The Chevy Squarebody is so killer even the US Military wanted them!!

Special treat today as I had a visit from Garrett Robertson! More familiar to most of you as ‪@bornforadventure‬ on Instagram and KZbin, Garrett is a deep well of Squarebody knowledge with an emphasis on crusty military hardware.
Garrett was dropping a set of Goodyear MTR's for the CUCV build and I asked him to give me a history lesson on these trucks and some of the killer stuff he had on his trailer.
Lot of great information in this video from a cool guy! If you need axles or parts or even complete trucks, Garrett should be one of your first calls!
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If there is some item or product you saw in this video, it is more than likely to be found in either my Amazon Store or if it is a Milwaukee Tool over on Acme Tools
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Link to the seat bracket mounts for late model GM third row for your Blazer!
www.merricksgarage.com/new-pr...

[@TheKlamminator]

My friend had 6.2 detroit cucv blazer with a full float 14 bolt back in high-school 15 years ago. That thing was sweet.

[@143jkrd]

I know the acronym is CUCV but we called them “ Cut Vee’s” & to agree w/ Garrett all the truck’s & Humvee’s we had were 6.2. I believe the 6.5 was later in the 90’s. & yes they were SLOW.

[@05EVORS]

They aint too slow when you manually shift em on stock skinnies w the 4:56 gears! Garret sold me my rust free '84 686 tan desert 1008 that was orig out of 29 palms, its on 38's and a 5" lift now drippin oil all over Orange County

[@williamguillIII]

Yep, I drove many of these Cutvee's. They were also really loud inside as well, and the radio mount in the back seat was a real PITA too.

[@dw7094]

For the longest time the Square Body Mafia has made it known this model truck was the best truck of all time.

[@143jkrd]

Yes I invaded Kuwait 🇰🇼 in the passenger seat of a 1028 single wheel. Yes it was a com vehicle. They flew the van in & we drove to Al Cabrit to pick it up. We sandbagged the floor before crossing the berm.

[@MerricksGarage]

That’s rad!

[@PootsGarage]

And we appreciate you everyday for that!

[@gertraba9806]

@@MerricksGarage squarebodies at war. They still run. Cucv

[@True_Knight]

I love my CUCV! Been great for over 10 years now.

[@Bens359pete]

I have a M1028A3 going to begin restore soon. With 6BT Cummins. Badass truck. Cant wait

[@trailrunnah8886]

Can't believe I missed this one! I've been following Garrett on IG for years, I love his content. I had a square when I was a kid, one of these days I'll pick up another one.

[@danwhitehead4913]

I just put my cucv back on the road two days ago. I am amazed at how fuel efficient the 6.2 detroit diesel is. It last drove 17 years ago

[@troydecker9685]

I ran the old bias plys on my 83 Square. I daily drove them for 2 years. I had ran 2 sets in 2 years. They work so much better when you groove them.

[@schmidtyboy3]

Been following born for adventure for a while! Both of you guys are awesome!

[@WhyIsTheRumGone68]

Thumbs up for the 29 palms reference. Great video as always.

[@johncostello2948]

Very informative. I can even smell the oily diesel or leaky joints and the sun-baked rubber of the tires that have sat out in the Arizona heat baking and cracking for 30 years.

[@honest8bob]

Good to see Garret still out there. I loved watching his youtube videos.

[@kurtolson627]

Wow awesome, I had a 1978 custom deluxe 4x4 , I bought it from my mom. I miss that truck, would love to find or put together one. Got to have dreams. # miles of smiles.

[@stevej6824]

Yes tires can be very expensive. My 39.5/18/15 BOGGERS were $700 each.

[@steelmill888]

I'm glad that dude is on the west coast I would never be able to score one on the east coast.Keep up the great info on my most favorite trucks and Blazers

[@arthuralzamora7331]

I had one for about 2 years - great back up truck for local stuff, just a tank & strong. I think it did 56 mph top speed. Got a F350 diesel quad cab - had to sell for F350.

[@t.l.robinson2162]

Thank you for your video. Thank you for giving me a connection for Humvee tires.

[@blackbeard308]

Such an informative video love Merrick's garage 🦾🇺🇸🦾🇺🇸🦾🇺🇸

[@MerricksGarage]

Thanks homey!

