CUCV Snow Plow Trucks and Spreaders

[cucvrus]

The scrap pile is growing again. Time to do some hauling again. My scrapping job is going well. Another few days and it will be history. That transmission was just rebuilt last year and has low mileage on it. I have other cases. Next one I need overhauled I am taking this is so they can harvest a few good parts out of it. Worth a try. Transfer case. Well that is scrap. Not much left there to salvage. The spacer and crossmember are still good. I left the rear axle and suspension intact. I will be selling that in pieces or whole. The springs all the way around are only 2 years old. More scrapping later. Not tomorrow. That is Family night. Be Safe and stay Cool. It is still very hot here in Pennsylvania.

 

[cucvrus]

This is how I started today. Today this must be gone. The right cab mount had the bottom washer rusted off. The bolt came out and the mount was good and strong.This is a cross cut section of the floor. That sprayed in Line X held up well. It protected this truck well. The bed was a brush in liner. It was a test. The brush in liner failed. The transfer case was destroyed. Shame it was just rebuilt 2 years ago with the transmission. I saved it for internal parts. Just for saving it. I had a work bench full of salvaged parts. The transmission I stashed also. I have a few take outs that I know nothing about. This one can go along to the rebuilder and maybe be used. I save a lot of junk. Many times it is needed by me or someone. I cut the left axle end off. The other end of the axle was bent and broken. I know that steering knuckle wears out. Stashed all the axle parts on my axle cart. Time for my handy little helper toy.

 

[cucvrus]

The little loader comes in real handy and saves this guys back. I saved the front frame section intact for the plow frame and new leaf springs. it also has the frame flange gussets. I put them gussets on several civilian trucks I worked on. After all the cutting and work I did come up with an OEM 2 year old throttle cable. That still has the grommet and insert. That in itself is a real find. Abracadabra the truck is gone. I cleaned up everything. Ran the magnet over the area. Sorted all my parts and put them away. This is my axle cart. I have a few axles and a TH400 with NP205. Used a lot of parts off these axles over the years. The scrap pile grew a few feet higher today. I decided against hauling scrap till I put a receiver on the M1028. Big Red had one of them also. All cleaned up and ready for another project. Have A Great Weekend. Enjoy yourself and Be Safe.

 

[o1951]

Funny how your employer would not let you have big red, but it made it's way to you anyhow.

 

[cucvrus]

None of the local scrappers wanted the truck because of the oil in the differentail and transmission. Other big scrap yards wanted a full title with a letterhead from the company saying it was OK to scrap. A local salvage yard took it as scrap and set it aside when I talked to him. It all worked out well. i stripped and cut up a lot of CUCV's & GM trucks in that stone lot. I can't remember cutting up any other vehicles. They were all GM trucks / Suburban's / K5 Blazers from 1973-1991. Some of the CUCV's I cut up 20+ years ago would be good finds now. I bought them as scrap and harvested the parts that were good. I kept my word. It is safe to say that Big Red will not be back on the road again. Maybe a donor part but not as Big Red. Enjoy your Weekend. I will.

 

[cucvrus]

I am sure you all heard of 24 hours at Lemans. That is an endurance race at it's best. Well I just completed 48 hours at Wabash. The CUCV M1028 salt spreader truck ran thru 6 full shifts plowing and spreading salt and cinders. I was the user for the last 8 hours and I checked all the fluids and at 1630 I parked it in the main heated production building. It was still running excellent and the conversion to self exciting voltage regulators was a win win. We received 8-10 inches of heavy wet snow and it had drifts that were 3-4 feet at some spots. I drove the John Deere 710C for most days with a 12 ft lot pusher. I just wanted to report the CUCV was running perfect after 6 - 8 hour shifts in a row with out rest. Rebuilding the steering and drive line 2 weeks ago was key to getting the job done. Happy Holidays.

 

[cucvrus]

I used the CUCV M1028 again today to clear out parking spots for cab chassis. I made an observation over the years that a cab chassis has more traction in forward then it does in reverse. I wonder if that is designed into the axle wrap on the springs. All the trucks chassis I move are helpless in snow off course but feathering the throttle can get you a long way on hard pack snow. Ice forget it. They spin at idle. Many times I push and release the park air brake control and the rear will shift to the traction side. I parked about 50 cab chassis today and the last one was stuck on ice for about 10 minutes. I left the CUCV run from 0500 till 12 noon while I used it many times to push snow and ice. back in the heat till Monday. Worst thing is getting in and out over the rusty razor edged rocker and floor. It didn't miss a beat today either. Happy Holidays.

