IH Newb

[Rascus]

Hello all, thought I had registered for this site awhile ago but apparently not. My buddy Milosviach is on here a lot posting up his FJ-60 and mentioned the Scout section.

I have a 74 Scout II with the AMC 258 in it, it's a slug but gets the job done. Ordering up a lift kit and some other goodies for it (yea for tax returns). Have had to spend some time working on the engine as the previous owner (who was an ASE tech) did a rather crappy job, can anyone say using aquarium hose as a vacuum tube NOT a good idea? HELLO!

To the photos.

Original build sheet

Off-road fun

And naked

 

[Miloslavich]

well thats a rather hansom looking fellow in the last pic!!

 

[Rascus]

AMC engine

A little project I was working on. Basically wanted to put in a permant built-in storage/tool chest into the back. Never really got further then this!

Milovaich and my trucks

 

[Combat Chuck]

Nice Scoot!

I love the fact that you're running an AMC I-6 in it too!
If you could find one and make it work, what would your thoughts be on an IH V8?
I got a chance to check one out here about a year ago, I think is was the 396, but that was a sweet motor.

 

[Miloslavich]

Hey chuck, i'll comment on Rascus's Scout because ive helped him work on it quite a bit-


the I-6 is a bit of a slug at this altitude, mostly because its sucking thru a 1 barrel carb. But, these I-6 engines are tractor engines.. they were never meant to be hot rods. (everything is original) - which is very cool.

The truck could benefit from a 2bbl carb and possibly a manual pull choke setup for winter cold starts, but then again you're going away from originality.

an IH V8 would be pretty sick tho!

Some sprucing up here and there on the I-6 and i'd leave it as is - because its original! Some people dig that, others just want to throw a 502 crate with a blower in everything

 

[Combat Chuck]

Original's awesome, no arguments. There's an older couple around here with a later Scout Diesel, I see it every morning out in front of the gym. I almost asked them how much they wanted for it. Honestly, Scouts are my favorite American-made 4X4, and I'd take one hands-down over a heep any day.

I have alot more respect for the Binderheads out there who rebuild their stock motors than do the SBC swap that's taking over the 4X4 world these days.

 

[Miloslavich]

^ Im with ya on that.

too many SBC swaps out there. the power is nice, but you take away from the cool factor of the truck for sure.

plus, original is always worth more if its in top shape!

 

[Rascus]

Chuck thanks for the comments. If I could redo it I'd buy one with a V8. Like Milo said the 6 is a slug. She could probably use a rebuild.

If you could get that couple with the diesel I'd snag it. Can't go wrong there.

BTW I love the scout. She is my dd and besides one small issue she's run true.

Also, it wasn't a 502 its a 678 stroker on NOS!!!

 

[Combat Chuck]

a 678 sounds like overkill. It's a Scout, the slower, the better! See if a Rochester 2-barrel would fit on it, or maybe a supercharger to give it a little extra grunt at altitude, then get out there and show those Jeepers what a real 4X4 is!

 

[Rascus]

Nah...that's just a joke between me and Milo...wouldn't go that crazy.

The motocraft 2100 2bbl I think fits on this engine. I'm just worried about doing a rebuild on the engine and not getting much more out of it then what I already have.

Need to find a good IHV8 and throw it in there.

 

[Combat Chuck]

it's getting harder to find their V8's these days. Push comes to shove, what about a Cummins? I think a Scout with a 6BT would totally rock. You'd be the dedicated rescue vehicle in all your excursions.

 

[Miloslavich]

NOW you're talkin!!

if i ever do an engine swap im goin Turbo Diesel!

 

[cruiserloser]

The IH 345 will be an animal in that truck and a really easy swap. A 392 will also fit, but you wont need it. I have run a Scout Traveler with a 345 into a 727. It was all the power you would want for a rig that size. Dont bother with a SBC transplant. Save your dough for a proper 345 rebuild. The diesel you mention was a Nissan SD33. Good engine, turbo is a little more powerful.

Dave

 

[Rascus]

I'd love to keep it all IH if possible. My only concern is taking one old engine and replacing it with another old engine, granted I'd have it rebuilt before installing it but still.

I think I would be chastised by the IH community if I threw in a 350

 

[Combat Chuck]

I would find what present-day internals can go into that older block. The block's seasoned, and high-quality iron that you won't find on today's market. A donor block will be hard, and thick. The biggest worry will be the rods, cams, and pistons. I have no doubt in the world there's some binderhead banging out new cams in his barn, but there's a chance rods and pistons from somewhere else may fit in.

 

[Rascus]

Got my Rough country lift kit in a few days ago, plan to put it on next weekend. Was thinking of going 4 but this lift is only 2.5. If I went 4 would have to go with 33's and my 31's are still in great shape.

Also doing some fluid swaps on it. Once I get the lift in I'll take some photos of it out on the trails

 

[Combat Chuck]

 

[Rascus]

I initially was going for a 4in kit but then having to add new tires, new brake lines, steering, etc. So I decided with a 2.5in lift. I also bought some new bushings for the bod to replace the pitted and rotted out ones, unfortunately I didn't get to it, which I'll get to why next.

So apparently when ordering after market suspensions kits they sometimes like to randomly throw u-bolts and nuts that may or may not fit the application you are using. That threw a lot of extra time into my lift, plus the fact there were no shackles I had to custom fabricate some.

Another thing that took awhile to do was replacing the oil pan gasket. I've had quite a leak the last year and never got around to fixing. Had a few issues removing it but once I got it off I removed the old, probably original paper gasket, sanded down block and oil pan to bare metal, some permetex, new gasket and some clamps and got it back on.

Luckily I had the use of a full shop and two good friends who helped me with the build. Overall took about 14hrs to do. The rear shocks were the original IH with the IH stamp on the shocks. One other thing I did was change out the rear diff fluid which was well...basically the consistency of molasses, so I'm thinking never been changed?

All and all it was a great experience to get under the Scout and do some serious wrenching on it. One thing I did notice was that even with a 2.5in lift the brake lines are nearly maxed and if I were to do any serious articulation, especially in the back the line could easily snap, so need to get that next.

On with the photos!

Before shot:

Oil pan in the parts washer

Shot of the I6 258 with the pan removed, you can see all the oil all over everything, got that all washed off.

Scout with half the lift done and Miloslavich checking things out

Final product and man what a difference. Going from 37yr old springs and shocks that I could compress with ease to a new suspension it great. Still steers as it did, which was crap but not worse then before. Handles corners a lot better. Now...to get her on the trails!

 

[Combat Chuck]

Nice!

That 258's a stupid reliable motor.

 

[Rascus]

Nice!

That 258's a stupid reliable motor.

You know, as much as I knock that engine it has started everytime I've asked it too. It's gotten me from point A to point B everytime, rather slow sometimes but it has not let me down.