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M1028 to M1028A3 Gov Conversion?

FMJ

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dm22630 said:
FMJ said:
I still want to to know what all the snaps are for.........
Looks like snaps to hold on covers over the "shiny stuff".....windows/lights

Maybe for stealth mode?? ;) ;)
Well, now that I look at it, they are all around stuff that would reflect.....
haven't seen them on other CUCV's

Thanks!
 

WillWagner

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Maybe the helpers are for use with something heavy mounted to the front end? Take that "homemade" tag off, maybe, for some odd reason, the plate is mounted upside down?
 

dependable

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I have a truck that has duel wheel conversion, including the adapters that convert dana 60 front axel to duel wheel offset rim. This truck has standard 1028 data plate. Was bought as cab and chasis. I was told it was a air force truck. Has similar front helper springs Also has no rear helper as in photo. Has no rear locker in differential..Strangely some parts of the underside were painted tan.

I turned one of my trucks, not the one above, to duel wheel. This one bought as a cab & chasis from a refuse district, so no original vehicles harmed. You can use a non removable carrier rear axlel off chevy K-30 from as early back as 1973. It should look like the one you are replacing but shorter axle tubes. Differential gear ratio must match front. It is not hard ( for a competent mechanic) to switch the differential from your cucv single axle. It is important to thrust load ring & pinion bearing properly. The cucv axle has llimited slip. which is great.. Once in awhile makes clunking sound under load with duels. while you are at it put in a heavy duty helper spring. Check with your local truck spring shop.
 

ARMYMAN30YearsPlus

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Most likely they were for a tarp that would cover the glass when in the tactical environment. It is a sweet truck and I would not scrap it just because someone lost some parts.
 

Crash_AF

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The snaps were a unit modification to cover the reflective stuff for tactical use, not an Air Force wide thing. I've only seen it done a couple of times, but what they usually did was put in an order at the sewing shop to have the covers made, then installed the snaps. I'm willing to bet that the covers were left in the shelter that used to be on the back of the truck, and I'll almost put money on the fact that the former equipment on the truck was a TRC-170.

Later,
Joe
 

FMJ

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ARMYMAN30YearsPlus said:
Most likely they were for a tarp that would cover the glass when in the tactical environment. It is a sweet truck and I would not scrap it just because someone lost some parts.
David, I was joking about the scrap thing.....;)
 

isaiah

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FMJ you still got the dually? here's a pic of mine I have since painted it solid olive green since, using a foam roller and a quart can of rustoleum.

and papa DAVID he was joking about scrapping it... We miss you pops!
 

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FMJ

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FMJ you still got the dually? here's a pic of mine I have since painted it solid olive green since, using a foam roller and a quart can of rustoleum.

and papa DAVID he was joking about scrapping it... We miss you pops!

Yeah, it's a couple rows down on the "project" list, but inside out of the weather waiting for a new motor.
 

FMJ

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As far as I know, all M1028A1's, A2's, and A3's were conversions. An M1028A3 would have been a converted M1028 (which the 5077 NSN confirms). The M1028A2 is a converted M1028A1. And, the M1028A1's were converted M1031's. They should all have an MWO plate stating they were converted into whatever, as well as a Mfr. plate on the drivers door jamb with the original NSN (either M1028 or M1031).

I have heard that a few duallys were factory built, but I don't believe they were actual M1028A2's or A3's. I have seen a number of dually M1028's with communication boxes on the back, that appear to have been factory built. These were all also 1987 models with the 200-amp charging system.


I'm not convinced any were deliverd with pickup boxes, since the NSN's for the dually versions are so far after the rest of the series. The truck in my avatar (also M1028A3) was converted by me with an original kit, so I am fairly intimate with every part used. It had the following:
  • Fenders and all other GM dually parts, the fiberglass parts and other metal panels
    Data plates
    Front hubs and seals
    Dana 70HD axle
    New driveshaft
    New proportioning valve
    Rear swaybar kit (new perches, u-bolts, end links and frame brackets)
    New side mirrors
    Wheels, wheel lug rings, rear spacers for between the wheels, lug nuts, screw-in valve stems
    A template for cutting the bed in the right spot for the conversion.
    And... all necessary hardware (right down to rivets for the data plates).
They must have only had access to a partial kit when they did this truck. Attached is a pic of the data plate they would have used if they had a complete kit. Unfortunately, I don't have a pic of an M1028A3 MWO plate, although I do have one somewhere of an M1028A2 MWO plate (which has an incorrect NSN, too! :shock: )

Also attached a pic of the crate with the fenders from my kit...

