New to me '77 SSII

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

I am not sure why I did this but I bought another Scout the other day. It was posted on Craigslist for the last month or two and Hueste had posted up a link to it in another thread here on our forum. Based on Huste's post I had called the owner a few weeks ago to get some details ... original 304, relatively recent tranny rebuild, lots of rust and the door inserts were not original. Based on that I dismissed it as an SSII and posted up as much in the thread mentioned above.

Well I got back from a pre-Christmas vacation trip a few days ago and saw the add was still in Craigslist and the price was reduced. I gave the owner another call and decided to go and take a look first hand since I had that kind of time. I drove past the Scout once and was ready to just keep driving home as it was obvious even from the street how bad of shape it is in. Dents, rust, custom camo paint, more rust, etc. but it had plastic door inserts and they looked to be in good shape so I stopped and took a closer look.

Needless to say after some tire kicking, rust hole poking and an initial offer that was refused but later accepted I am the proud owner of a very rusty 1977 SSII as verified by the VIN number and plate on the passenger kick panel. A big thanks to Fred for letting me use his trailer today and I was able to get it loaded and taken to storage where it will sit to rust some more until I get time to work on it.



Here is a quick run down on what I know that it needs:

Carb
Brake work
Rear axle pinion yoke
Tailgate
Hood
Windshielf cowl
Two front fenders
Two rear quarter panels
Floorboards
Wheel tubs
Steering column
Gauges
I have most of the stuff and a line on some of the other bits so I will slowly collect until the time is ready for a resto-mod. Here are some terrible cell phone pictures for posterity (although they do make the Scout look a little better than it actually is):

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu303/jpeater/SSII%20Pictures/IMG00093.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu303/jpeater/SSII%20Pictures/IMG00098.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu303/jpeater/SSII%20Pictures/IMG00099.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu303/jpeater/SSII%20Pictures/IMG00097.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu303/jpeater/SSII%20Pictures/IMG00102.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu303/jpeater/SSII%20Pictures/IMG00101.jpg

[Fred Demmon]

I know it will be a challenge, But I know that it will be looking good when you are through.
Is that going to be before or after the 800?

[sullyscout77]

WOW! Gotta hand it to ya Big Guy, you don't run away from a challenge, (LOL) :D.
(Remember to update Tetanus Shot before you start the teardown);). Also, if you're gonna rebuild that 304, I know where you can get a parts motor free. (Shy a harmonic balancer, but it comes with a gnarly wheeled cart)!!
As always, call when you need help and congratulations on the new addition!:rockon:

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

Thanks Fred, I like your new Scout too!

I think I will do this one before the 800, a lot less custom work will be needed here where the 800 will be only the Scout body and frame and everything else will be fabricated / added on.

It will be some work but excited to have an SSII as my buddy in high school had one and we cruised the mountains outside Denver in it and that is what got me into Scouts in the first place.

[Hueste]

SWEET!!! I dig the orange paint and the gold rims! Too bad they are both pretty much shot.

Nice grab!

By the way..... if you are looking for a sport top to add to the collection... http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/1522526676.html

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

By the way..... if you are looking for a sport top to add to the collection... http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/1522526676.html

I saw that one and drooled. There was a sport top with the boat tail bumper at Nationals and it was one of the best looking Scouts I have ever seen. Made me want one for sure. Unfortunately with three currently non-running ones taking up space even thinking of another one would have me sleeping on the couch for a long time.

[Bill Hartson]

Dirk it looks pretty good except it seems to be missing the drivers side tail light and the lens for the passenger side turn signal indicator up front. You'll have to get those fixed before you can get that gem to pass inspection.

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

Dirk it looks pretty good except it seems to be missing the drivers side tail light and the lens for the passenger side turn signal indicator up front. You'll have to get those fixed before you can get that gem to pass inspection.

Noted - I will add them to my list :tt2:

[Dennis Bernth]

And here I didn't think you guys plowed snow and used road salt in Texas....that thing would look right at home in MY backyard, nobody would ever believe that it wasn't an IN/IL/MI/WI/OH plow truck that never got the salt hosed off! I think you should shorten your 'to-do' list on it though, more like 'Pull VIN plate and inserts, put on Scout with better body' LOL. Fo SHO where you're located, I'd be more into looking for a clean tub than doing all that floor/mounts/body work, specially when you have to do rear wheel tubs and all that. My plow Traveler is in better shape than that, and I'm still on strike about doing any body work on it, although I may have to put in some 'fabbed up' inner rockers and body mounts just to have something solid for the seatbelts to bolt to. Right now, my ample girth is restrained by the rusted remains of the floor that haven't pulled through the carpet yet on the outside of the floor :(

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

The sea salt is what gets you here, that along with the relative humidity almost always above about 85% tends to keeps things nice and damp.

You are right, there is a lot of steel replacement work on this thing so as it sits now I am looking at just getting another tub as after I started doing my figuring for all the new steel pieces, let alone my time, it makes more sense to just take the pieces parts and add them to a good tub.

[WRECKTHOSECARS]

Dirk,

check your PM's.

