74 Scout11 My Build So Far

[ronmc1954]

I thought it was time to start my build thread before I forget everything I have done.
The story starts about 8 months ago when I bought this 74 on ebay, boy was my wife "happy" with me here's what it looked like when I got it.

When it arrived it leaked tranny fluid like crazy, I had intentions of parting it out but when I pulled the tranny (a 727) I found the tc had a crack in the seal surface, $80 later and the excellent info in michael's post on band adjustment it shifts like a dream.
One thing the po did halfway right was to put a new diamond plate floor that is strong enough to support anything. But when he did that he did not repair the body mounts, so the Scout was pretty much sitting on the frame. After repairing those and new oem bushings and a 2" body lift here's what she started to look like.

Other things that have been done are as follows:
helicoil for 1 spark plug on the 345
rebuild the 2210 carb, again thanks to michael's excellent post and helpful advice.
New steering sector and borgensen kit
new front shocks, Jeff is advising bilstiens.
New bucket seats (apc's) and pedestals
new steering wheel (grant)
new door seals all the way around
made a roll bar and got a bikini top
new set of 31x0.5's bf goodrich at
5" shackles in rear
new exhaust system with flowmasters
cd player and speakers
new door to window seals
custom center console
swepco oil also.

Oh yea I forgot to mention the passenger side door was welded shut, body mounts and some cutting got it to work again.

I have done some body work but as you can tell I have aways to go, still hope to get it painted this spring, times wasting.

The latest project was putting in add-a-leafs all the way around. I did this more so to strengthen the springs but I did get a little more lift also. Just finished that project last night. Here are some pics as she sits now.

Unfortunately most of the work to date is the kind not readily noticeable. I did paint the hood IH red one day, just fooling around.

I would like to add almost all my parts have come from ihon, Jeff and everyone on this forum have been a great help, thanks

more to come
ron mcelroy
nebraska

 

[Michael Mayben]

Tremendous progress ron, especially in light of all yawl's life happenstances!

And the stance looks just perfect for a rig used in your situation as both a dd and a working machine.

 

[Scoutboy74]

Lookin' good ron. Way to whip that best model year Scout ever produced into shape. Class of '74 rulz 4-ever!

 

[ronmc1954]

Thanks guys, it's kinda hard to tell but it was painted flat black and it ended up very rough so there is no way to clean it up any. You might have noticed the large hole in front of the passenger side door (2nd pic), that is the only one I have fixed, for my first attempt at body work it turned out ok, at least good enough for me. Now I have three more to do hopefully I be good at it after I do all four.

I knew I'd forget something, I found a pair of loc-o-matics on ebay and they seem to be working fine. I know most people don't like them but around here (mud and snow) they work just fine. Besides, when you get old you hate having to get out to lock in the hubs.

ron

 

[ronmc1954]

Hi everyone; I thought I had to post a progress report for my 74. I have been doing some bodywork and painting I have got a ways to go but today I think the metal work is done. The patch panels have been a challenge to say the least. The 2 patches to the rear of the doors had to be completely rebuilt inside and out.
You will see the 5th pic is of the pass side behind the door has an extra piece welded on the bottom, as near as I can tell the rocker was not installed right at one point or another, if I lowered the patch to line up with the bottom then the arch of the wheel well would not line up.
All in all I am pretty happy with the results, although there are probably better ways (professional) of doing it but it works for me.
Last 2 pics are the final color, painted so far are 2 doors, tailgate, grill and hood. I hope to have it all painted soon I want to drive it again.
Here are a few pictures of the work so far:

 

[ronmc1954]

Well, I've been hard at it. I thought I would post up a sneak preview, before I pull it out of the shop. Everthing is painted except the top. Just re-assembly now. I have had a little disapointment the parts I painted 2/3 weeks ago seem to be darker than the fenders I am hoping since the fenders just got painted this am that they will darken up after it cures a few days, not likly I know but I will live with it for know. When I get the top ready this fall I might pull the doors and re-paint.
Anyway here are the pics:

Ron

 

[Scoutboy74]

That looks frickin' sharp ron! I really like the diamond plate flooring. That blacked-out grille insert is a nice touch too. I wish you'd hurry up and get mine painted for me!

 

[Matt G]

Class of '74 rulz 4-ever!

Hear hear!!

looks really sharp ron. Keep it up! Then you can tell me how to fix my rear quarterpanel rust...

 

[Robert Kenney]

Ron,

looks real good!!! Nice color too. When do we get to see the whole thing?

 

[RobertC]

Nice work...

Re color -- did you happen to change the "settings" on the spray gun between "pieces"? Hope it darkens after it "sets".

 

[rayscout]

Great work! I can't believe the former owner welded the passenger door shut! Great job on undoing the damage!

