M1010 military ambulance

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chrisquested

Observer
So I sold my other ambulance wayyy to much wiring and I wanted something that was 4x4 already so I did not have to convert anything and I ended up finding this! It's a 1983 chevrolet m1010 ( old military ambulance) it has a 6.2L Diesel engine, dana 60 front axle, 14 bolt rear, 4:56 gears, and a Detroit locker in rear.

My plans are to put a 6" lift, 37" militRy tires with the Hummer bead lock wheels.

As for the camper I am going to run mostly everything off solar/ diesel.

 
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C

chrisquested

Observer
I am still bouncing ideas around as for how I am going to go about building this and I have came up with this so far.

100 gallons fresh water.
Solar panels
Outside shower/inside shower
2 burner stove top
Single sink
I also want to get an over drive transmission and possibly a turbo but that's way later.

I also want to add a side door to the box and remove the rear doors so I can have a fold down sleeping area in the rear almost like a pop up camper
IMG_6070.jpeg
 
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chrisquested

Observer
Does anyone have any type of info for building fold outs on a camper?

Like above the cab where ac is I would like to pull the ac out cut the box and make a bed that will fold out and be covered with canvas, then the top would be able to pop up for more head room and the back would fold down with canvas to be used for another sleeping area?
 
SDDiver5

SDDiver5

Expedition Leader
Nice! I love the M1010! Something Ive always liked and wanted to do...Its almost too good of a platform to start with. Strong truck and a box big enought to be comfortable when camping but not so heavy and big that you cant do most trails.
 
W

wantapinz2

Observer
Awesome find,
Unlike my 67 m725 ambulance, yours already has a modern 1 ton drive train. As you probably know surplus Hummer 37" tires and wheels are cheap. Banks makes a turbo kit that really wakes up that 6.2 GM diesel, but for my money I would drive it like it is and plan on a Cummins 5.9 swap later.
I'm planning on installing a westfalia style pop top for extra headroom and added sleeping room.
I'm glad to see another military ambulance conversion here on ExPo.
 
red EOD veteran

red EOD veteran

Adventurer
good platform to start with. The 6.2 will wake up with a turbo, best 2 turbo's for the 6.2/6.5 are the hx40 and one from a mitsubishi industrial engine. Search on google for the "A Team Turbo" and you will find it. Much better than the gm series of turbos that were mounted on the 6.5 in the 90's and they don't cost much. Will you be staying with the th400 or upgrading to an overdrive transmission?
 
stevo-mt

stevo-mt

Member
I've got an M1010 that I lifted and had 37" MTRs on H1 beadlocks and they are near impossible to keep balanced. It literally cost me as much to set the truck up to utilize the H1 wheels and tires (plus dually hubs and rear spacers) as buying new rims and tires toyo 37's. The toyo's don't look as cool as the MTR's did, but if you want I've got a set of four MTR 12 bolt beadlocks with 95% tread sitting in Montana I'll sell for pretty reasonable.

Raising the truck up 6 inches would be a bit extreme, I would recommend 4" at max and cutting out the fenders on the front, and there is a good line that you can follow on the rear box to get plenty of clearance. In reality you could probably get away with 3" if you move the front axle up a half inch. Getting too high just kind of messes up the center of gravity and also doesn't gain you very much except for clearing the tires. I could fit the 37's at first without any lift. Honestly I wish I would have just tried cutting the fenders out without a lift and getting proper clearance around the rubber. Because after lockers, tires and lifts the axles getting stuck in snow are still main reason I get my truck stuck. Plus you will have issues with drivelines and seals at that high. At least I did.

Awesome to see another M1010! There is starting to be a club of us!
 
C

chrisquested

Observer
stevo-mt said:
I've got an M1010 that I lifted and had 37" MTRs on H1 beadlocks and they are near impossible to keep balanced. It literally cost me as much to set the truck up to utilize the H1 wheels and tires (plus dually hubs and rear spacers) as buying new rims and tires toyo 37's. The toyo's don't look as cool as the MTR's did, but if you want I've got a set of four MTR 12 bolt beadlocks with 95% tread sitting in Montana I'll sell for pretty reasonable.

Raising the truck up 6 inches would be a bit extreme, I would recommend 4" at max and cutting out the fenders on the front, and there is a good line that you can follow on the rear box to get plenty of clearance. In reality you could probably get away with 3" if you move the front axle up a half inch. Getting too high just kind of messes up the center of gravity and also doesn't gain you very much except for clearing the tires. I could fit the 37's at first without any lift. Honestly I wish I would have just tried cutting the fenders out without a lift and getting proper clearance around the rubber. Because after lockers, tires and lifts the axles getting stuck in snow are still main reason I get my truck stuck. Plus you will have issues with drivelines and seals at that high. At least I did.

Awesome to see another M1010! There is starting to be a club of us!
Click to expand...

Thanks for that I might just try and go with a 4" lift and 35"-37" tires, I been rethinking those military tires because ppl can't balance them good a guy told me to throw bbs into the tires to help balance but I rather just get rims and tires off something else.

I would also like to do a dually rear end for better stability.
 
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