model 80 spring over

[Early Scout]

Howdy folks, once I figured out that the reason "lil Scout blue" would not fire up for me was due to "old fuel" , I began to tackle the more interesting and more funner items on the list of things that needed to be done. One of those was to correct the ride height of the front end due to the po doing a spring over axle to the rear and not the front.

It was pretty simple since the IH spring mounts on the pumpkin side were not totally integrated, and were simply mounted to the axle tube itself.....

Posting pics.

Only thing I need now is to remount the shock tabs on the axle tube and to find a 3-4" longer drive shaft. Or lengthen the one I have. Wondering if the Scout II shaft is the correct length? Might just go to the junk yard and look for one the right length....

Anyone know what vehicles might have a front drive shaft that is 3" longer than the stock model 80 length?

 

[Robert Kenney]

Wow, what a difference!!! Lookin good.

Drive it yet? Interested how it handles. I had a 61 that was spring over by me but never had a chance to drive it after the mod as it was undergoing a frame off resto when I sold it to a buddy to make room for the 65 I have now.

 

[Early Scout]

Think ill make a new tie rod with the drop link connect way further to the right so there's not such a harsh angle from the pitman to the tie rod connecting point, and make a new drop link that has a bend in it a few inches after the pitman arm so it can articulate evenly...

Also going to the RuffStuff 5/8" u-bolts and beefier top plates when I have a few more dollars to spend. I was on a serious budget here and just needed to correct the geometry of this thing before we started driving it. Totally funky with that previous rear spring over rake......

 

[Early Scout]

Yes, I took it out and drove it immediately after it was done a few nights ago and beside the fact that I had no shocks on the front yet it rode and tracked real nice. This is one simple mod that I couldn't imagine not doing on a Scout. Instant lift, and using everything that is previously on the vehicle.

The really neat thing about the oe Scout springs as opposed to the early willy's and Jeep springs is they are still supple and worth re-using....

 

[Michael Mayben]

That extreme pinion angle differential is going to be a real problem regarding eating u-joints and extreme vibration! That is why we point the pinion to the transfer case and then twist the axle outers to correct the caster. And the oem caster setup was awful enough to begin with.

Springover conversions are certainly the norm regarding the Scout 80/Scout 800/Scout II platforms, that is a core part of our business, always has been.

 

[Early Scout]

Yep, I plan on wedging it a bit to lessen that angle but one can only go so far on account of the fixed oe caster angle ya know... I figure its gonna be in 2wd most of the time and driven in the snow in low range 4wd.

I figure my more long term fix is building a Dana 44 open knuckle with all the correct driveline and caster angles. Ill spend a little more than 3 hours on it next time too.....

Another thought I had was to just install a cv joint down there instead of lengthening the drive shaft. But I still have the same abrupt angle on top I suppose... Maybe both ends huh?

Fyi, you should see the angle on the power wagon....