Heads Up: 1986 Chevrolet Ambulance up for auction

[Wpns 421]

For the condition it was expensive and no registration. Be it CMP or MLVW, Iltis Willys jeep, we have an excuse its called addiction to green mean army machines.

[Matthew Reid]

Originally Posted by Wpns 421

For the condition it was expensive and no registration. Be it CMP or MLVW, Iltis Willys jeep, we have an excuse its called addiction to green mean army machines.

Yup it was more than "I" wanted to pay for it. Yes I was the guy that paid too much for it.

But I have wanted a Canadian CUCV M1010 for a while now and this by far the cheapest I would have been able to get one. The no registration thing is no issue for me being in Alberta. Just present bill of sale and an out of province inspection and it's registered.


The Unit was a non runner but upon close examination before the auction it had been running not too long previously before being surplused off. For an Ontario truck of that age it is in decent shape you got to remember it is now 24 years old.

Here is the condition the unit is in.

The cab is solid except for a dime sized hole in each cab corner. The cabs on these trucks usually rust out all around the windshield but this one is as solid as the day it was built.
The front Fenders are useable but will most likely be replaced with new ones.
The Drivers door is salvageable with some cutting and welding. But it will be replaced with a new one.
The passenger door has a big oil can dent that could be removed. But it likely will be replaced with new as well.
The inner fenders are rotted but all GM trucks of in that body style and age have the inner fenders rotted even western trucks.
The hood has the typical GM crack in the center of it, it will be replaced with a new one that has the extra strengthening in this area..
The cab roof has dents from guys standing on it servicing the Van body AC unit. But they will pull out. And I'm not too concerned with them any how.

The Dash is completly grenaded and degraded and that will most likely be one of the biggest cost items to replace at about $400. If I can not find a good used one.

The exhaust is complexly shot and will need full replacement but that is to be expected on a 24 year old truck and the fact it was a diesel only compounded the issue since it spent most of its life pre ULSD. Also when I replace it will be up sized to 2.5" for its full length for engine better breathing

The truck was deployed over seas as it has UN White paint under several layer of Green CARC.

It does has a rather unique in the field DND repair, the drivers door handle push button has been replaced with a hand carved wood replacement. That is going to stay on the truck.

Fortunately replacement panels for this series of GM/Chev trucks are dirt cheap.
I will be able to replace the fenders, the doors, inner fenders, Cab corners, and the hood with brand new panels for less than $1000. Replacement Cab Corners are all of $20 a side inner fenders $50 each....well you get the idea.

The Van body is in perfect condition other than multiple layers of CARC paint. And the missing jerry can holder off the back, that was stashed away in one of the lower storage cabinets
The only issues with the van body. The siren is seized and the mounting bracket for the light and siren will need some metal replaced. Structurally it is perfect with no perforation, corrosion, rip tears or dents.

The truck chassis has the typical GM Electrical bugaboo’s the Front left marker light has a bad ground or bad connection some where but the signals worked fine. Far less electrical problems than most of the GM/Chev trucks of this age on road. Mechanically the truck is perfect and needs nothing.

The DND modded the charging system and removed the twin alternators and replaced them with a single large dual voltage (12v & 24V) output alternator. A much better set up in my opinion. The under hood wiring will need sorted and cleaned up though.

After winning the auction I went and grabbed 2 new batteries dropped them in and the unit fired right up on the fist crank.
The AC for the Van body works as did the Heater for the back other than a bad exhaust connection.
It even had a full tank of fuel in it that got some diesel treatment since I had no idea how old it was. After going through the truck to make sure it was road worthy. Brakes steering Lights etc. I phoned my insurance agent had her fax a temp pink card out to me threw my plate on it and off I went..
Before I drove it any distance I had the engine oil changed and the Exhaust scab patched.

I drove it back from the auction to Edmonton, with no issues other than being limited to 90- 100Kph due to the low gearing, further compounded by under sized tires.
The gearing will get changed from the low 4.56's to a more streetable 3:73
The engine did not use a drop of oil and the drive line worked as good as new.

The truck drives like a brand new truck (what do ya expect with only 32K Km) and I had not one problem making the 2200 mile drive back to Alberta. In fact it drove and rode almost as good as my Excursion. And being a 6.2L diesel fuel mileage was pretty damn good (about 15MPG) considering the low gears

The Van body on the M1010 is of solid aluminum construction, the only steel in the van body is the upper stretcher support racking. There is far more value in scrap aluminum in the van body than what I paid for the truck.

