IH scout 800

[big dan]

Got some snow and ice while the ring and pinion was out of the scout so I took the work truck out to play around a little. Had to do some work too

Had a scrapper buy an old junk roadgrader where I work and showed up with a giant torch to cut it up. Used liquid oxygen and propane. Im sure some of you have seen them before but I haven't, thought they were neat.

Cut this road grader into pieces that two guys could pick up and load on the trailer in about 3 hours.

Finally got my ring and pinion back in so I decided to work on the scout a little

Built a bumper out of some scrap stuff I had and a piece of 3/8" plate. Also picked up a smittybilt winch that was on sale for $275. So far (haven't been wheeling yet) Im very impressed with it. Its not a warn but it is much faster than the two ramseys and engo winches that a friend of mine has. I figure with the cost of a wrecker and the likelihood that one wouldn't make it to where I would get stuck, if it pulls me out twice its paid for itself.

Also got the doors put on and with lots of work got the windows rolled up. Gears are all stripped in the cranks so its either up or down. Got the heater working today also so I should be good for a cold weather ride which may happen tomorrow.

 

[chulisohombre]

Looks good. Any work gets you closer to driving it and hopefully not having any breakdowns or stucks.

 

[big dan]

Took the scout out yesterday. Did a little wheelin at my brother in laws and used the winch to help move some stuff around in his junk yard. Didn't get any pics because it was mostly dark when we started. Bent the front passenger fender a bit, I think the tire got it but Im not real sure

Anyway winch works great. Had to move a couple large cast iron tanks so we could drag a 78 half ton chevy sideways up a hill so that he could get to it and take the bed off. Had the scout in 4l and park with the brakes on and it was dragging all 4 tires. Wedged the front bumper into a couple big motors that were sitting on the ground and that held it. Put it under a pretty good load and everything held so it should have no trouble pulling me out of a stuck.

Also realized how much I like driving this thing so I got to work on some projects today. Have lines on a couple 58 gallon automotive propane tanks that will fit in my bed ok and give me a lot longer range. One is $100 and needs a new valve and the other is free if he decides to let it go (probably will as he already gave away the propane setup and only has the tank left).

Also ordered up a new cam that should help low end torque and fuel mileage, the 350 in it I originally built as kind of a hot rod motor so its got higher compression (which is good) and big lopey cam (which sucks).

And then I got bored and built an sye for my np208 so I could run a cv shaft in the rear and hopefully get rid of some vibrations. Got some pics of it but I guess my phone didn't save them all

This is what I cut off of the factory slip yoke

And this is the finished product

Ill try and get some more pics of what I did before I install it so that others can see. Did it at my house with no special tools (grinder and a drill) and it takes the factory seal and 32 spline bolt on yokes. Im using a yoke from the front output because I have a cv driveshaft that fits it.

 

[82355]

Nice.

Martin

 

[big dan]

Finished up sye, had to make a spacer to go between the bearing and yoke to take up the slack.

And here it is installed with a cut down front driveshaft from an 86 3/4 ton. Had it up to 55-60 with no vibes, was so nice being able to drive down the highway without rattling your teeth.

And then I found a killer deal on a th400 so I went to the guys house with a friend to get it. Turned out to be a really cool old man that collected lots of old stuff. Had a 62 vette he bought brand new and showed us a 4 to 2 door conversion he was doing on a 55 chevy. Said he had 22 55-57 chevy cars. Anyway he had this roll cage sitting in a pile of junk and we measured and it was real close to the dimensions needed for the scout. We asked him about it and he said that since we had to pull the tranny he would throw it in the deal.

Its 1.75" 1.20 wall hrew. Not dom but it was free and will provide better protection than the windshield frame. So I started messing with it and ended up cutting it all apart and redoing it while adding in a bunch of bracing and gussets from stuff I had laying around.

Here it is coming together in the scout

Pulled it out so I could roll it around and not have to weld upside down. Resulted in much better welding than what would have most likely occurred if I had done it in the scout.

You can also see me next project in the background, 74 half ton, bent frame, worn out motor, bad tranny but mostly good body and was free. Plan to swap body on 3/4 ton rolling chassis (also free) and throw in a 5.3/4l60 (probly have to pay for this part) and paint it. Going to use it for a service truck for my hvac business.

Heres the cage inside my tiny shed (have a shop coming soon)

Added 3x3 1/4" gussets on almost every joint, don't want it to come apart

And back in the scout. Was twice as heavy with all the braces and a real pain to get it back in place since after fully welding it no longer flexed.

Replacing a bunch of the rusted floor while everything is apart. Going to weld the cage feet directly to the body and then brace back to the frame. Would like for it to be removable but I made it fit so tightly that with the cage feet on it wont come out anyway. You may also notice that the top and doors no longer fit but Im working on a solution. Probably aluminum top and tube doors.

