IH Scout?

[w748]

Anyone have any opinions / experience with the early 80 series Scouts?
I'm kind of looking around for a bare bones , simple , SHTF type vehicle.
Thanks!

[hatidua]

Anyone have any opinions / experience with the early 80 series Scouts?
I'm kind of looking around for a bare bones , simple , SHTF type vehicle.
Thanks!

I had a '73 and a '78. Both went the length of Baja annually for many years and pulled countless other vehicles out of the ditch and off the beaches down there. Both chewed through alternators almost as fast as they did gasoline.

I came very close to getting a series 80 scout (the older one you are inquiring about) and when I found the outfit that is the go-source for parts for those, they strongly urged me to go a different direction due to parts becoming increasingly scarce. Very neat vehicles though and I far prefer them to the old Bronco's.

[Great-Kazoo]

The one i had was a stump puller, Up side is the same 345 cu. in motor used in their large trucks (tree trimmers etc) Down side is parts availability. They're worth more parting out than the whole unit.

[Wulf202]

They're worth more parting out than the whole unit.

this

[hurley842002]

I've only owned the Scout II, but my dad had an 800, I think it was a 66, it had the 196 I4. It was a gutless wonder, but geared so low it was quite pleasant on the trails, and would pull 55-60 fairly easily on the highway.

The "80's" series was built between 60 and 65, and came standard with the 152. From what I've heard you do NOT want that motor, even more gutless than the 196.

If I had my choice, I'd try to get an 800A or newer 69-71, with a 304 V8. Great motor, and plenty of power/torque for the little 800.

[streetglideok]

IH scouts and trucks were prone to rust, but out here, you see a few good specimens still. The one thing neat about IH, they mix-matched parts a lot. Because of that, you can put about whatever you want in them for a powertrain.

[roberth]

I'd be concerned with parts availability. I may have done some research on these, I'll look for it.

[roberth]

Found this site - http://scoutparts.com/

[gnihcraes]

Great vehicles, if entact, not a rust bucket. (good luck)
Look for a Traveler version, nissan diesel six cylinder engine.

Know a family that had one of these, never let them down.

[spqrzilla]

I had a Scout II from '78 model year I think. Great 4x4 but a rust bucket and increasingly difficult parts nightmare. While I have great fondness for the old Scout, there are better and cheaper alternatives for just about any purpose of trail rig or beater hunting truck. Especially poor choice for SHTF vehicle in my opinion. As an example, the nearest parts junkyard to me has 15 Jeep Cherokees in it and no Scouts.

[hurley842002]

The thing about the Scouts, is since they were basically tractor motors put into passenger vehicles and light pickups, many of the small items such as alternators, starters, etc. Were usually made by one of the big three, so if you can cross reference, or have a knowledgeable parts guy at your local Napa, they aren't as hard to find parts for, as many think.

[Scogin]

I have a '76 Scout II. They are great. The Rocky Mountain IH Rendezvous was actually this weekend. I missed it because of the new baby but it is a bunch of people from Colorado that get together every year to show off their rigs. http://www.rmihr.net/
http://www.ihpartsamerica.com/forums/

http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/index.php (http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/index.php)

[hurley842002]

I have a '76 Scout II. They are great. The Rocky Mountain IH Rendezvous was actually this weekend. I missed it because of the new baby but it is a bunch of people from Colorado that get together every year to show off their rigs. http://www.rmihr.net/
http://www.ihpartsamerica.com/forums/

http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/index.php (http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/index.php)

I always wanted to make it to that event, but never did before I sold my Scout.

Speaking of selling my Scout. I've got a couple stories that display the toughness of these scouts.

First one involved my uncles Scout II. We were headed back from Buena Vista after hunting, and my 17 (at the time) year old brother was leading the convoy in my uncles Scout, with my dad following in his 1 ton four door Chevy pickup hooked to a trailer hauling his Scout 800 (no clue the weight but it was a lot).

As they came to North Pueblo Blvd and highway 50 the light changed yellow, my brother being the newish law abiding driver, slammed on the breaks and stopped, well my dad wasn't expecting it, and rear ended him going about 45-50.

