New life for an old GI, 1984 Chevy M1028

[kennyw]

My lift is currently helping build a rotisserie for my friend's beetle build so I turned my attention on rebuilding the alternator. This truck was converted to 12V who knows when but still had both alternators. I picked up these rebuild kit on Ebay last year but kept putting it off with the move.

Luckily, the friend borrowing the lift has a blast cabinet with glass beads. I was able to strip the alternator housings down to bare aluminum fairly quickly.

I broke one rear housing pressing in the bearing and had to disassemble and blast the spare alternator housings though. Upon reassembly I could not get the alternator to rotate freely. I suspected the mix- matched housing was the issue and swapped the new bearing over to the matched front housing and it worked perfectly after that.

 

[kennyw]

Taking down a big maple in the front yard so using this one to move logs to the back yard.

 

[kennyw]

This week I've been giving this one some love. First, I still had one front turn signal not working and found a broken ground tab inside the connector. There was also a poorly supplied turn signal wiring hack on the other side as well. So,I pulled a civilian headlight harness off the shelf and stopped it down. I unpinned the headlight and turn marker wiring and transferred it over into my original harness.

 

[kennyw]

Tonight, I started troubleshooting why my turn signals failed. Fuse was good, brake lights work, no power at flasher relay.

I know the column was needing to be replaced anyway so I pulled a tilt column off the shelf in need of tightening the tilt screws and tore it down. Now 2/3 of the way back together and I need to wait to get a key made before I finish.

 

[kennyw]

New keys cut, lock cylinder lubed, and the column is now reassembled.

 

[Truckman4life]

I love that factory black crap they use to prevent corrosion. Best stuff ever. International used to use it on their battery terminals. No sure if they still do. You could get it through them and it is made by Fuch's Lubricants. FYI. Pretty sure I have several tubes at home that I acquired when I worked for International.

 

[kennyw]

My wife has been using the truck as a wheel barrow this week while on vacation.



Also had some neighbors pick up firewood tonight with a deuce and a half and a military forklift made from jeep parts.

 

[kennyw]

Time for a lift. Prepping for new 4" springs, shocks, brake lines, and crossover/ high steer. Probably going to turn the rotors while things are apart as well. At least I have company in the shop.

 

[mrk5]

Hey, I don't know if you noticed, but your horse is on the lose.....

 

[kennyw]

Hey, I don't know if you noticed, but your horse is on the lose.....

Yes, they are responsible for all yard maintenence. Consider it a work release program.

 

[muddybuddy]

Those black H2’s are going to look sharp on there with the 315’s.

 

[82355]

Will the lift make it more functional?

Martin

 

[kennyw]

Will the lift make it more functional?

Martin

Are you new here? The lift makes more room for bigger tires and crossover steering. Both are better for off road use.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Bigger tires + 4.56’s = better driving.

 

[kennyw]

All the parts from ORD, Engineered Vintage, and a lot of used parts are ready to be installed on this. I started with ceaning out the interior and getting ready for new wiring, weather stripping and felts, sound insulation, black interior, new floor mat, tilt column, ect.

 

[kennyw]

I'll need a little POR15 or similar, but the rust is only minor surface rust.

 

[Truckman4life]

What's the deal with the chains on each side?

 

[kennyw]

What's the deal with the chains on each side?

The chain and padlock is how the military locked the steering wheels.

 

[82355]

Cutting holes for the four speed while you are at it?

Martin

 

[kennyw]

Cutting holes for the four speed while you are at it?

Martin

My other option is a 4L80E from a 1991 diesel burb but I'm leaning towards the 32 spline SM465, 241 based doubler, and 32 spline NP205 since I have most of it already in the two recent parts trucks I've brought home.