And just for fun the only pic that saved to my phone from our wheelin trip just before I tore it down to put in the cage.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Looks good man.

 

[magik235]

Great progress

 

[big dan]

Few small updates

A member here had a killer deal on some Yukon axles and joints for a 10 bolt and even though I really don't need them I couldn't say no to the price. So I picked up some bling bling for my front axle

I have them assembled but yet to install. Like I said I really don't need them at this point in time, been wheeling pretty hard with an open front and have yet to break a shaft. May do a posi up front, really don't want a locker and Im still contemplating on dropping to 33s. I have a decent set just have to swap axles to 6-lug so my wheels will work. Regardless, a front traction aid is out of the question until I get power steering.

Got the cage mostly welded in. My welder craped out so I still have one side of the floor pan to finish and since I decided to weld my floor plates in so the cage is not removable Im going to use gussets and weld it to the body in as many places as possible to reduce the chances of tearing the sheet metal. Also going to brace it back down to the frame. I have the front a-pillers attached to the frame now but didn't get to finish since my welder died.

Yesterday took my wife wheeling on an easy trail and she has all the pics. Developed death wobble that it did not have the last time I drove it. Going to have to figure that out

And since I was off today and bored I decided to take a little trip. 3 hour ride and I never touch pavement from the time I left my driveway till a short 2 mile stretch on the way back.

First creek crossing

Crossing a ditch. You can also see my aluminum top that I attached to the cage

Using what little flex I have

Either need trimming or less rubber

Second creek crossing

and then I found a nasty mudhole on the other side

Good thing the winch works

Got some real nice pics of the creek at the crossings but for some reason my phone saves some pics and deletes others. Oh well at least I got some proof that the scout leaves my driveway.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Wunna dem der smert funes!



What size tires do you have on it now?

 

[big dan]

Its actually a dumb piece of crap. Im old school, no smart phone. Still using an old razr.

Tires are 36-14.50-16.5. The thing that really kills me on the tires is the 16.5 wheel size. The ones I have now are bald and need to be replaced. I can get cheap hummer take offs but then Im going up in size which is not what I want. Then on the other hand I have access to a set of 33s with decent tread on 15" six lug wheels.

On the other hand as soon as I put on smaller tires Id want the big ones back. I think some 35-12.50s would be a good compromise but there again I have to spend mo muneyz. Maybe one day Ill just make up my mind and go with it

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Honestly, looking at your pictures I was thinking 35's would work well for you.

Try to trade the 33's? Maybe find some 35's and some 8 lug wheels? No 6 lug swap?

Seems like some of that you did in the pictures would have been A LOT harder with 3" smaller and 2" narrower tires.

 

[ktmoutfront]

I have enjoyed follwing this build. I have to ask, how much do you have in it? If you don't want to say, no big deal.

This has to be the least expensive build that has turned out super cool.

 

[big dan]

I have enjoyed follwing this build. I have to ask, how much do you have in it? If you don't want to say, no big deal.

This has to be the least expensive build that has turned out super cool.

I appreciate the compliments. Hard to say exactly how much I have in it but Ill try to figure it up.

For the scout, I traded helping my brother in law do some stuff around his house so basically free.

Axles I got from a truck I paid $200. I got at least $200 scraping the leftovers but used tons of parts off of it first so we'll say free on that too.

Springs and shocks Ive got about $100 in but I need new shocks baddd.

Tranny was $50, had the t-case from something I don't remember.

Winch was $275, bumper was free.

Seats were free, cage was free but I have a lot of welding consumables and some extra tube that I had laying around so I don't know what price to put on that.

Aluminum radiator was $200, electric fans $50.

Propane setup was $100 and $100 for each tank I have so $400 total there.

So here Im up to $1075 not counting little odd and end stuff like bolts and welding wire etc. I figure another $500 for that stuff so $1575. Most of this money came from selling parts off my truggy, maybe have $500 out of pocket. but this is where it gets tricky.

Tires were $150, wheels were $50 but that was 4 years ago and Ive had them on 3 different vehicles, one of which was a dd for 6 months.

The crossover steering parts I have about $300 in but I bought them probably 6 years ago and again they have been on 3 different vehicles.

Engine I built for $2000 about 6 years ago. Its got roughly 40k miles and been in 3 different trucks as well.

 

[big dan]

Took the scout out for a little snow wheeling and recovery last night. Was a long night.

First we got this freakish winter storm yesterday. Was sunny and 70s on Friday, cloudy and cooler on Saturday and teens with sleet/ice/snow falling all day so I had no plans to do anything outside. But it was not meant to be.

