M1009 Frame & Suspension Question

[NMC_EXP]

All -

No luck with this in forum search.

I need to be able to communicate with parts guys and mechanics regarding the M1009.

Questions:

(1) Are the M1009 frame, suspension & axles standard GM civilian items?

(2) If so are they 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton? . Does the K20/K30 nomenclature relate to 1/2T and 3/4T?

(3) If the M1009 is equipped with non standard frame, suspension & axles items, what are the differences?

I need to replace the shocks for sure and probably the springs - it is sagging on the right side.

May need tie rods and whatnot as well, the steering is sloppy.

Thanks

Jim

 

[doghead]

You can start by looking at the -20P TM. The part numbers are listed there, with exploded views of the whole truck. Google the part numbers. Many of them are GM part numbers.

 

[NMC_EXP]

You can start by looking at the -20P TM.

I could.

I have a hard copy of the -10. I have downloaded all 940 pages of the -20 and all 724 pages of -20P. I do not have them memorized yet, but I do not recall seeing anything about 1/2T, 3/4T, K20 or K30.

The part numbers are listed there, with exploded views of the whole truck. Google the part numbers. Many of them are GM part numbers.

That would be fine if I bought parts from GM but I go to aftermarket suppliers first, don't you?

The aftermarket suppliers I deal with are set up for make, model and year. They want to know if its a 1/2T, 3/4T, K20 or K30.

To start with a GM p/n for an aftermarket clerk to cross reference adds additional opportunities for error.

In my experience, simple is almost always better.

Regards

Jim

 

[doghead]

Sorry, That's all I had to offer. I was trying to he helpful

I know the NAPA website, has a part number interchange.

Sorry my ideas(how I do it sometimes) SUCKED.

 

[mangus580]

the 1009 is a standard K5 blazer, with the 6.2 diesel in it. Only difference in terms of drive train really is the transmission. Civilian models had the TH700R4 overdrive vs the Military TH400.

 

[HardCorps79]

Mangus- I was under the impression (read it somewhere, I'm sure) that the M1009 had a heavy duty suspension not found on the civi K5. And aren't the axles different, too?

NMC- you just got bit by the Dog. ALWAYS indicate what you've checked in the TM and why it isn't good enough, or Doghead is sure to refer you back. We like it that way, though. A lot of guys [guilty here, too, on occasion) don't want to take the time to find the answer to something that's been posted on here a hundred times. Good luck!

 

[mangus580]

Mangus- I was under the impression (read it somewhere, I'm sure) that the M1009 had a heavy duty suspension not found on the civi K5. And aren't the axles different, too? !

From what I can tell (my brother used to own a civvy 6.2 blazer) They are identical to the civvy diesel. The gas versions (some of them) had a lighter suspension.

For all purposes of every day parts (24v starting/charging and glow plugs systems aside) you can use the following:

1009's = 1986 K5 Blazer w/ 6.2 diesel
All others = 1985 K30 Truck w/ 6.2 diesel (note, civvy K30's usually had the NP205 transfer case, while most the military used the NP208 (unless the PTO option was needed))

Hope this helps

 

[HardCorps79]

Yeah- I guess that would be the distinction. To be perfectly honest, I've never come across a K5 civi diesel. Most of my buddies have gassers. So that would explain the difference. I always tell the O'Reilly and NAPA guys it's a K30 with a 208. Seems to work thus far.

 

[ida34]

The military just rated them higher. No actual difference to the springs. The K means 4x4. C means 2 WD while our trucks are actually D for government contact vehicles. Blazers usually have the number 5 so they would be a K5 or C5 for a 2wd blazer. There were a few but no cucv 2wd blazers. 10 is half ton 20 is 3/4 ton and 30 is 1 ton. That being said, they are just guidelines with basic changes to brakes, trans, and axles. Trucks have different GVW so you have to know the GVW to get a proper replacement spring. I have a F-350 Ford. It is classified a 1 ton but it is a 12,000 lbs gvw vehicle. It weighs about 6000 lbs to it has a payload of 6000 lbs. My math has that at a 3 ton even though it is a 1 ton truck. It is a dually and was a metal fabrication truck so it was built to haul real heavy loads.

