My first Scout

[JohnnyC]

The story began when one day I was watching xtreme 4x4. The show was doing a special on a Scout build. I thought I was looking a wierd looking Bronco. The moment the show ended I jumped on the comp and started researching the Scout. I fell instantly in love. Almost the same feeling as when I first met my wife, almost.... Then I jumped on craigslist and a bunch were found. Most were out of my price range though. I managed to pick one up that ran fair for 400 buckaroos and a handgun,( it was only worth 400 though). Drove it home and started tearing it apart. I forgot to take pics before I tore it almost all the way down. The first ten should be the green Scout. It had 2 po's and neither one took care of it. It is a 76 and has a 345/727/44's/20 combo. The enigine has some pretty bad leaks and the tranny shifted hard. When I got it home I immediately started tearing it apart. Holy cow, I never have ever seen this much rust on anything, and im from florida originally. I purchased my new floor pans, wedge's, body mounts and started cutting away, 2 days later all of the rust on the passenger side was pretty much gone. Now to fill the massive gap that I created. Let me inform you I have no prior welding skills, but I managed to weld a 2x2, 14guage, square steel tube on to the Scout as my new inner rocker. The next step was the new body mount but even if my life depended on it I couldnt figure how I should mount it so that everything was square. I went to the local 4x4 guru but he was no help, just gave me attitude. I hate people like that... So I got discouraged. Back I went to craigslist, to find another Scout but one with a better body. I did, but the tranny and brakes were bad. So I said to myself. I'll just take what I need of the green Scout and put it on the other Scout (which is orange). I got the orange Scout home and assesed the situation. First things first get the orange Scout running. Just so you know it sat for two years in a shed, never was started. So far I've replaced the batt, carb, changed wires, cap and rotor, alternator, belts, coil and soon im putting in the rebuilt tranny (funny story with the 3 trannies). I was able to start it. It doesn't smoke and sound decent. I pulled the tranny out of the green Scout, dropped the pan and a half a cup of grey crap that looked like jb weld was between the filter and the pan. Then I tried following the manuals directions for ajusting the bands and stripped the heads on both ajusting screws. Then I got new ones and was impatient and cross-threaded the kickdown band in the housing. Aamco said they would charge me 90 dollhairs to rethread the housing. I didnt go that option due to the fact of all the shavings in the pan. I was told they were prolly the bands in the bottom of the pan and that it would need to be rebuilt soooon. So I found one that was rebuilt a couple of years back and hopefully I'll put it in this week. So thats where im at so far. I've done a few other things besides what I just told you, like pull the left fender, front grill assembly, left inner fender, bad gas tank and some new fuel lines. Oh yeah the orange Scout is also a 76 but it has a 304/727/44's/20 combo. It also has bucket seats which the green Scout has a bench front seat. And im the second owner of the orange Scout. Please comment with your opinions. I need help from anyone willing to help. I'm doing this all on my own...

 

[Scoutboy74]

Welcome to the addiction yung'n! Rusty the rust monster had himself a feast on those rigs, speshuly the green one. You've discovered a great source of information in this forum. I suggest you spend some time reading through all the categories that pertain to your rigs. You'll find the answers to a great many of your questions have already been asked and answered. The second piece of advice I have is to acquaint yourself with a fella by the name of sailor jerry via the search engine of your choice. I've found him to be a steadfast and loyal shop assistant with the ability to really think outside the box. He is a problem solver extraordinaire. I rarely make a decision regarding my junk iron without first consulting hizzownself.
And the final piece of advice as you continue down this path is to remember to always keep things in proper balance. Like the main tech mod on this site, Mike mayben says, and I'll paraphrase, working on this stuff isn't life, it's a hobby. You've got a young bride. Make sure you keep your num num balance full. Good luck with your junk iron!

 

[JohnnyC]

Thanks alot for the advice. Its encouraging to know that people who I dont even know you are willing to lend a helping hand to anyone wiling to ask. You dont see that much more in this world.

Thanks, john

 

[JohnnyC]

 

[Michael Mayben]

Great story john!

It's really nice to receive feedback regarding our participation in the Scout build on xtreme 4x4! And to think that stimulated you to get involved with the IH community also!

As you have already discovered, this forum is quite different from other special interest vehicle sites. We're here number one to serve our customer's needs and that includes continuous support after a sale!

