.

[speedmachine]

heres a little more of the suburban..

[legendman]

Nice score on the burb, almost to nice to part out.
CUCV is looking good, nice job on the frame and suspension.

[Jeepwm69]

I like the MULE........

[GM-M1008]

Originally Posted by speedmachine

im not a fan of the 208

Why?...I wont swap my 208 for a 205 unless it has a 203gear box infront of it(doubler), 205s are geared too high. I guess it depends what you want to do with the truck tho. Wish you were closer to me I would buy the x-case.

[speedmachine]

ive had trucks with 203 205 and 208, i do enjoy the lower gearing in the 208 but ive blown up too many to bother with them anymore, the chain is a major weak link.. i agree the gearing in the 205 is not as ideal,as you said i would love to do a doubler one day. But for now it will serve my purposes. typically i do my offroading in 4hi anyway.. and first gear and 4Lo on a 205 with a juiced up 6.0 is still mighty potent.

[MTCK]

Great looking build! Find a transmission yet?
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[speedmachine]

yes i did, ive got a 4l80E from a 2000 3/4 truck, ive got a np205 round style from an 84 chevy to go behind it too. current projects right now are a disk brake swap on the 14 bolt, doing the rockers and cab corners on the cab, and doing a little frame boxing for some added strength.

L

[speedmachine]

frame reinforcement is complete, used 3/16 plate and cut it with the plasma cutter.. holes are for pressure washing the muck out. ive got the 4L80E mated to the NP205 but havent made the shifter mounting yet because i want to put the engine/tranny on the frame and clock the tcase to a favorable driveshaft angle before i weld the case adapter.
cab work is nearly complete.. after i did the rockers/corners and patched the floor i pulled the windsheild and found a hole... welded in a patch and another layer of bondo and i should be ready for a hot of paint. still have to decide what to do on the floor.. i cant decide between a carpet or a vinyl liner... i do like the idea of how easy it is to wipe a vinyl liner but their lifespan is short in the sun. lots more to come..enjoy

[Greenlee]

Nice work! This truck is going to be awesome.
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[old Rusty C10]

great job keep us updated with lots of pics! Should i move this to the projects and builds section?

[speedmachine]

yes I suppose this does belong there. feel free to move it.

L

[82ccshorty]

it looks like someone was pretty hard on this cucv at one time. its looking good now keep up the work.

[speedmachine]

frames been repainted, working on getting the body in paint before the snow flies here, bought an 87 tank, motor mounts are in.... need to mock up engine and tranny and fab up a tranny mount. also need to set the tcase and weld the clocking adapter i have.. then measure lengths and angles for driveshafts.

[Devillusion]

Looks great so far, consider me subscribed.