Odd M1028 bed

[sgms18]

Have yall ever seen this bed on a surplus chevy? I've looked all over & cant found another one online. I'm looking at buying this truck. I believe it's a M1028. 6.2 diesel, 4 speed manual w/4.56 gears. The seller says it's all original but I'm starting to think the bed is custom. Any information is greatly appreciated.

 

[doghead]

Custom, its a dropside bed from a 2.5 ton truck(most likely) That has been shortened.

Possibly done by a motor pool.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

There was one in Maine with a similar bed but I don’t think it was a dropside. It’s not original at all.

 

[Miah]

Doesn't the 4spd manual tell us there's no way it's original before we even get to the bed issue?

 

[doghead]

Doesn't the 4spd manual tell us there's no way it's original before we even get to the bed issue?

Yup, totally missed that. Was focused n the bed question.

 

[Miah]

hmm. Perhaps the seller's intention is that just the bed is "all original", not the whole truck? For a second there i thought maybe i was just crazy & had somehow missed out on all the stick-shift CUCVs over the years.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

The seller could be honestly mistaken, or he could be lying.

Either way, that thing is NOT original.

 

[sgms18]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think the guy is trying to blow smoke I just think he dosen't know what he has. Hell I don't really know what I'm looking at. That's why I'm asking yall. Am I correct to assume it's a M1028 because of the dual wheels, 4.56 gears, 6.2 diesel & the helper spring in the rear? I'm not really concerned with originality. It's a cool truck & seems to be in good shape.

 

[sgms18]

Doesn't the 4spd manual tell us there's no way it's original before we even get to the bed issue?

So none of the military Chevys used the 4 speed manual?

 

[rosco]

So what's he doing for a clutch pedal ? Does that look very original? I agree, its a neat truck, & a drop-side, to boot.

 

[M813rc]

He's not the only one who got that same basic idea on seriously modifying a 1028- here is one I found on the internet and saved pictures of back around 2011.
Very similar approach to the modifications, but not the same bed. And at least this one has mudflaps.

Definitely not original but both are pretty cool anyway.

Cheers

 

[sgms18]

I like the looks of that one too. I don't usually like dually trucks but the flat bed look is awesome to me. I didn't get a chance to look at the inside so I can't say about the clutch pedal. I'm going to try & go back this weekend & look it over real good & drive it & all that. Back to the transmission question, do all the CUCVs use the turbo 400? Was the 4 speed manual never an option? I'm just trying to get all my ducks in a row so I know what I'm talking about when I go back.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

I like the looks of that one too. I don't usually like dually trucks but the flat bed look is awesome to me. I didn't get a chance to look at the inside so I can't say about the clutch pedal. I'm going to try & go back this weekend & look it over real good & drive it & all that. Back to the transmission question, do all the CUCVs use the turbo 400? Was the 4 speed manual never an option? I'm just trying to get all my ducks in a row so I know what I'm talking about when I go back.

They all had the turbo 400 so someone swapped in the 4 speed. With parts from a civilian chevy it could have a linkage for the clutch or the later hydraulic clutch. It’s not hard to make it look factory with the help of a donor truck.

 

[sgms18]

They all had the turbo 400 so someone swapped in the 4 speed. With parts from a civilian chevy it could have a linkage for the clutch or the later hydraulic clutch. It’s not hard to make it look factory with the help of a donor truck.

Thank you!

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

Am I correct to assume it's a M1028 because of the dual wheels, 4.56 gears, 6.2 diesel & the helper spring in the rear?

Sounds right. Which transfer case does it have?

 

[sgms18]

Don't know yet

 

[porkysplace]

The V.I.N. will tell you what it started as.

Decoding CUCV Vin numbers

This is my final version of this. I bought service manuals on eBay but they turned out to be medium duty truck instead of light duty truck manuals. Must be why they were so cheep. :) 1st digit = Nation of Origin -- 1 = USA 2nd digit = company -- G = General Motors 3rd digit = division -- B...

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[M813rc]

Am I correct to assume it's a M1028 because of the dual wheels.......

Not necessarily. The military didn't buy any dual rear wheel CUCVs from the factory, all were later conversions from a GM kit provided in a big crate and were usually converted at depot level, but many were done at unit level.

M1028 and M1028A1 were both single rear wheel trucks. M1028A2 and A3 were dual rear wheel trucks.

M1028A2 were converted from M1028A1 and M1031, which had the NP205 transfer case. M1028A3 were converted from M1028, which had the NP208 transfer case.
As an example, my M1028A2 started life as an M1031, and has both its original data plate and the depot conversion data plate on the door frame.

All that as clear as mud?

The attached charts from the CUCV manual helps with which trucks came with what stuff.

Cheers

 

[Miah]

While it shouldn't scare you off, just keep in mind that any converted parts you need to replace due to age/wear/neglect(it's a 30yo Chevy after all) you'll have to figure out what general age it is before the majority of parts stores can help you. This may have been swapped from a single donor truck, or it may have been cobbled together out of 3-4 of various vintages. You likely won't be able to go anywhere & just say "I need a *insert clutch linkage here* bushing for an 84 Chevy C30"

Is it older mechanical, is it newer hydraulic, did Bubba know to install a diesel drain tube in the back of the block to keep fuel from getting onto the clutch disc & causing premature slippage. etc etc

 

[sgms18]

I appreciate all the info yall bring to the table. I've had a bunch of old chevys but never a military version & never a diesel. I'm going to look at Saturday so we'll see.