The M1009 is like a K5 blazer so 1/2 ton truck and blazer components would work. The frame should be the same as any other K5 blazer. There are two sizes of back brakes on listed for the K-5 blazer in 1984 and the M1009 uses the larger of the two. The axles are standard 1/2 ton fair with the gov locker in the rear. The springs may have a higher GVW rating but are standard 1/2 ton springs. Basically the springs may be heavier but they are interchangeable with any other 1/2 ton spring set. When getting parts for a M1009 you should always get parts for a 1984 no matter what year yours actually is. The truck was contracted in 1984 so the whole run uses 1984 style parts. For instance, the wiring for the rear light harness changed connectors in 1985 for civvy blazers. I got a trailer wiring kit for my 1985 M1009 and found the thing had the older style wiring. They did this to standardize the parts system so the cucvs did not get the yearly upgrades that the civvy stuff got.

 

[HardCorps79]

That's invaluable info, Chuck. Thanks!

 

[NMC_EXP]

I was under the impression (read it somewhere, I'm sure) that the M1009 had a heavy duty suspension not found on the civi K5. And aren't the axles different, too?

That was my impression as well. The tech manuals do not cover info like this because the military had its own parts system.

NMC- you just got bit by the Dog. ALWAYS indicate what you've checked in the TM and why it isn't good enough, or Doghead is sure to refer you back.

Trust me - I only ask questions when I cannot locate the answers myself. It is a matter of pride.

We like it that way, though. A lot of guys [guilty here, too, on occasion) don't want to take the time to find the answer to something that's been posted on here a hundred times. Good luck!

At the end of my career I was the technical expert in my outfit. Would have made my life a lot easier to tell the confused wet-behind-the-engineers lined up at my desk to "go look it up" rather than taking the time to educate them.

Books are good, but there is no substitute for experience.

Regards

Jim

 

[ida34]

That's invaluable info, Chuck. Thanks!

Glad I spit it out in a form that was understandable.

 

[NMC_EXP]

Sorry, That's all I had to offer. I was trying to he helpful

I know the NAPA website, has a part number interchange.

Sorry my ideas(how I do it sometimes) SUCKED.

I appreciate all the accurate info I can get. In this case, it just wasn't in the book.

I'm 25 miles from the nearest parts store. I've made way to many return trips to swap the wrong part for the right one when working on standard civilian stuff much less a morphodite like a CUCV. I hated doing that when gas was $1.00 and I had a lot more time left on the clock.

Regards

Jim

 

[NMC_EXP]

Thank you kindly - just what I needed.

Regards

Jim

 

[jimm1009]

1 more small thing

There is one other small odity that Uncle has that the Civy unit does not is that even though the 6.2 is the OEM engine, the forward mounts are for a 350.
I don't know why they did this but if you go to the auto parts house looking for 6.2 motor mounts they won't work.
The bolt papterns are slightly different on the upper end but if you get the 350 gas mounte they work like a champ.
That would have to mean that the frame mounted forward motor mount arms are not the OEM choice for a 6.2.
I don't quite understand this but what the heck!

jimm1009.

 

[41cl8m5]

jimm1009,

Now that is something new to me. I've been looking here for about a year and this is the first info I have seen on the motor mounts. Thanks
Just a thought this info should be in the wiki

 

[CUCV85]

many would agree

jimm1009,

Now that is something new to me. I've been looking here for about a year and this is the first info I have seen on the motor mounts. Thanks
Just a thought this info should be in the wiki

Many would agree that the motor mounts info - "should be for a 350 instead of 6.2 379 "and placed in the WIKI

 

[Csm Davis]

OK lets start the line here but I have both a m1009 and a civi 6.2 blazer and the front springs are different the civi has 2 leaves and the 1009 has three. I will also tell you other parts as I find them like the inner fender and overflow bottle is different.

 

[doghead]

The idea of the Wiki is, You can add info to it!

 

[KeystoneConfederate]

OK, I'm a few years behind,....

I have an 86 M1009 that needs a motor mount, and the front leaf springs repaired or replaced. Apparently a fuel/oil leak has damaged a motor mount, and a bushing on one of the leaf springs.

Reading this thread, I wanted to verify that I'm understanding things on the motor mounts. I need to order 350 gas motor mounts instead of 6.2l?

Can the bushing in the leaf spring be replaced, or do I have to replace the leaf spring all together? If I do need to replace the leaf springs (I would replace both), what springs should I be looking for? I'm seeing conflicting information here about the type/model of springs, ei; the M1009 and the civilian models are different. Also, I'm running 33 inch tires, and would love an inch or two more of clearance. Is there an easy, cheap lift fix?

Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm on a very limited budget, with no spare time for this vehicle to be down, so I need to get this right.