 

[ronmc1954]

Thanks for the coments guys, Robert to answer your question about the sprayer, actually ichanged to a hvlp gun plus the "parts" might have 1 or 2 extra coats, it depends on how many mistakes I made. Bummer put it still looks 100 times better than it did. Rust is gone, doors work, and it shines even if it is 2-toned
anyway you asked for it so here is the 74 IH Scout II!!!!!
Here is what it looked like:

Here is what it looks like now!!!!

It sure would be nice to have some new decals to put on it, wouldn't it Jeff!!!!!
just kidding, I know you have no control over back orders.

Thanks
ron

p.s. Boy the 2 tone really shows up in the pics

 

[RobertC]

Thanks for the coments guys, Robert to answer your question about the sprayer, actually ichanged to a hvlp gun plus the "parts" might have 1 or 2 extra coats, it depends on how many mistakes I made. Bummer put it still looks 100 times better than it did. Rust is gone, doors work, and it shines even if it is 2-toned

yes, you are right -- it looks a 100 times better than before...

The reason I asked was that I had a complete repaint done on a corvair in the mid 70's (stock color). In the following years at shows, there were cars repainted with the same stock color and it amazed me at how many different shades of the "same" light blue there was.

I never really figured out what was going on (cannot remember if I asked the body shop) -- always figured "something" was different.

Nice metal work on the fender areas, also.

 

[ronmc1954]

Thanks robertc, it's hard to understand that the changes I made with the spray gun and an extra coat of paint made that big of difference. The paint came from the same can and mixed the same everytime and everything was primered with epoxy primer. A little diff I could understand but this is pretty extreme.
I am still hoping for some cure time will make a difference. The "parts" are 3 weeks old and the fenders were just painted yesterday am.
Anyway not to shabby for a pole barn paint job
as they say live and learn.

Ron

 

[Robert Kenney]

Ron, it is hard for me to tell but the color looks like a metallic. Metallics act a lot like candies (colored clears) and when applied over a light base like grey primer are very subject to darkening or lightening based on total coat thickness. Rule of thumb when applying candies and metallics is to spray all panels at the same time and mounted on the vehicle in the manner they will live. The flake will lay differently depending on spray direction and wetness of coat also. You can get away with painting a solid color hanging the panels in the spray booth but not a metallic. I use 2-3 medium coats of base metallics (not worrying about complete wet flow out) and let the clear create the gloss and depth.

Regardless of all my bs it looks great!!!! Good job!!

 

[ronmc1954]

ron, it is hard for me to tell but the color looks like a metallic. Metallics act a lot like candies (colored clears) and when applied over a light base like grey primer are very subject to darkening or lightening based on total coat thickness. Rule of thumb when applying candies and metallics is to spray all panels at the same time and mounted on the vehicle in the manner they will live. The flake will lay differently depending on spray direction and wetness of coat also. You can get away with painting a solid color hanging the panels in the spray booth but not a metallic. I use 2-3 medium coats of base metallics (not worrying about complete wet flow out) and let the clear create the gloss and depth.

Regardless of all my bs it looks great!!!! Good job!!

That answers the question, Robert, your right it is a metallic pearl!! I did spray the parts hanging them in the "booth" as they would hang on the vehicle, so it has to be coat thickness.
Back to the paint booth I guess. I still have to paint the top so I had better plan on putting the top on and primer and spray the whole thing at once.
As I said before live and learn.
Ron

 

[ronmc1954]

Well I finally got back in the shop this morning, after working the weekend and taking some vacation time I have got the whole week off. I thought I would share what I started with the liftgat repair.
Major rust under the gasket so I started cutting it out and welding in new steel. It's going better that I thought with a thin coat of bondo it should be good to go.
It's a lot of work but most liftgates (parts) around here are in the same condition as mine.
Following is the progression so far:

The corners are going to be a little tricky, but with a little heat I think I can shape the corner.

Ok now you guys can start making fun of my welding ability

 

[ronmc1954]

Well I went down and got one corner done. To the touch it's pretty smooth it does have a few holes in it but a little bondo or some epoxy putty will fill them in.

I am thinking about pouring some por15 inside trying to coat the inside of the liftgate. I think most of the problem was just moisture under the gasket, not so much from the inside out.

Ron

 

[ronmc1954]

Well after quite a bit of work the rust is replaced on the liftgate. I put a light coat of bondo on the left over pin holes and cracks. It should be a good seal surface for the gasket. I got a little more bondo-ing to do but heres how it turned out:

Ron

 

[ronmc1954]

Just updating the build post. Most of you have seen the post I had about ball joint install. Well that project is done, new ball joints, tie rod ends, bearings/seals and bilstien shocks. The alignment shop seems to have done a good job the Scout runs true and the bilstiens are well worth the money.
That's all for now, thinking about re-painting this spring. I have to stop driving it long enough to do it though

Ron