Technically, only the M1028 and M1028A1 were "donors" for the conversion. But, as I said, I have seen converted M1008's come out also...
Do you still have the documents for the wiring of the tank transfer switch?
 

FMJ

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Also today I located the rear sway bar, overload springs and associated hardware, along with another Dana 70 (some pieces missing but good carrier) so I think I have all the missing pieces now. I need a good 6.2 to swap in, to replace the blown head gasket engine in the truck now....
 

GM72K10

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Did the civilian K30 4x4 with the drw come with the Dana 70? Were there any parts in the kit that weren't on the civilian model?
I happen to have a civilian K30, former pa dot truck, 350 stick, it came with the Dana 70. It has no rear sway bar. ( its been semi restored with a frame swap from an M1010 ambulance)
 

acmunro

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Dually rear questions

Pulling up an old thread, but the civilian K30 only had the Dana 70 rear in Crew cab config. In other cabs configs you got a 14 bolt.
Wrong - Dana 70 (Dual rear wheel) rear was also factory installed on standard cab trucks. Here are my questions for the Chevy truck gurus. Was there ever a wide track 14 bolt (DRW) ? So far I have only seen the wide track with the dana 70 (DRW). Next question. Was the wide track rear (DRW) only installed on trucks with a pick up bed ?
Next question. Was the narrow track (DRW) only installed on the cab and chassis version ? Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:

hndrsonj

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Wrong - Dana 70 rear was also factory installed on standard cab trucks. Here are my questions for the Chevy truck gurus. Was there ever a wide track 14 bolt ? So far I have only seen the wide track with the dana 70. Next question. Was the wide track rear only installed on trucks with a pick up bed ?
Next question. Was the narrow track only installed on the cab and chassis version ? Thanks in advance.
What about the ambulance version? Plus I believe there was a dually chassis out there (been awhile since being in the pubs).[thumbzup]
 

Recovry4x4

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OK, the Dana 70 was used in all dual wheeled pickups from their inception until 91 in the R and V body styles. One could also order an ambulance chassis/cab that would have the wide track 70. The newer body style had a wide track 14 bolt in the duallys. I've owned more than one of the 73-91 trucks in both single and crew cab and had a 94 as well. 73-87 (91) 4X4 trucks didn't come with a rear sway bar. I'm thinking that the kit sold to the DOD did include the sway bar because of the need of the shelter carriers. All single wheel trucks regardless of cab config, got the 14 Bolt rear. The narrower dually rear was exclusively for the chassis/cabs with the exception of the ambulance chassis. Also for note or reference, the cab to axle length on a pickup was 56". The standard used for aftermarket bodies was 60". Figured this out building a wrecker. There is a way to get the extra 4" if needed.
 

GM72K10

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Couple weeks ago I picked up a GSA 86 K30 cab/chassis dually former fire truck that had a 9'0" bed on it. 11,000 gvw. Has the narrow rear but its a 14 bolt 4:56 locker. Truck has a 6.2 and a 4 speed. Even has a driver door on it that has a M1009 data plate on it , who says no one ever swaps out parts lol.
 

acmunro

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To date this is what I have found on the 73 to 86 C/K and 87 to 91 R/V series Dual Rear wheel trucks 2 or 4 wd that were factory built :

Cab and Chasis DRW (Crew cab or Std Cab) : Narrow 14 Bolt Dually rear

Pick up DRW (Factory Mounted Fleetside Box) (Crew or Std Cab) :Wide Dana 70 Dually rear

I think this was the norm- but like anything Chevy truck there are most likely exceptions.

I welcome all input. Thank you
 
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