[@Cbarnes281Strkd]

Great Tow Rig I let mine go with 450K with no issues and owner is still using 500K + Great rig. keep up the great vids Merricks Garage

[@2naturesownplace]

That sanme cargo box was used to house welding equipment as well.

[@jimlehner8365]

Robert is good friend of mine, I believe he hauled a lot of snow machines up north with that truck..

[@cjleon1104]

That guy is awesome! Learned alot

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea he’s rad. One of the good guys

[@edbeck8925]

That is the one trait of 16.5 tires, they have a very short shoulder on the rim.

[@flyonwall360]

Great memories. I remember being stationed in Korea in 1984 and we turned in our Jeeps for the new CUCV. We also got rid of the M880.4 years later we traded the CUCV in for the new HUMV.

[@MerricksGarage]

What was your first impression?

[@flyonwall360]

@@MerricksGarage At first I thought it was pretty cool that my unit was involved with the CUCV project. We were a Supply & Service Co. at Camp Humphrey. We we pretty much the first to get them. However, it was bitter sweet because I knew it was the end of an era. I was "Commo" so we had to remove all the radio equipment from the Jeeps and retrofit the CUCV. After that tour I spent 2 years with the 101st, that unit had Gamma Goats, a Mule and still had some Jeeps. My second tour in Korea I had more time with the CUCV. I remember having to stuff a rag in the dash during blackout drive because the 4 wheel drive light wouldn't go out... Side note. On that second tour I was with a signal company. Almost became the commander's driver until I was driving in Seoul and the antenna mount on the CUCV caught the corner of a bus. Three of the four bolts snapped, the last one sliced the driver side of the CUCV open like a can opener. The CUCV was a great vehicle for its time.

[@darrennelson5489]

Can't wait for the cucv build hell yeah!

[@MerricksGarage]

I am psyched on it. Its gonna be cool

[@conner9797]

Need one of the hmmwv rear bumpers. I already have the swing out carrier

[@jarellee1076]

Just saw your video. I'm looking for 2 front spring plates for my CUCV. Either both or just the driver side spring plate.

[@MTJ1986]

I would like to get my hands on one of those trucks one of these days.

[@williamguillIII]

If you can find an old MKT kitchen trailer, that would be an awesome build for an overland camper!!!

[@dennisgeroux4483]

Just north of Barstow, CA they have a large lot of military surplus vehicles for sale, it right on the side of the 15 freeway. Also the Marine Corp Logistics Base in that area might also have surplus vehicle.

[@MerricksGarage]

Out in Yermo. Driven past many times!

[@steve-ph9yg]

I worked at GM Truck Assembly Flint in the computer room in 89/90 they built the military Blazer and crew crew cab’s also the FBI Secret Service Suburban’s.

[@White-Head]

I want one Dana 60 Chevy or Ford here in SC

[@warrenvinansky4771]

I have a 1984 chevy m1008 in Brewer maine had it since 2008 , has 6" lift no rust , metallic flake silver , has newly rebuilt 1968 427 big block people always stopping to look, get notes on it if it's for sale I keep a Chevy truck cover on it . I sold it once to friend , then year later I bought it back , then again and again ,I've had it 3 times , he dad it twice ,at least if he or I get the truck theres a chance wed always get it back

[@calholli]

Apparently my truck is "military grade then. haha... I have a 2002 F350 7.3L diesel, ZF650 6spd manual 4x4 w/ manual transfer case and manual locking hubs... Has a dana 60 front, dana 80 rear I believe: it has both of the overload springs that you talked about in the rear (top and bottom), the stack of springs there looks ridiculous, it's just like a wall of leaf springs. I bought it used for $7500 with no bed on it about 10 years ago 175k miles-- so it may have originally been a "commercial chassis". It doesn't even have tilt wheel or cruise control. It has manual locks, manual windows, manual mirrors, manual seats-- it's very much a "BASIC truck, except with the gucci drive train... Immediately after I bought it, I through a 9ft flatbed on it, and this thing has towed untold overloaded goose neck trailers all over the state of Oklahoma, where I live. I built metal buildings and houses with it for over a decade, and it nearly ALWAYS had a trailer behind it, a tool trailer, a welding trailer, big goose necks loaded with metal build main frames, stacks of sheet metal, ect. ect.... Now I'm over 330k miles, and it still pulls whatever I want as if there's nothing back there. Only parts I've bought in that time is tires, new batteries, starter, alternator, serp belt, rear brakes, E-brake cable, oh and the dual front leaf springs broke from hopping curbs and driving it hard over things with that HEAVY diesel, so I bought a new set for $250 or so..... and I finally just bought a water pump--it's weeping now. I'd say I got my money's worth. lol.

