Modernizing a 65 Scout 800

[Michael Dimock]

Dumped about 20 hrs or so into the 800 this weekend and have it all torn apart.... I had half a day into patching a good used drivers quarter where someone had notched the top for a roll bar and filled in a bunch of huge holes in the endcap. That was followed up by some quality hammer and dolly time. The wire wheel was then deployed for grime removal followed by rust converter/priming, painting, lining, and more painting... I'm using a elastomeric roof coating w/ ceramic beads as a poor man's lizardskin. It doesn't work as well for sound dampening but I feel it will be more weather resistant in the long run. The whole drivers side paneling is currently drying inside the house next to the wood stove.

 

[Mochamike]

Looking good.

It's good that you made sleeves for the power steering bolts/through the frame. You May want to consider welding some 3/16" or 1/4" plate on the opposite side as well to help re-enforce it/elimiate frame twisting.

 

[Michael Dimock]

Over the last week I managed to get the drivers side endcap/quarter/rocker welded together, coated, and installed. I also cut out some drain holes in the inner rocker and left out the little rocker "end caps" to allow me to hose everything out. This weekend I took off and repeated the process for the passenger side. Basically: rust repair, wire wheel/scrape, wipe down, paint, wipe down, line, wipe down, paint, clamp panels on body, weld, grind, paint, drink victory beer!

 

[mikeindustries]

Great job! You are motivating me to get moving again on my Scout. Good choices for beer too!

 

[Plug Ugly]

Dont you have things to repair on the wheeler?

 

[Michael Dimock]

Of course, like a rear axle, and doors, and and....

 

[Michael Dimock]

This weekend I managed to wire wheel and prime the inside of the front fenders and remove/install the front floors. They were just rusty enough that they waranted removal but did not want to show where the spot welds were... took a bit of air chiseling to get them to cooperate. Patched the passenger tunnel side and removed the hump for the stock tcase to free up some more foot room. I also added some extra supports to the floors to help stiffen them up. This should be the last bit of rust repair... I hope!

 

[Michael Dimock]

Wire wheeled, patched, and shot the tub in primer on Saturday. Sunday I applied lizard skin to the tub and tunnel cover, coated the front fenders in the roof coating stuff, and cleaned up some more parts in prep for paint. The 62 Scout was on air compressor duty...

 

[ScoutDawg]

Outstanding! Keep those pics coming on your progress and thanks for sharing!

 

[chico]

Well? Well? Well? Anything new????

 

[Michael Dimock]

Been working on the Scout a bit here and there. Yanked apart five doors to make two and could still use some better parts... got the bare door shells mounted, dents pounded out, and holes/reinforcement pieces welded up/in. Been painting things since the weather has been so warm over here and ran out of paint! Wasn't expecting to be getting this much work done outside in January... Cleaned the inside of the doors, painted them with zero rust, and then lined them with lizard skin today.

 

[Michael Dimock]

Spent the last few nights modifying the window regulators. Picked out 2 of the best ones I had and proceeded to cut them apart. The riveted on 1/2" thick nut/spacers were removed and replaced with 6" x 3/4" drilled and tapped pieces of 1/2" thick steel. In the picture your can see the modified two next to an original. I upped the holes to 1/4"-28 and the length of the "new" steel will keep the inner door panel from warping. Hopefully with a consistently fresh grease supply the regulators will be happy for another 50 years.

 

[Scooter]

Lov'in the progress.

 

[Binderbound]

Such great work. I wish I had the patience to follow through on the body work like that. Hope you keep going and have it done at the ralley!

 

[mikeindustries]

Hows the Scout coming along?