Buying a M1008

[chevyman209]

Okay, My son wants to get a M1008 and we like to do a lot of hunting, and he likes off roading. We usually use my truck because he doesn't have one, do you think this would be a good first vehicle? He likes them because they're a lot stronger than the civilian model and it's a diesel. Would it be bad for the truck if it were going highway speeds (65-75). Also is there anything we could add, like a turbo to make the truck less gutless?

-Thanks

 

[USAWEAPON777]

it will make for a great offroad and brush truck, however they are old so as long as you don't mind doin some maintenance now and then their great trucks. You can NOT drive the m1008 at 65-75. It has 4.56 gears in it. the engine is screaming at 60+. Driving at that speed for any duration of time would lead to a very short engine life. The m1009 blazers have much better gearing for the street and can cruise on the highway with ease. You can add a turbo to the truck. You can either run a banks sidewinder turbo kit. or jerry rig a turbo set up of the later 6.5 diesel engine. i know T_F_E did a 6.5 turbo swap on his truck

 

[chevyman209]

thanks, and do you know if 4.11 gears would be worth switching out? and also he likes working on things and his cousin can show him how to to do regular maintenance on it. also the 6.5L turbos fit the 6.2?

 

[USAWEAPON777]

hmm i'm not sure what gears you would want to use. You'd have to find the proper balance for how fast you want to go on the highway and what kind of offroading you want to do. Also if he's going to put bigger tires on that will also factor in. For the turbo i believe you replace the intake and exhaust manifold along with some other things. Let me see if i can find his thread

here ya go: http://www.steelsoldiers.com/cucv/43430-how-turbo-6-2-using-6-5-parts.html

 

[chevyman209]

Thanks! that really helped!. but also if we were to add on a ball hitch do you know about how much the M1008 would tow?

 

[USAWEAPON777]

well the m1008 is basically like a k30 civilian model truck. As long as you don't mind it being a turd in the acceleration department and have trailer brakes i don't see why you couldn't tow 7-8000.

 

[brad242]

The gears in my m1008 were swaped out to 4.10 and i can run 55-60 no problem with 36s

 

[chevyman209]

Okay sweet. so he'd have no problem towing a dirtbike/quad trailer... and Brad did you have to lift yours to fit the 36s? or do they fit good stock?.. do you have any pics?

 

[cjtroutt]

I would set up 3.73 they are all around good gear set for GM 14T 10.5 & Dana 60.
I did mine that way & 285 75r16 MT Tires, no problems at 70mph.

 

[Cucvnut]

the carrier brake is 4 10 for the dana 60 and 14 bolt so you need new carriers for the gears to run 4 10 and lower.

 

[USAWEAPON777]

Oh it Would tow a atv trailer with no issues u probably would barely evn feel it behind u.

 

[popacom]

New carrier's and ARB's front and rear 3.73 gears sounds like a good on/off road combo,the stock lockers for the 14 bolts
will jerk a knot in yer arrrsss!

popacom / Bill

 

[USAWEAPON777]

Lol their not that bad.... What's wrong with a little rubber on the road?

 

[popacom]

NOT A THING! LOL but it can be a nerve wrecker at times!!!

popacom / Bill

 

[ultim8gamr]

He likes them because they're a lot stronger than the civilian model and it's a diesel.

Keep in mind that the M1008 is Exactly a Chevy K30 1Ton of the time. Minus interior carpet and the addition of some helper springs in the rear. So it's not necessarily any stronger.
With that being said, it will have no problem towing ATVs, etc. My M1008 didn't even move down an inch when I loaded a Grizzly 600 into the bed, where as my '90 K1500 would look bottomed out.

It would make a great first truck and offers a great learning experience because of the ease of repair and availability of parts. It's a rather simple truck, and the resources available here on SteelSoldiers makes any repair possible.

 

[chevyman209]

thanks, I want him to have a truck, but the only thing that bothers me is the fact of it not being able to do highway speeds without changing out the gears. and also it being rather gutless. and its quite pricey to add a turbo. also im worried about MPGs. I've read some people say that they're getting 12-15 and others saying 18-20+ i have a hard time believing that these will get 20+ mpg

 

[CA_LEO]

Keep in mind if he is going to add larger tires on the vehicle it will also drop the RPM's a little bit. If he wants my 10 bolts from my M1009 I will gladly trade you for the dana 60 and 14 bolt rear Joking of course, you would not want a 10 bolt in the M1008.

 

[USAWEAPON777]

its all in the gearing. The m1008 tends to get from 15-18ish and the m1009 can do above 20. It really depends a lot on the truck, the driver, and the conditions driven in.

 

[Cucvnut]

i get crap for gas milage in my M1008 but then again i drive like Parnelli Jones

 

[wallew]

Gear Ratio Calculator

I sold a buddy of mine a M1031. He swapped in 3.55's (3.54?) and runs seventy all day long.

Cost him $800 and HIS old carrier bearing and gears. Which he gladly paid.