[@MerricksGarage]

Heck yea. Those 7.3 were industrial grade beasts.

[@danielalamo2075]

Are there different 16.5 wheels than before? The old 16.5 wheels I have don't have the seat bead. That is what makes the tire go boom when you air them up to seat the bead (and keeps the tire seated ). So when you air down for off roading they will unseat easily. Meaning you can break the bead easy. I usually wouldn't go lower than 20 psi. But on some runs the safety check requires max of 15 psi. And I it's not fun to slide into jeep ruts and blow the tire off the bead. This happened to me. I couldn't reseat the bead on the trail. I needed a lot of air flow after the ether blast to keep the tire seated during inflation. I had to switch to 16" wheels because American Tire (Discount Tire) could no longer get the 16.5 tires.

[@KoltFin]

In my experience the newish ones are still the same.

[@johnboocock8264]

I have 85 1008 love it to bits

[@kenmiller5954]

16,5 have been around for a long time split rims great size for split easy enough to change tire and strong enough for trucks without to much wieght so as a standard truck rirm size makes it eaiser to find tires in third world countries or in war time most common size rim world wide

[@MerricksGarage]

Awesome info. Thanks man!!

[@conner9797]

Oh love his channel also.

[@invisibilianone6288]

Love the 4-legged security system 🐺❤😁

[@charlesbaranski1860]

Awesome

[@84400]

Watch out for upper side wall punctures on those tires man! I will upload a vid about them and show my experience with the MTR’s with kevlar. There is a reason the military got rid of them for a while. The old MT’s i daily drove for years and had no problems but the MTR military tires would get side wall punctures too easy!

[@MerricksGarage]

This is only really gonna see shop truck duty until I have some time to throw at it

[@Marcus_Woodard]

The photo you show at 5:48 is a M1031. The M1028 is designed to carry a shelter inside of the longbed.

[@williamguillIII]

We have a motor pool man here!!!!!

[@gertraba9806]

Epic ep this is my kinda guy scrounging parts land trucks and help rodders out

[@MerricksGarage]

yea he out there doin the lords work.

[@BigBurb]

Haha I want a military trailer! Cool episode.

[@MerricksGarage]

I gotta clean mine out and show it to you guys. It’s rad!

[@GustavoLopez-px4ok]

Hey Merrick, are the military M/T tires and wheels still available through your friend ?

[@MerricksGarage]

I'm sure they are. Look him up on Instagram @bornforadventure

[@PootsGarage]

I love these trucks.

[@johnrobinson7021]

Have you ever put an EPS on any of your projects? I have a M1009 that i put electric fan, rewired to 12V, next is to solve loose steering issue at higher speeds. Please advise.

[@MerricksGarage]

EPS?

[@johnrobinson7021]

@@MerricksGarage electric power steering... my M1009 is loose at high speeds, she walks all over the road... looking at options to make steering "better".

[@PracticalTacticalFedeli]

Miss my m998a1, want a cucv

[@justanothercanuck4660]

Wish we had some one like you in Canada

[@Jeff-hp3vn]

I've been driving a cucv one ton pickup for close to 20 years now. No its not fast its a turd. No it's not a modern diesel. But it gets the job done

[@campnoutdoors1621]

Merrick, have you ever contemplated a 2.5 ton Rockwell build for a square body? I'm going to do one in my 89 suburban. There will be a lot that goes into geometry and frame/ suspension support to make it durable and more importantly functional with lots of travel. I'm looking forward to attempting a correct build from an engineering standpoint. I think a 2.5 Rockwell swap set up for off-road camping type survivalist build would be an easy sell in California especially considering the current political environment. When my burb is done it will likely go up for sale with a high price in hopes that I can keep it for awhile.....Lol Love your channel and all the inspiration

[@MerricksGarage]

what are you gonna be doing to the truck that could possibly need a Rockwell? They are not light!