But we also deal in factual information here and don't blow smoke except at each other on occasion. And ya need a real thick skin to go ta skool at binder university, as a noob, we're gonna rag yore azz pretty hard ta see if ya stick!

And scoutboy74/trever is a prime example of that! That sumbitch has come a looooong way along with his fellow fat white boys down south, cambo and johnboy. Two years ago they could not even spell s.c.o.u.t. Between the three of 'em and jerry. Now they can dam near scruu up anything and we still bail 'em out on occasion!

We're here to hold yore hand as long as the attitude don't pop up...that's a real problem in this business as you've already found. And prolly this time next year, you will be helpin' folks too!

 

[Scoutboy74]

Holy krab appulz! My eeyers iz on far! Gots tuh dip the sumbitches in sum jerry and kuhl 'em off a mite!

 

[ronmc1954]

Hey johnnyc, looks like the Scout is coming along pretty good. It's amazes me that this IH community is so strong and helpful. I live in ne and I feel like I know everybody personnally here at ihon. Michael and trever along with others here, know their stuff and have set me straight on many occasions, so if you need the straight poop here's where to get it. No pun intended.

Ron

 

[JohnnyC]

Danka,
it has been a ton of work to get it where its at and it needs so much more as you can tell. Thanks for all of your encouragement.

 

[JohnnyC]

Ok, heres an oudated update... Does that make sense?

About three months ago I tore out my tranny and transfercase to do a reseal and clean-up because my tranny pan wouldn't stop leaking and my t/c had a leak in the rear output seal. After I resealed the two they started to leak even worse, so I ripped them out again and the Scout sat for three months building sludge in the engine as I made excuses so I wouldn't have to work on it again.

Well after my three month break from the Scout I decided I needed to get back to work on it. So I took the tranny to aamco and they tried to tell me it was going to cost 2 grand to rebuild my tranny, I said heck no and took my completely disassembled tranny, which I asked them not to do, home and began to sulk in self pity. After another week I came back to the Scout and started to do a rewire job. I properly marked the wires and tore them out and layed them on the ground and began to match up the new ones with the old ones.

After I completed that I looked at the Scout and said "I'm going about this all wrong, I need to do this the right way". So I pulled the engine and began to tear down my 345, come to find out that rtv doesn't come from the factory. Some ya-hoo had already done a cruddy rebuild on it. It was already bored .040 over and had a ton of wear so I decided not to use the 345 and moved over to my 304 which is bone stock. As I tore down the 304 I noticed I had two flat lobes on the cam and almost all the lifters were frozen. Not to bad for an engine that didn't smoke or use oil, I thought. Had no power though.

So here are some pics of the engine build. It is going to get an overbore of probably .020 and I am going to throw a vintage ray jay turbo kit on it. Lot's of planning and learning.

 

[JohnnyC]

Alright heres another update.

I've got all my parts from the machine shop:

block bored .040 over and honed-150.00
pistons dished 20cc's- 80.00
connecting rods swaped on pistons- 56.00
connecting rods reconditioned- 96.00
magnefluxed- 35.00
engine balanced- 170.00
crank polished- 45.00

total = about 632.00
here are some updated pics.

 

[JohnnyC]

Ok, here's another update. The enigine is almost fully back together I'm just tying up all the loose ends.

 

[Lou]

Johnnyc, what a great buildup you've got going on here. You won't find a better support group for your IH addiction than the guys on this site and at ihon. Your comment that "rtv doesn't come from the factory" will put you in good stead here. It is a core element of the belief system.
Once you've got this running you'll need to bring it out west to the Binder Bee in July and to the fall rally in October. Both are great shows and the primary language is IH.
Thank you also for your air force service.

 

[JohnnyC]

Hey thanks for the kudos, we'll see about coming out to west coast it'sa bitofa drive from cheyenne

 

[fungus]

Yeah, but with that new powerplant it should be a breeze! Good lookin' stuff you got going on here. Keep after it!

 

[JohnnyC]

Ok I've got another update, and it's the best one of all.

She's put back together and running strong....

 

[ryangarner]

Looks great johnny. Cool to see it all back together. Are you still going to put a turbo on it? ( do it ) haha either way its looking great.