Brother in law calls me at 6 "is the scout running?" I tell him it is and he says good Im stuck. So I tell him Ill head that way as soon as a get some stuff loaded up.

First thing, all my propane tanks were frozen. Had an inch of ice around the valves and fittings. So I grab a tank and throw it in the bath tub with hot water to thaw. In the mean time I found a screw driver and beat the ice off the hood and windshield. Opened the hood and put in the battery. Got the propane tank and strapped it down and hooked up the hose. Fired right and ran perfect, I love propane. So while its warming up I grabbed some tools and a spare tire and tossed in the back. Locked hubs and jumped in.

Put it in gear and all it would do is spin the back tires. Checked to see if the driveshaft was spinning and it was so I knew the hubs weren't locking. Had to take the caps off and beat around on them with a screwdriver till they locked. Finally I was able to move and it is now 7 pm.

So I drive 10 miles through sleet and snow with no doors, heat or windshield wipers stopping every couple miles to clear the windshield and finally make it to the road where the trail head is. They had walked back to the road so that I could find them. Once I found them it was 8 pm. So we take off down the trail, everybody thinking we've got it made until we slide down a hill and into a dirt pile killing the engine. Now this would normally be no problem, no damage was done, except somewhere in my hour long drive the neg. battery cable end broke and the battery wasn't charging.

We leave the scout with a pair of vice grips and walk about a mile through the woods to where the jeep is and grab the battery out of and walk back. By now I had quit looking at the time, it didn't matter anymore. Get back to the scout, out of breath and sweating (at least we weren't cold) and take a break. Toss in the battery and off we go. Come to the first hill climb and after several full throttle assaults there we were wedged, well not really wedged but there was a tree on one side and a cliff on the other so we decided to winch.

Got past the first hill and had to wind through trees that were barely wide enough for my tires to squeeze through and came to the second hill climb. First you go straight down into a dip and then straight up the other side. Engine sputtered on the way down and lost all momentum. Backed up and hit it again wide open. Front tires broke over, back tires caught something and slung us hard sideways into a tree. Had to winch again.

Now we are finally back to the jeep. Hook up cable with the scout pointed uphill and the cable was dragging the scout toward the jeep. So I back up, chain the scout to a tree and winch away. Finished out the trail with no issues and back to my brother in laws house. Left the scout there for the night and took his jeep home. I walked in the door at midnight, soaked from head to toe and ready for bed and there sat my wife at the kitchen table with a hot drink and a warm meal

Only got one pic cause it was dark. But here's the carnage the day after

Oh and by the way, mostly worn out swamper suck on ice and hard packed snow. Im sure I wouldn't have had trouble on the hill climbs with better tires.

 

[magik235]

Great story.

 

[jekquistk5]

smittybilt winches are pretty good for the money! They are rebranded TMAXX's. I have the 10k on my rig and it hasn't let me down yet.

 

[max 02]

Good story!
Looks like your having fun with it!

 

[big dan]

Spent the majority of the weekend swapping the tranny in my dd. Thought it would be a good idea to put in a manual when I did my ls swap and I was wrong. Now I have an extreme hatred for manual trannys. But in a plus side I built my first auto tranny and got it put in so I actually enjoy driving my old truck again.

Despite all the labor on the dd I did get some time on the scout. Finally swapped the cam for a smaller one I had. It was used but in really good condition. Barely any wear marks on the lifters or cam lobes so I slapped it in. Much more low end torque and throttle response. Pulls 20" of vacuum instead of the 12 or 13 it had, propane mixer seems to work better with more vacuum.

Also did lots of tuning. Been doing a bunch of research on propane tuning so I could get it running a bit better. Found out it needed a colder spark plug and fixed the dist. mechanical advance to better suit the propane. Runs a ton better. Don't know if it was just the cam or everything all together but I was able to lean out the mixture a bunch and it runs way better. Was able to pull the big hill going towards my house in 3rd gear instead of dropping to 2nd or even 1st. Also got rid of all the popping and backfiring it was doing.

No pics though, motor tuning and cam swaps are boring. Hopefully get to go wheeling again soon. Ice and snow last week, sunny and 70s this week

 

[ashman]

built your first auto huh? How was it? I've built a few engines but I've been scared to tackle an auto.

 

[big dan]

built your first auto huh? How was it? I've built a few engines but I've been scared to tackle an auto.

It wasn't bad. There are a lot of pieces but if you keep them in order and keep them clean it isn't bad.

I flattened a big cardboard box and laid all my pieces out as they came out of the tranny. Took apart, cleaned and replaced seals and clutches one drum at a time. Then put it all back in the same order as it came out. Im sure there are tricks for checking worn out parts and clearances but I started with a good tranny and replaced all wear parts. I may get a little more in depth on my next one, this was an experiment.