Possible Scout buy

[chris408]

Hi, I read carefully through many websites and pages on this forum, but havnt really found answers to my questions.

1) How well does a stock 1976 Scout Terra articulate? I have read that they are setup with leaf under the axles, and I wouldnt want to do SOA, because I dont want my truck that high. So lifting options would probably be limited to shackles...are these shunned upon in the IH community?

2) Are there any weak points into looking at when buying a 76 scout? So far the owner has told me it has D44 front and rear, and a detroit locker on the rear. It has a 345ci motor and he put a 500CFM holley carb. T-19a manual 4spd. He mentioned a crack in the steering box, so it leaks a little power steering fluid. How hard will it be to find a new steering box for this truck? How reliable is the 345, and is it a GM motor?


Sorry for newb questions, but I did search pirate and google, mostly just found HP numbers on the motor. It seems to have great low end TQ. Thanks!

[justscoutin]

the binder bulletin or justinternationals would probably find better answers to your questions, but as far as lift, you can buy some new springs that lift it 2 inches. longer shackles in the front tend to make it wander all over the road.

[chris408]

I was told lift springs make for a crappy ride, and they dont flex well at all...I guess the only option would be SOA?

[snoop dogg]

345 is IH...that should have came up in your searching.

do you want flexable trail rig? is so SOA is it...not that hard and you can run 33's or 35's.

sprung under is better than stock but still wont' articulate good...your ride would probably be a little stiffer on the road...might be better.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by chris408

I was told lift springs make for a crappy ride, and they dont flex well at all...I guess the only option would be SOA?

Depends on your point of reference.

A set of used lift springs actually improved my ride a great deal, because my stock springs were shot to shit.

[robselina]

Originally Posted by chris408

I was told lift springs make for a crappy ride, and they dont flex well at all...I guess the only option would be SOA?

depends. quality springs by someone like alcan will ride great. You can stay SUA up to about 4". Any taller and you start having problems with bending main leafs and generally crappy flex.

Based on what you've said, get some quality 2.5" lift springs and maybe some shackles that are 1" longer than stock (assuming rear shackles are not inverted, I'm not up on the 'newer' IH models).

[robselina]

oh yea, I 'think' that's a saginaw steering box, which should make it easy to replace since it's under almost every damn jeep made from the 70s and up

[Urban Wheeler]

(assuming rear shackles are not inverted, I'm not up on the 'newer' IH models)

Nope, they are set up like the 80/800s.

oh yea, I 'think' that's a saginaw steering box, which should make it easy to replace since it's under almost every damn jeep made from the 70s and up

Yes it is a Saginaw box, but since there are many different versions you'd probably want to buy a used one.

As for weak points, the bodies tend to rust bad and the wiring isn't exactly the greatest. The 345 is a strong motor, and although heavy, will go for several hundred thousand miles. One thing to watch for is the cam bearings tend to come apart. Oh, and the standard alternator is only 37 amps, 67 amp alt is optional.