Hello. I am new to the boards and new to renovating 4 wheel drives. I have owned several, but all of them were newer. I have been out of the 4 wheel drive loop for about 10 years. I am hoping to purchase a 77 Scout 2 next weekend. The price is $800 and it is suppose to be a daily driver. From what I know the motor is good. The sending unit is bad and it has body rust. I have friends who do body and motor work. Another friend is familiar with the 345 and the drivetrain. I have liked the Scouts for a long time I just have not had the financial resources or space to jump in and start any projects until now. Anything I should look for in particular with this vehicle? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. And I have used the search tab as well as the faq tab. Sorry if I offend any of you with my newb question.

Not really much secret about them. The mechanicals are actually quite simple, but old. The wireing works, but typicaly by now is getting old, loose, crusty and has had who knows howmany previous owners into it. So be prepared to hunt down electrical gremlins. A complete tip to tail re-wire job is a good idea for the neer future, expecialy if you want to keep it as a DD, resonably stock rig (not a striped down wheeling rig).

Take a look at the ignition. The 77's should have a Holley/IH electronic distributor with an external "gold box". This "gold box" is notoriously unreliable since they started using them and can just one day up and die. Some folks like them and never have issues. Other just carry as spare. But most folks swap them out. Pertronix makes a points eliminator that will eliminate the gold box, good piece of mind.

The rest of the drivetrain is old school. IH motors are good motors, and most all parts are avaliable from decent auto parts houses, but sometime you have to go looking a little harder, or figure out "other" applications that use the same part. A good parts house/counter guy will look in the book, rather than the computer. The manuals are t-19's, either wide (less common) or close ratio. Close it good for driving, wide is good for wheeling. The autos are Chrysler 727's in an IH specific case. The t-case will be a D20, all gear unit. Front axle a D44 with Discs, Rear axle a D44 with drums. 1310 u-joints and 297X axle joints.

The bodys rust. And have a couple rust traps. Most rust prone parts are avaliable, to a degree. With differing qualities. But the only front fenders availiable are used or fiberglas. But if you have a buddy that is a body man, this is less of an issue.

Other than that they are a truck, and rid like a truck, but are tough like a truck. Good rigs, with lots of potential for what ever you want to turn it into. But be prepared to spend a couple bucks fixing some of the little stuff and getting it reliable.

Rustoleumwhite thanks for the information. I really appreciate it. Sorry if this has been discussed before. I have done a decent amount of research on the net and learned a few things, but I just wanted to know what to look for at first. I will check these points out as soon as I pick it up. For the price I couldn't pass it up. I am really looking forward to getting into it and learning. I have minimal mechanical experience, but I am ordering the service manual from scoutparts.com. I have tools, just got to put them to use. I work for the city here and some of the old city trucks had the same motor and drivetrain. One of the old school city mechanics is a friend and said they had lots of spare parts from the old trucks in storage. Thanks again for the reply.

the motors themselves are solid. its the wear parts like ignitions and carbs that give the most drama to a DD. Be careful when you start 'repairing' rust problems. Before yo know it you have an entire quarter panel made of patches:eek:

I wish I had a really nice 73 with updated drive train. I miss the DD IH's:(

Be careful when you start 'repairing' rust problems. Before yo know it you have an entire quarter panel made of patches:eek: :(
Whatchoo talkin' bout willis!?! My quarter panel isn't made of patches!
http://www.dandcextreme.com/upload/rusty201.jpg
http://www.dandcextreme.com/upload/rusty202.jpg

:eek: :grinpimp: :eek: :grinpimp:

Hello. I am new to the boards and new to renovating 4 wheel drives. I have ..... newb question.
new to me. I just finished paying for this 76 with 67K on the OD for $1K, virtually rust free(havent really looked at it to be absolutely positive) just some minor things. I was spinning my wheels instead of spinning my wheels on a body off if you know what I mean. So jumped haed first into a better situation. usig my 1ton stuff and 38's I shoul be way ahead of myself than previously.
http://i3.ebayimg.com/03/i/06/12/fc/48_3.JPG?set_id=100D
http://i2.ebayimg.com/01/i/06/14/e0/92_3.JPG?set_id=100D
http://i1.ebayimg.com/02/i/06/0d/f5/b9_3.JPG?set_id=100D

BTW, the body was herculined so thats why it looks that way.

I thought that's what it was. Picking mine up Saturday. I have been thinking about doing that to the inside. Not sure what all is gonna be needed up front yet. Post some details after the weekend. I have to go to Southern Illinois to pick it up.