One short note on the 3800's -- brake parts for the 1-ton Huck brakes are pretty much unobtanium, especially the drums. Shoes can be relined, but will be spendy. I haven't had to source suspension parts, but I suspect they may be the same. Sheet metal wise, the cabs and front clips are the same as 1/2-tons and the same things apply as far as usual rust areas (lower cab corners and lower cowls) Patch panels are available. Engines and trannies are not too bad (4-speed SM-420s have rebuild kits readily available.) Finding a driveable one would be great and money ahead. *Keeping* it driveable ... WAY easier with a 1/2-ton.
Check our Tech Tips for upgrades to keep the 3/4 and 1-ton AD trucks modern road friendly. Also, check in at the Tons o Fun (1-ton) forum for advice, too. A LOT of resident knowledge there.
Hope to have you join the 3/4 & 1-ton club! As Don said, we 1-ton (and most 3/4-ton) owners are generally better looking and more ruggedly he-man like!
Thanks for the info. I’ll be sure to look at the cab corners and lower cowl for rust.
I’ve read that the Eaton H052 and H072 axles are what come in 3600s and 3800s, respectively. I’ve also read that GM 14-bolt axle brakes bolt directly onto Eaton H052 and H072s, but I need to do some more research on it. I’d like to avoid an axle swap, but I’m not opposed to putting more modern drum brakes or even disks on the factory axle, at least if I can keep them hidden behind a solid steel wheel.
I’m realizing that top speed may eventually become a problem. I’m looking into the gearing swap as described in your gear swap article, but I’m also strongly considering adding an overdrive unit.
Novak, who I am familiar with for their Jeep parts, is going to be making a 2-speed, .76:1 ratio overdrive that bolts onto the back of many popular granny-geared 4 speeds, the SM420 included. My Jeep had a Warn overdrive on it and that convinced me that, when it comes to the drivability of old, low-power vehicles, it is better to have low axle gearing for acceleration and an overdrive than higher axle gearing by itsself. Plus having an overdrive unit adds another shifter which I will always be proponent of.
A 5-speed is not in consideration. I want to keep the truck as stock as I can while still making it somewhat drivable on modern roads, and a 5-speed pokes me just wrong when there are other options. Plus I swapped a SM420 into my Jeep and have fallen in love with them.
But the project creep is growing excessive and I digress…
After thinking I’d be looking at and potentially buying a 1-ton and being disappointed to learn it’s a 3/4-ton, my heart is settled on at least a 3/4 ton. Mostly for the longer bed; the shortbed look of a 3100 is not what I want.