[@campnoutdoors1621]

@@MerricksGarage the rockwells are 135 lbs heavier each than one tons so a total 270 lbs. I'm building a snow wheeler with 54" tires and its hard to get low enouph geared with one tons and still be strong enouph. The Rockwells come with 6:72 gearing so it's great with 54" tires as long as you do a low geared doubler for transfercases and a SM465 which has a 6.5/1 first gear. It will get snow wheeled and an occasional trip to Moab 😁 The Rockwells are low enouph geared and heavy enouph there not warranted unless your going to go with at least 44" tires. We all know how much you like lifted trucks.....Lol

[@dwayneburnham866]

Love to build a northern tru

[@ericfox9648]

1972 m35a2 is missing, last seen in north georgia, any help most appreciated. Help! Her name is WAR PIG and she is bobbed and missed

[@Dvxit]

I actually have a 85 CUCV k5

[@ronbonick4265]

subscribed

[@michaelrichards479]

I have a 1974 k30 m1008 i am having trouble getting wheels and tires for it

[@johnhicks735]

Nick's garage in Canada is looking for DANA rear ends for classic cars that he restores.

[@40calDeathPunch]

Ah yes, the Blazer is from Rocksprings Wyo. I do miss the square body I had. K2500 camper special. These trucks are Sherman tanks. Shity gas mileage.

[@madeinamerica2531]

I have a m1031 in great shape I’d like to sell. Not cheap though.

[@obfuscated3090]

To be fair the military also bought Dodges and Chrysler K-cars but that is a killer score and quite collectible while being a fine toy hauler. The diesel sucked but like their street cousins many have been converted to gassers. That said these trucks are so collectible I would not modify that one at all and buy some shitbox to beat on off-road, since off-road trucks only end up destroyed however much fun they are.

[@outlaw80178]

I have a 83 k2500, I desperately need some tires for it. How do I get them?

[@MerricksGarage]

Reach out to @bornforadventure on instagram

[@FlawedOffroad]

i have the mtrs and not super impressed with the grip offroad. if you want to ditch the run flats and still have beadlocks you can run PVC inserts, and it brings them down to 154 lbs each with rock rings

[@MerricksGarage]

yea, still heavy. I think I am gonna ditch the inserts all together

[@FlawedOffroad]

@@MerricksGarage 16.5s don’t stay on the wheel very well without them(offroad/Aired down) the pvc inserts are probably only 6-7 lbs each. Trail worthy fab makes them

[@jumper5029]

Why is the sun rise over the ocean, dang I didn't know it was any other way

[@michaelrichards479]

The funny thing is mine is a 305 truck

[@Cbarnes281Strkd]

Any contact info to reach out for Square body parts?

[@MerricksGarage]

Hit up @bornforadventure on instagram

[@americaninfidel9001]

Hello guy I am looking a dually ,I got a good trade . Let me know please

[@bctx3916]

sooo call him to find the dana 60 and 14 bolt I have been looking all over hell for.... Got it....

[@MerricksGarage]

message him on instagram

[@liftedburblife]

I know we're the 60s are as well

[@MerricksGarage]

I have a bunch stashed in my shop!

[@marm842]

sorry as a vet who was around them had to run them . cut vee was junk we hated them.

[@johnhicks735]

That's what he says that he can't find them.

[@williamlawrence1422]

Ambulance ran two alternators even to this day

[@eeanpitcock874]

man i wish yall wasnt hoggin all the squares hahahahahah love your videos tho

[@michaelthomas2876]

Find me a Dana 60 front Axle that doesn't require my first born.

[@PhillipMMorin]

Check out hillbilly wizard for cucv parts

[@lanceroark6386]

And reluctant to give them up until they were overtly obsolete.

[@lanceroark6386]

DUDE! I saw a Square Body with that trailer for a bed. SOOOOOO sick. It was in Vinita, OK; about an hour from Disney, OK.

[@KoltFin]

@@lanceroark6386 people like to use them on their bobbed deuces

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea they work very well on the k30 frame. Couple guys I know who have done them really well

[@dylanlockler1039]

250 chicken nuggets

[@br549american5]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@andrewjohnson2108]

Just fyi military only used them as disposables bud. They werent very dependable either piece o shit detroits horrible maintenance etc. Btw one morething get a ford when your balls drop

[@MerricksGarage]

Thank you come again!

[@joshuasmith9350]

you want to pick his brain , but you keep cutting him off and won’t shut up . cmon dude ,

[@richardturk7162]

The jerky camera work make the video hard to watch. To the host when you speak your face doesn't have to be in frame. Jamming your face in frame is not needed and its quite annoying. Square body military trucks are cool.