Should I buy? M1031

[City Connection]

Hey all. Love the site. I have the opportunity to pick up a 1986 CUCV that isn't too far from me (read: no freeway travel) for $1000. The best one he has (private seller who seems to love military surplus sales) has about 33K on it. It looks pretty complete except for a missing rear drive shaft that was damaged by a fork lift (of course). It still has the generator (about 190 hours) and air compressor but the compressor is missing a few fittings. Seems about 100% rust free and the only issue I can see is the drivers side door rubs a little and has flaked off the paint on the fender (is that the typical GM door sag?).

I'm going back tomorrow with a pair of batteries to see what she can do. It looks like the RPM governor is still on the engine as well as the switch on the dash, so I'll verify if it can hold 1800RPM.

The only bad things I can think of are:

missing rear drive shaft (can a civi shaft work?)
rubbing drivers side door
desert paint job with woodland hood
heavily cracked windshield

So I guess I'm asking if you were in this position, would you buy it? I'm really only looking for a snow truck and maybe (if I get nutty enough) an emergency generator for the house.

Thanks!

 

[Recovry4x4]

Go, take $1000 and run with the truck. That is an absolute steal at that price. Once you get out of site you can laugh all the way to the bank.

 

[City Connection]

Go, take $1000 and run with the truck. That is an absolute steal at that price. Once you get out of site you can laugh all the way to the bank.

I was actually honest with the guy and told him that these trucks are kind of valuable. I told him that 4x4'ers love to take the guts out (rear axle with locker, front axle with limited slip and the np205 t-case). I also told him that finding these rust free is also a bonus as well. He was prior military as I am, so I was a straight shooter with him.

He has 3 available and wants $2500 for the lot of them. I don't have that kind of cash, but I'd love to grab one more at least. One has 11,000 miles on it (with a 6 digit odometer, never seen one like that in an old GM truck before) but is missing the generator and a few things have been disconnected in the engine bay (don't think it was anything serious, the governor linkage was off and a few other things, but they were still under the hood). The other had some light damage to the front grill guard/bumper and missing a few interior pieces, but I think all 3 had a perfect seats, go figure!). IIRC it had about 50K on it and the generator showed 170 hours.

While going through the many tool boxes I found a bottle jack, a Lincoln arc welder, a few cans of MIL-PRF-6083 F and other assorted items. Also I think all 3 had rifle racks on the sides of the seats as well.

 

[acmunro]

Wow I wish California wasn't so far away from me. That would be a long recovery in a CUCV.

 

[84cucv1ton]

great deal. i have sold d60s for 1000

 

[City Connection]

Well I think I'm gonna pass on it. No SF97 means no title from the California DMV. Oh well. But if I can't register it then it's of little use to me.

Thanks for the help.

 

[ABN173]

City Conection:

Why not use a title service route? It can't be any more trouble than all the EUC/SF-97 process. If you still don't want to do it let us know the point of contact for this truck ok?

Thanks,
Dale

 

[Cucvnut]

did you get it ? 100dollarman has one for sale also i think

 

[City Connection]

City Conection:

Why not use a title service route? It can't be any more trouble than all the EUC/SF-97 process. If you still don't want to do it let us know the point of contact for this truck ok?

Thanks,
Dale

The problem is I only have a limited income and I can't keep adding money to the truck (title fee, tires, registration, insurance, drive shaft...etc.) So I can't do this right now. I'm gonna kick myself for a while for not getting it, but I'll get over it.

1986 chev 4x4 shop truck

One day I'll be back with a M35.

 

[ABN173]

This is really odd.....

The guy answered a couple of e-mails but he avoided very pointed questions about where they came from ie : GL,GSA, private sale etc.... I asked about the SF-97 and again not answered as if I did not ask the question. He did say that they did not have to be moved right away, he also said that they were never registered. but that was all the information he gave.

Still might be a good deal.......I wish I knew more about these

edit: he also did not mention one needing a driveshaft, he only said two needed batteries and the 3rd needed a glow-plug card

 

[m16ty]

Well I think I'm gonna pass on it. No SF97 means no title from the California DMV. Oh well. But if I can't register it then it's of little use to me.

Thanks for the help.

If you ever think you want one you better jump on it. I doubt you'll ever find another one in that kind of shape for that price.

If you weren't 2,000 miles away I'd buy the whole lot SF97s or not.

 

[City Connection]

This is really odd.....

The guy answered a couple of e-mails but he avoided very pointed questions about where they came from ie : GL,GSA, private sale etc.... I asked about the SF-97 and again not answered as if I did not ask the question. He did say that they did not have to be moved right away, he also said that they were never registered. but that was all the information he gave.

Still might be a good deal.......I wish I knew more about these

edit: he also did not mention one needing a driveshaft, he only said two needed batteries and the 3rd needed a glow-plug card

Here is everything I know about them:

truck 1 needs battery terminals, batteries, rear driveshaft, possibly tires (at least 1 was flat), shift linkage needed work, and maybe more things that I don't know about.

truck 2 is in the best shape. It needs a rear driveshaft, batteries, new windshield, possibly tires, shift linkage needed work. I couldn't get the PTO light to come on, nor would the governor activate to keep the engine speed up. The PTO did engage but I couldn't get a response out of the generator (you could hear the belt and see the generator head running, but no juice). They had a welder in the truck that was wired to a different outlet so I would assume it works, I just don't know how to make it work. Maybe other things that I don't know how to look for.

truck 3 seemed to be a parts truck for the others. The 24v battery bar things on the firewall were missing, no battery cables, no batteries, didn't look underneath for a driveshaft, generator was out of the truck and stored elsewhere on the property (I think compressor was removed too). Can't tell you much as I didn't look at it in detail. I was more interested in the middle one.

I know it's a heck of a deal, but I can't spend money on a project truck that I might not be able to register. I'm a disabled veteran on a fixed income and I need a vehicle that will work in winter in the snow. I also live in a subdivision and I can't have a bunch of unregistered MVs on my property as I will get cited.