scout-it-out '79 scout II

[Scout-It-Out]

"nothin' finer than bed liner" quote from extreme 4x4. I've been wanting to paint the lower part of my Scout black for some time. When ian painted the roof on their Bob deuce it gave me the idea. I sanded the lower part with some 120 grit on a da sander, masked off the trim and rolled on the bedliner. I think it looks really good for the $20 it cost me! This is the before pic.

[Scout-It-Out]

And the after picture.

[Scout-It-Out]

Years ago my Dad built some jerry can holders for his Scout. I decided to build some mounts on my Scout so I can use them. The first step was to drill a 1.5" hole in the top of the bumper. I also drilled a 5/8" hole in the bottom for a plug weld.

[Scout-It-Out]

1.5" steel shaft cut to length with a 5/16" hole through the top.

[Scout-It-Out]

There's a 3x3" plate welded to the shaft for the jerry can holder to sit on, so it's not sitting on the weld.

The bolt hole in the holder is to keep it from turning when you don't want it to. There's no bolt in it in this pic.

[Scout-It-Out]

I need to get the holders blasted and painted! They've been sitting in the back yard a while. I also need to build the mount for the other side.

[Scout-It-Out]

So after the hollister run and seeing hondo twist his drive shaft, I got motivated to upgrade mine. In the front is the stock Scout II piece. In the back is a Scout terra stock driveline. The plan is to shorten the terra shaft and put it in my Scout. I've already swapped my new u-joints.

[Scout-It-Out]

And here it is just back from the driveline shop. Looks very beefy!!

[Scout-It-Out]

So I was planning to swap the terra front shaft as well but... It's too short. I would have to have it re tubed. How strong is the stock front drive shaft? Maybe I'll leave it in! I've heard from several people that the rear was very weak. I don't remember hearing anything about the front.

[Scoutboy74]

I think the stock front is a solid shaft where as the rear is a tube, for whatever that's worth. I too have a beefy traveler/terra rear line that I dream of having shortened by 18" someday. How much did it cost to have yours done? Did you have to have the slip-joint rebuilt or anything extra like that?

[Scout-It-Out]

I called around, one shop locally wanted $100 to shorten it. The place I went in sac. Charged me $65. The slip part was good and I had new joints. It was shorten and balance only.
I thought the front might be solid. It had a dense sound when I tapped on it:d

[Scout-It-Out]

I added a skid plate for the t-case. I heard of one person hitting the drain plug on a rock. So to prevent that, I added a piece of 3/8" plate over the plug. There is a hole under the plug for servicing. The other plates are 1/8" plate with speed holes! They save weight and allow most dirt to escape.

[Scout-It-Out]

Here it is installed.

[Scooter]

Oooo shiny.

Cool idea with that tc skid plate.

[Scout-It-Out]

:d thank you! Not my idea, just my version.

P.s. I just put the stock front drive shaft back in.