I have a 2008 ford that is troublesome, and I can't do a thing on it, except change oil. So it's very expensive for me to repair. Most repairs have cost me more than a good CUCV.
Whenever I buy a CUCV, I get it because it won't run and usually hasn't for a few years. I have bought many from GSA and the agencies that had them got them free, and treated them like that, meaning they would not spend hardly anything on maintenance and parked them where they quit. One got stuck in a mudhole at a wildlife refuge and was in it a long time, before I got it. One was parked outside next to a manure pile at a State University dairy for a few years. That is the one my son drives. Issues come up because they got abused over the years plus parts wear out especially after 30 years. Problems and questions come up, more often with some of us because we don't rebuild them from the frame up like CUCVRUS has done. My hat's off to anyone that can and wants to do that, and thankful they share their knowledge with us here.
One thing I have seen is while they are reliable, tough built machines they can be improved upon. The M1031 has it's flaws and the M1010 has been improved upon too. I think stock, and original is best most of the time. If I make any changes to stock, I don't make anything that I can't return back to stock, if I don't like the change or a new owner doesn't either.