When the restrictions were lifted late last year on the sale of ex-military HMMWVs, we were excited for a moment, only to have our excitement dashed at learning that there was absolutely no possible way to legally title and license one. The people who shelled out serious money to buy a HMMWV learned that they instead had bought a well-used off-road toy. That isn’t attractive for anyone who has any semblance of a budget in mind, or to someone who wants to drive their rig more than three times a year. So, with that, I figured that a good round of “Would You Rather?” would involve two ex-military vehicles that you can get, title, and legally own. Both have high and low points, but they both can be made into serious wheelers, and since they are based on production trucks, parts are fairly easy to come by.
1. 1984-87 Chevrolet M1008
The first truck most people think of when discussing the CUCV (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle) program, the M1008 is the well-known and well-loved Chevrolet C/K series that first debuted in 1973 and ran in various forms through 1991. These trucks are desirable even before the military tie-in. The 6.2L diesel V8, rated for 155 horsepower and 240 ft/lbs of torque, is adequate, but isn’t anything to write home in it’s stock form. All GM CUCVs from this era were equipped with a TH400 automatic, and the majority of the trucks carried the NP-208 transfer case, while a couple of models had a slip-yoke NP205 that could be used for PTO duty. Axle selection depended on model selection: the pickups used a Dana 60 in the front, but out back you could expect a Corporate 14-bolt with a Detroit Locker in a single-rear application, or a Dana 70 in a dually, equipped with 4.56 gears no matter what. The 24-volt electrical system might be a bit of a pain to deal with, but the amount of restoration and modification parts available for these trucks makes them a great choice.
2. Dodge M880
The original CUCV, the Dodge M880 series was the first attempt at transitioning a civilian-market vehicle into a military role as a light cargo vehicle. Using the W200 pickup, the suspension was upgraded to a Dana 44 front/floating Dana 60 rear setup with 4.10 gears and received suspension-limiting blocks to up the cargo rating to 1 1/4 tons. The M880s downfall was threefold: it didn’t have a 24-volt electrical system, it didn’t have power steering, and the 318ci V8 that all M880-based vehicles came with was not a diesel. However, in the civilian market, that means that the door is wide open to modifications, anywhere from a Chrysler big-block to a Cummins frame and engine swap from a pre-1994 Ram.
You’ve got your options, now make a choice! Which ex-military truck would suit you best?
The M880 has all my love.
Seeing as how you forgot the Kaiser-Jeep M715, which would clearly be the winner, I’ll have to settle for the M880.
There was no forgetting. The M715 has tons of love and respect, and looks like a military vehicle that was made street worthy, not the other way around like these two. That, and we try to keep the “Would You Rather?” choices to two offerings.
M715 a different deal, w/ 100 hp (?) and an old-timey drivetrain (w/ six-something gears), not a practical street driver for those and other reasons.
I’d take the Dodge for cool factor.
reading to understand is HARD….
Man that’s a tough choice. I have the most experience with CUCVs (pronounced Cuck-Vee almost Cut-Vee) we still had them when I came in. I got one of the Blazer style ones airborne one time. The CUCV will be easier to get parts for , in fact I bet Chief could order parts directly to the motor-pool (not that I would do that of course). That being said I have to choose the M880. The style is there, the 318 is reliable and cheap, and it would be sick with deuce and a half axles and LMTV tires. That being said the best example of a militarized civilian truck is still the M715. I want one so bad I can taste it.
Those were still in use when I was in, but piled up fast elsewhere. Those can be registered here in my state. The 6.2, by the time this frigid locale was done with it, narrowed down to a plug in for 30 minutes if it was 10 below, and came right to life every time. The 318 is finnicky, like a high compression racer crammed into a short geared heavy truck. Very weird. I’d do the 6.2 diesel. The foot pounds is off by 100 percent written in this article… it was nearly 480 foot pounds.
Even though i’m a Chevy guy I would have to go with the dodge. It would have the less maintenance and in the winter it would probably start better.
I drove a 1028 Chevy from southbridge ma to New England tech in Warwick ri every day for almost 2 years. I loved that truck, converted it to 12v and ran a mix of used tranny fluid and kerosene back when it was cheaper than diesel. The only issue I had was going through glow plug control board every 6 months
I’ll take the Dodge M880, although it wasn’t in use when I was in. At my former command SDVT-1 we had a M1008 that was getting ready to go to the Navy DRMO (salvage yard) when it was used to launch a SDV, however the M1008 ended up getting dragged into the water up to its cab roof by the SDV. It was hilarious to watch unless you were the poor ET stuck driving it.
I’ll take the Chebby, simply because it already has a diesel. There were bunches of the CUCV’s being sold out of Elmendorf/Ft Richardson DRMO back in the late 90’s via auction. I would love to have one of the Diesel Blazers they had….Good topic Bryan…
1008, wayyyyy better axles than the dodge. Dana 60s make good rear ends in Jeeps, not pickups. Plus with 4.56 gears and the possibility of a rear detroit in the 14 bolt the 1008 despite its crumby motor is the winner.
I’d take the M880, hands down. Run it ’till it died, then drop in a 440 wedge with an NV4500 behind it. Stack an SM465 behind that transmission for gear-doubling and a four-speed T-case.
Chromoly shafts and Detroi lockers in the D60s, minimal lift and trim the fenders to clear bigger meats.