The Truck is now in storage at the acreage for the interim. And when i'm done messing with my iltises then it will get a full body off restoration.

This will be a very easy restoration that will not break the bank due to the low cost of replacement parts for this series of GM/Chev trucks Plus I can get bits and pieces from the local U-Pull it yard. I could do 3 of these trucks for the cost of one frame off Iltis. The single biggest issue will be removing the multiple layers of CARC paint. I see lots of paint stripper in my future lol.

Upon my initial purchase it was more than I really wanted to pay but in the end it turned out to be good deal since the only major problems with the truck are the truck body sheet metal issues. And those are cheap parts to replace.


Matthew

[Wpns 421]

Hi Matthew Iam really happy that the purchased turned out so good, and that the truck runs well. The truck came from the Niagara area and has done 3 oversea tours. it belonged to a reserve unit. You are absolutely right about the repairs and the cost is very cheap, that's the nice thing about the Chevs\GMC, aftermarket parts are very cheap.
I recently bought a M1010 ambulance in the US exactly the same as yours, the body was perfect nothing to do except give it a new coat of paint so I thought. Eastern Surplus checked it over and I ended up changing the dash,the radiator, all new belts, new front calipers, new hydro booster, new master cylinder, new rear brakes, all new rear lines cost $2600 labour included. When you go over the truck make sure to check the anti freeze to make sure that it contains no transmisssion fluid. Mine had a small hole in the bottom half of the rad and the tranny fluid was seeping into the upper rad
I paid the M1010 $3200 + 2600= $5800. Pricey for me no because the ambulanmce is being given to my wife on her birthday. (ex-medic).
If you run across that dual alternator I would be interested in getting one as the amb I have is only 12V. Welcome to the club. As soon as I give mine to my wife I will post pictures, please do the same when you get a chance.
We have to have more voices in the post war vehicle section. Gilles

[Matthew Reid]

Hi Gilles

Next Time I'm out at the acerage (should be Tuesday) I'll take some more pictures and of the alternator and the mounting bracket. The bracket looks like the stock one was modified to fit the Alt. As for the Alternator I imagine you should be able to get it off the shelf as it is a Delco Remy Alternator and does not look that old. I will look for a part number on it for ya Gilles. It also looks to be a single wire type hook up. Well 3 in this case. Ground wire, 24V charge wire, 12v charge wire,
Which in my opinion is a far better set up than having 2 alternators a 12v and 24V.


The truck will eventually get stripped right down to nuts and bolts sand blasted or paint stripped, painted and built back up, the engine and the rest of the drive line will get new seals and gaskets as well. After 24 years the engine will need all new gaskets and it will allow me to check the bottom end bearings, and check the cylinder walls for any signs of pitting from long periods of being idle.
Also the axel gearing will be changed up to a more streetable 3.73 ratio

After that is done I can turn my attention to stripping the paint off the van body and searching out some of the missing items (stetchers etc)

I'm fortunet that I can all the work myself except actual application of the exterior paint. I have accsess to a hoist so for me the rebuild is more of a time investment than a dollars one.

In any one has the history of this unit it would be appreciated.
I belive the CFR is 77626

Gilles I'm curious how you knew it was deployed overseas.


Matthew

[Col Tigwell]

Have you consider instead of paying heaps for stripper and all the associated problems, that you use soda stripping as a clean and tidy way of seeing the finished product as it progresses.

It could be less expensive than conventual paint removal and I believe is really a good way of getting rid of multi layers of paint.

Just a thought that might help.

All the best

Col

[Wpns 421]

The soda blaster is a good media better than silica sand, I know the system quite well as i introduced the system in the CF when I was an LCMM. The latest thing in media blasting is dry ice. It strips very well and leaves absolutly no residue.
The big question how did I know it had been deployed? I have a friend in the Niagara area who sent me pictures of the same M1010 about 6 weeks before it was sold off, and he gave me the history. Create a post and some of the members serving will research it through the DND system and they will give you a real precise history.
I would really appreciate the part number for the alternator. Thanks Gilles

[Matthew Reid]

Thanks for all the input. I will look in to the soda blasting. There is an outfit in Mayerthorp that does soda blasting I will have to get in touch with them when I'm ready for strip the Van body. I may even get them to blast/strip the cab.
The plan for the van body is to pick up a Chev or GM P/U trailer ( the back half of a P/U turned in to a trailer ) they are common out here and super cheap to buy I'll mount mount the Van body on that temporarily while the truck chassis and body get restored. That way the Van body can be easily moved around. I doubt it could pulled as a trailer like for fear of it flipping over but a person could move it around at least.