 

[GM72K10]

These old girls do the trick.

 

[FrankenCub]

After this past 40+ inch snowstorm I decided I gotta get a plow on my 08. Found a couple Fishers locally that go in front of the bumper so I shouldn't have to remove the brush guard.
What year square bodies use the same plow frames?

The unfortunate part is they have belt driven pumps so I'll have to ditch that and find a cheap electric pump.

 

[cucvrus]

Have welder? All plows fit all trucks when you have a welder. CUCV was always good for plowing because the dual alternators. Now with the newer trucks and the high amp alternators available the old dual alternators are really not needed. But I have made several plows fit in the past. last 20 years I have bought plows designed for the trucks I was using them on. Safety reasons and liability. Traveling on the interstate with a plow at 70 mph is not a great feeling in an old truck. Newer ones handle the drive better. Sad but true. Take Care and get the welder out and make it fit.

 

[FrankenCub]

No longer have a welder, sold it because we don't have enough amperage available.
Turns out the plow already sold, within a half hour after it was listed. Still have a line on 2 more that came off square bodies. One is still mounted on a truck that's sat in the brush for at least 15 years that I can remember, and a huge tree limb fell on the cab last year. Also has a belt drivin pump though.

This past huge snow dump has put the drive in me though, the tractor and back blade just doesn't cut it lol. Our driveway is about 138yds and all up hill to the road.

 

[cucvrus]

I would park on the uphill side and plow all down hill. I had a few lanes like that in the past. All mountain dirt roads. I used to drop off a truck the day before the snow or drive up with the plow raised and plow down hill. Plowing up hill is fruitless and hard on equipment. Good Luck.

 

[FrankenCub]

I would park on the uphill side and plow all down hill. I had a few lanes like that in the past. All mountain dirt roads. I used to drop off a truck the day before the snow or drive up with the plow raised and plow down hill. Plowing up hill is fruitless and hard on equipment. Good Luck.

That's generally how I do it. Plow everything downhill until I dont have space to put it. Then have tons of snow melt off next to my home, which I don't like.

 

[cucvrus]

I have the luxury of having a loader and a back hoe so I decide where the water runs. I smash thru snow piles and spread them out everyday the sun is shining. It does create a lot of runoff if not managed. Keep it a far away from buildings as possible and shovel everyday to thin it out and get the sun beating on it. Good Luck. Stay Dry.

 

[FrankenCub]

A loader would be great! I was looking for one for my tractor but other priorities put that way low on the list. It's an old Ford 860 power master. Think a '58. Lot of HP for a small tractor but can only do so much with a back blade. Of course chains on the tires would help, but man they are expensive!

 

[cucvrus]

This is about how I feel after the past 3 days of plowing and digging snow. Today the sun is shining.

 

[cucvrus]

Today was not a good day for CUCV plow trucks here at the truck plant. Both CUCV's had transmission failure. Honestly if it were my call they would both be scrapped. I am getting better service from newer trucks now. I didn't think I would ever say that but I have been using newer trucks since 206 and have had much less down time. I even take age into that decision. Both the newer GM trucks are pushing 200K miles and seem to plow just as well and with great comfort. Before CUCV's I found Ford tall boys the hot ticket. Ran several of them into the ground. Take Care. I hope we get a new plow truck for next year.

 

[dougco1]

Today was not a good day for CUCV plow trucks here at the truck plant. Both CUCV's had transmission failure. Honestly if it were my call they would both be scrapped. I am getting better service from newer trucks now. I didn't think I would ever say that but I have been using newer trucks since 206 and have had much less down time. I even take age into that decision. Both the newer GM trucks are pushing 200K miles and seem to plow just as well and with great comfort. Before CUCV's I found Ford tall boys the hot ticket. Ran several of them into the ground. Take Care. I hope we get a new plow truck for next year.

Rick,
Did you mean the 1967-1977 F250 "High Boy" trucks with the factory suspension lift? If memory serves me right they had 3 drive shafts. They were good old trucks in their day.

 

[cucvrus]

Divorced transfer case. Yes they were awesome plow trucks. Maybe I got my tall boys mixed up with my Budweiser bottles. A few of them years were a blur back then. Now the CUCV is bleeding the transmission fluid into the transfer case and out the vent of the transfer case. Always something. Take care. I wish for a new truck. It's snowing again. Twice in 1 day.

 

[antennaclimber]

Rick,
The forecast is for more snow to come in the next week......