Hey ladd's & lassies,

Help me decide what to do with my '78.

my big problem is my folks won't let me do any work here. so that means paying people, which increases the price.

right now,my list of major repairs is:

buy & install transmission
buy & install transfercase
replace windsheild
fix wiring in dash & add guages
either fix speedo cable or (more likely) buy & install electric speedo
rebuild/replace carb.
reinstall brakebooster/mc & hook up lines
re-install power steerring hoses
fix leak in front tire

add on to that the labor to install the drivetrain (I was quoted $150), safety & smog check,and insurance.

my estimate is it'd take between $1000-$1500 to get Clyde back on the road.

now if I shop around, I figure I can get the trans/t-case for under $300.If things get real tight, I have a t-19 & d-20 here, but the're earmarked for my 800 project. windsheild is about $100, i'd guess I could buy a rebuilt carb from a vendor for around the same (i hate petrol fuel systems).I think the guy who'di'd have installthe drive train (ms conception) would let me install the brake & steering parts myself in his shop. speedo would add maybe another $100.

I've been thinking of selling my travel top (any one want a almost rust free top w/ 'glass inserts?) & installing the terra top. which wold also mean i'd want to sell the roll bar & rear seat.

the thing is, I dunno if I really want to keep this truck. I'd really perfer to find a diesel one and convert it to the terra style. leave it mostly stock & use it to commute with. sure I can convert this one, but is it worth it? I've already got the 800, which I hope to buildup this fall/winter, got my eye on a travelall, that the owner wants to sell to me, and at some point i'd like to build a competition only rig. maybe a tube frame running a diesel drivetrain.

so what to do? fix it up & keep it? sell it as is? fix it so it can move & stop, then sell it?

been trying to decide. :confused:

None of those projects sound too messy! You say tour folks wont let you work on it?? Its not like a carb swap is an eyesore … as compared to frame-off with parts lying all over place. As for cost$$$$$ I don’t know why you would pay to have a trans installed or brake parts. It’s a 70’s truck = easy to work on. Do you not have tools??? Or friends that can be bribed with beer??;)

And then the whole scout 800 project.. I would say sell the II and dump all time & energy into the 800 ( I say that because I have a soft spot in my heart for that body style):angel:



Oh yeah back to $$$. Rebuild your carb yourself its eeeaaasssyyy!!!!!

At a minimum get the thing going and stopping and then sell it
:cool2:

My mother was pushing me for a long time to go drop $50/month and rent a single car garage for a shop "somewhere else"..

Fortunately, there was never a ban on wrenching at home.. and now there's the new shop to work in.. :D

But if I were faced with your situation, I'd start looking for a garage for rent somewhere.

Haul your junk over there and put it back together.

At the least, make it run and drive so you can sell it easily.

Or make it run n' drive and get it together so you're happy just driving the thing.

If you really want a diesel daily driver, fine. Keep Clyde around and use 'em until you find the Diesel you want and then decide if you need to dump the gasser, buy the Diesel.. or convert the gasser.. or heck, keep both! :D

Scout II has a LOT more in the "creature comforts" deparment over the 800s... Michelle's learning that. :D Driving "Oscar" is *work*.. her Toyota pickup has manual steer, but it steers much much easier.. and with power discs it stops a lot better, too.

Toy also has radials, and tighter steering than the stock "ball n' socket" 800 steering with 31x10.50 bias ply Mickey Thompsons. :D

But as bad as my SII has gotten.. it still turns easier, heats more, stops better (well, that might be debatable with the 36s now..), the *electric* wipers work better.. etc.

Then again, I drive my Travelall these days.. p/s, p/b (drums), auto, extra-heat option, buckets.. yeah, a lazy man's rig.

If only the electric rear window worked. :D

Originally posted by tsm1mt
[B]My mother was pushing me for a long time to go drop $50/month and rent a single car garage for a shop "somewhere else"..

Fortunately, there was never a ban on wrenching at home.. and now there's the new shop to work in.. :D

But if I were faced with your situation, I'd start looking for a garage for rent somewhere.

That was one idea. sofar I haven't found anything within Salt Lake County.


Haul your junk over there and put it back together.

At the least, make it run and drive so you can sell it easily.

yeah, i figure "drive it away" will increase the value if I sell it


Or make it run n' drive and get it together so you're happy just driving the thing.

If you really want a diesel daily driver, fine. Keep Clyde around and use 'em until you find the Diesel you want and then decide if you need to dump the gasser, buy the Diesel.. or convert the gasser.. or heck, keep both! :D

there's the problem. do I do the bare minimun on clyde? do I build the cage I want and then transfer it to a diesel? what about stuff like body mounts....


Scout II has a LOT more in the "creature comforts" deparment over the 800s... Michelle's learning that. :D Driving "Oscar" is *work*.. her Toyota pickup has manual steer, but it steers much much easier.. and with power discs it stops a lot better, too.

Toy also has radials, and tighter steering than the stock "ball n' socket" 800 steering with 31x10.50 bias ply Mickey Thompsons. :D

But as bad as my SII has gotten.. it still turns easier, heats more, stops better (well, that might be debatable with the 36s now..), the *electric* wipers work better.. etc.

right, all reasons why i wanna keep one as my daily driver


Then again, I drive my Travelall these days.. p/s, p/b (drums), auto, extra-heat option, buckets.. yeah, a lazy man's rig.

I'll most likely buy jason's once I get everything else in order. but since his is a 12x0 series, it'll get a 4wd conversion & be groomed into a tow rig.

Originally posted by NotQuiteSane


there's the problem. do I do the bare minimun on clyde? do I build the cage I want and then transfer it to a diesel? what about stuff like body mounts....


One thing to consider.. I've long claimed I have two SIIs (well, at one point it was just two) because I can't get ANYTHING right on the first try.

One is my "practice" rig. :D

Originally posted by cornfedred
None of those projects sound too messy! You say tour folks wont let you work on it?? Its not like a carb swap is an eyesore … as compared to frame-off with parts lying all over place. As for cost$$$$$ I don’t know why you would pay to have a trans installed or brake parts.

I think if i had someone do just the trans install, i could get away with doing the rest. the powersteering would only take 5 minutes, and the brake bleeding would take lomger that installing the parts


It’s a 70’s truck = easy to work on. Do you not have tools??? Or friends that can be bribed with beer??;)

this is Utah. the majority of my freinds can't be bribed with beer. but in their own defense, most have done lots to help me.


And then the whole scout 800 project.. I would say sell the II and dump all time & energy into the 800 ( I say that because I have a soft spot in my heart for that body style):angel:

well, me too, but I'm breeding this one into a (barely :flipoff2: ) street legal trail rig. I'd eventually like to end up with a whole fleet



Oh yeah back to $$$. Rebuild your carb yourself its eeeaaasssyyy!!!!!

At a minimum get the thing going and stopping and then sell it
:cool2:


maybe easy, but i still hate messing with petrol. diesel is much simpler.

NQS