I Will post on the Post War Forum for futher info on the Truck.

Matthew

[Wpns 421]

Originally Posted by matthewq4b

Hi Gilles

Next Time I'm out at the acerage (should be Tuesday) I'll take some more pictures and of the alternator and the mounting bracket. The bracket looks like the stock one was modified to fit the Alt. As for the Alternator I imagine you should be able to get it off the shelf as it is a Delco Remy Alternator and does not look that old. I will look for a part number on it for ya Gilles. It also looks to be a single wire type hook up. Well 3 in this case. Ground wire, 24V charge wire, 12v charge wire,
Which in my opinion is a far better set up than having 2 alternators a 12v and 24V.


The truck will eventually get stripped right down to nuts and bolts sand blasted or paint stripped, painted and built back up, the engine and the rest of the drive line will get new seals and gaskets as well. After 24 years the engine will need all new gaskets and it will allow me to check the bottom end bearings, and check the cylinder walls for any signs of pitting from long periods of being idle.
Also the axel gearing will be changed up to a more streetable 3.73 ratio

After that is done I can turn my attention to stripping the paint off the van body and searching out some of the missing items (stetchers etc)

I'm fortunet that I can all the work myself except actual application of the exterior paint. I have accsess to a hoist so for me the rebuild is more of a time investment than a dollars one.

In any one has the history of this unit it would be appreciated.
I belive the CFR is 77626

Gilles I'm curious how you knew it was deployed overseas.


Matthew

Don't forget to take before during and after pictures and keep us updated on the progress. gilles

[rob love]

As I recall, the ambulances were particularly problematic wrt the charging systems. They had a different setup from the other CUCVs. Seemed like once you started the run of changing alternators and DUVACs (Dual voltage control regulators), it never ended. The ambulances seemed to dislike being slaved. Every time the user slaved the vehicle, he blew the DUVAC.

Sounds like a unit made an improvement over the factory item.

I personally didn't think the price was out of line at all. In Manitoba, the CUCVs sold for around $8K each. I watched the ambulance sell for almost $10K. Seems like even today the remains of the CUCVs go for as much as yours went for.

[Barry Churcher]

Yup it was more than "I" wanted to pay for it. Yes I was the guy that paid too much for it.


Matthew, you didn't pay too much for it because it sold. You obviously knew what your budget allowed and how bad you wanted it. Vehicles that are "too much" usually don't sell until the right buyer comes along. Congratulations on your purchase and have fun with the restoration. I just put floors, cab corners and rockers in one of these trucks and the parts are super cheap. The quality and fit leaves something to be desired but when it is done and painted it looks great. Boy you sure like to punish yourself driving all the way back to Edmonton. My mother lived there for years and when I drove out to see her it was a long haul. It was about a 48 hour drive by myself just grabbing an hour or two of sleep once in a while. I don't know if I would want to do it in a CUCV.
Barry

[Matthew Reid]

Originally Posted by rob love

As I recall, the ambulances were particularly problematic wrt the charging systems. They had a different setup from the other CUCVs. Seemed like once you started the run of changing alternators and DUVACs (Dual voltage control regulators), it never ended. The ambulances seemed to dislike being slaved. Every time the user slaved the vehicle, he blew the DUVAC.

Sounds like a unit made an improvement over the factory item.

I personally didn't think the price was out of line at all. In Manitoba, the CUCVs sold for around $8K each. I watched the ambulance sell for almost $10K. Seems like even today the remains of the CUCVs go for as much as yours went for.

Ya I always thought the twin alternators idea was kinda goofy.

This dual voltage alternator seems like a better idea. But the results of the install are piles of wires underhood that now have no where to go and are taped up lol.
I will sort out the wiring BEFORE I strip the truck apart that should save big time on the headache factor when it comes time to reassemble it. I will clean up the wire harnesses and remove the now redundant wiring befre stripping it apart. If it was a M1008 pick up I would just convert it to 12V but there is too much 24V gear in the Ambulance body to even consider that move.

Those CUCV's out there went for some good dollars. I do know out here even the clapped out privatly owned CUCV pickups regularly fetch $4000 to $5000. The heavy duty axles, rear locker, low gears and stronger frames make them pefect candidates for off road 4x4ing units. I have seen a more than a few here with larger tires on them and out fitted for off roading.


Matthew

[Matthew Reid]

Originally Posted by Wpns 421

Don't forget to take before during and after pictures and keep us updated on the progress. gilles

I will be sure to do that.

Matthew