Completely destroyed the winch and winch bumper on his truck, along with the grill and radiator. All my uncle had to do was replace a tail light, and straighten his rear bumper with a hi lift. Lol

[hurley842002]

Second story involved my Scout II (which led to me selling it).

I had it parked on the street in front of a friends house in Pueblo, and some teenage kid in his brand new Trans am, hit it going about 55 according to the officer.

The Scout completely tore the passenger side of the car off, and totalled it. Only damage to the Scout was the rear axle was shifted forward, and the driver side rear leaf hanger was torn from the frame.

Insurance totalled the Scout due to frame damage, but I bought it back for next to nothing, with full intentions of fixing it, but regretfully ended up selling it to my uncle.

[Ah Pook]

Anyone have any opinions / experience with the early 80 series Scouts?
I'm kind of looking around for a bare bones , simple , SHTF type vehicle.
Thanks!
The Scout 80, made from 62-66, is a capable vehicle but has limitation. They had 152ci 4 cylinder motors. Oil bath air filters were stock. Dana 27 axles, usually geared around 4.88, were adequate for the engine size. The closed knuckle fronts were a pain as well as the tapered axle rear. The sliding door windows are a PITA. Don't expect to carry much gear past a long weekend. They are prone to rust but so was every other vehicle made at the same time. The motors will just about last forever. Same for the drivetrain. The fold down window is my favorite part. Motor/drivetrain parts are easy to find. Body parts are not.

Look at the 800s (67-69). They came with 266 and 304 V8s, Dana T18 four speeds and Dana 20 twin stick transfer cases. Still not much storage room.

Scout IIs (69-80) were 12"-18" than the earlier models but still has the 100" wheel base. 4, 6, 8 cylinder motors were options. Go with a 304 or 345 V8. Most had Dana 44 axles.

The Scouts were ridiculously easy to work on and will take you just about anywhere.

Spend some time on www.binderplanet.com. (http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/index.php)

[encorehunter]

The first vehicle I ever bought with my own money was a '74 Scout II. I still have the rust bucket as I can't seem to let her go. I have fixed a lot of the rust over the years, but she isn't currently road worthy. The frame has been cracked more than a dozen times from the previous owner, which didn't matter much to me, since I only drove it to school and back. It was 2 miles of highway and 8 of dirt road. Mine has a 6 cyl 258 with a 3 speed. With the 1 barrel carb it was pretty sad on power. I put a 2 barrel on it, and it changed everything. It had much more power. The fuel mileage went down, but it wasn't enough to off set the power gain in my mind.
The one time I got it stuck, I slid off the road into gully after a rainstorm. The driver side tires were still on the road, but mud was half way up the passenger door. It took a 4x4 tractor and a jeep with a winch to pull me out. One of these days, I will find the time to get to working on it again.

[stubbicatt]

Neat memories. My dad had a 64 Scout with the PTO winch, and slant 4, and a 3 speed transmission. We used to pull a travel trailer with that thing all over this state in the early 60's. I learned how to drive in that thing. Then he bought a 68 "Aristocrat." What a neat truck. Had an automatic transmission which dad detested. So he bought a 73, which he drove until there was no more floor in it. Each time you would slam the door to shut it, rust would fall off from somewhere. I still have dreams with me driving that tank, they all involve radiator leaks or having no gas, or having to add oil, and the dream usually involves that worrisome feeling that I didn't check the oil recently enough and the engine is about to burn up.

Lots of fond memories of these trucks.

[jreifsch80]

A buddy of mine had a 64 scout 80, it had a twin stick transfer case and an additional hi-lo shifter. It definitely gave it a tractor feel having 4 shift sticks coming out of the floor.

[generalmeow]

Anyone have any opinions / experience with the early 80 series Scouts?
I'm kind of looking around for a bare bones , simple , SHTF type vehicle.
Thanks!

My opinion is that they are BAD ASS!

[hurley842002]

My opinion is that they are BAD ASS!

Yup! I'd love to own another one!

[generalmeow]

Yup! I'd love to own another one!

An 80 series scout is one of the best looking vehicles I've ever seen. It's my dream ride.

[Scogin]

3124331241

My toy. '76 Scout II, 345 V8, 727 auto trans, 4" lift on 33's.