[INT77345]

hi Dirk,
that one looks like a big challenge! i look forward to following the bulid.

ever get up to Colorado any more ??

your old friend in denver,

Logan

[Brett Whitaker]

YEOW! WOW! and GOODNESS are the only words that come to mind. That will be a project and a half.

Brett

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

hi Dirk,
that one looks like a big challenge! i look forward to following the bulid.

ever get up to Colorado any more ??

your old friend in denver,

Logan


Good to hear from you Logan, hope you and Tara had a good Christmas. Unfotunately we haven't been to Colorado since we saw you last at the RMIHR I think in 2003. By the way, Tracie says hello and says to tell your dad hello as well.

Looks like the gauntlet has been thrown down, makes me want to get on this one right away just to see it turn into a swan. But ... gotta finish JPEater first, direct orders from the project manager and chief tire kicker.

[Dennis Bernth]

The sea salt is what gets you here, that along with the relative humidity almost always above about 85% tends to keeps things nice and damp.

You are right, there is a lot of steel replacement work on this thing so as it sits now I am looking at just getting another tub as after I started doing my figuring for all the new steel pieces, let alone my time, it makes more sense to just take the pieces parts and add them to a good tub.

I'd say that's a good call; granted, where you are the salt air takes it's toll (I should have realized by the hood, even up here the hoods don't rust that bad, that's salt spray that gets everywhere) but you're within easy driving distance of solid, if not pristine, tubs. Now easy driving distance to me is a couple-three hundred miles, most peoples' 'easy drive' is less, but you can go less than that for a solid tub, I normally don't have that option. Replacing the outers quarters, or the body mounts, or the floors, isn't that horrible- it's replacing ALL of it that bites. On Luther (my old plow Scout I bought back recently) I had to do front floors, the front of the step, and the body mounts under your feet, but the inner and outer rockers were solid. That wasn't a bad job at all, I left the top on and between the top and rockers I didn't have to worry much about clearances and squaring things up, it worked out well. It would have been a lot harder if it was in the shape this Traveler is in.....one reason I don't want to do it, I'm hunting for a decent fixable tub within striking distance. Eventually I'll find one, til then I may brace this one up and make it semi solid since I'm gonna be driving it for a while.

[INT77345]

Great to hear you guys are doing well Dirk !
Tara and I finally got married in July, and we drove off in the scout ! ill e mail you some pics! I have been reading all the post on the jeepeater tonight and it looks awesome !! cant wait to see it out on the trail. We have done a lot of 4 wheeling lately , 2 trips this year to moab, it has been a blast. Hope to see you guys soon!

[Paul Morgan]

I grew up in Corpus Christi
It has it's fair share of vehicles that look like yours
The salt is not on the roads, it's in the air (saltfog)
I've seen 2 year old vehicles with rust holes through the sheetmetal
If you drive on the beach it does particularly brutal damage if you don't wash it immediately
If the floor supports are decent, you could probably repair it
Maybe just turn that one into an offroad only rig
By the time you cut out the wheel wells, you'll take care of alot of the rust
If nothing else, as was said before, you have SSII documentation, pick up a tub and rock and roll
I'm assuming the frame is ok
The rollbar looks ok
The front grille looks more like a grill, maybe we could make some burgers sometime at a wrenchday or something
Good Luck on the project (that's genuine sentiment, not a malicious jab)
SSII's are definitely worth saving

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

One last update before I get back to the other project. This morning I drove up to Austin to meet Electric Bob and take a look at a tub. After a quick walk around the deal was done and my SSII now has a new donor tub complete with tailgate, seats, dash, bed-liner, etc. thanks to Bob ... thanks Bob.

Here are some pictures. I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year.

[Fred Demmon]

are you going to leave it in Austin? If you ned the trailer to bring it home just shout

[sullyscout77]

Good score on the donor tub, Buddy. Give a yell if you need help loading / unloading. :yes:

[Paul Morgan]

Good idea to replace the tub
That other one was hammered
You'll be glad you did
It takes alot of time to fix all that rust when it gets that bad
Time definitely spent better on the rest of the build

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

Bob said I could store there until needed and also he would call in some of the HCB guys to help swap it out at his place if needed. I still haven't figured that part out but either way I will need the trailer again to haul my junk up there or haul the tub this way.

Appreciate the offers of help ... I will more than likely need to call those in on this one.

[Fred Demmon]

When you are ready
We could load yours. Head to the ranch, stay overnight. Get up early and go to Bob's place and swap the tubs. Load it back up and bring it home.
Wow that sure sounds easy.....But I will bet there is going to be more to it than that.
But first things first. Getting some of them driveable that we already have :D

[jtl1100]

Sweet score. Nice to have bedliner already done.

[Fred Demmon]

Sweet score. Nice to have bedliner already done.

I sell a product that is used as a chip guard on rocker areas. I am going to use it as a spray in bed liner. I am not sure about it's durability since I am using it for a different application. I know that it is pretty tough though.

If it works out the way I think it will, it will cost about $40-$60 worth of product to do a scout:punk:

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

Tara and I finally got married in July, and we drove off in the scout ! ill e mail you some pics!

Congratulations. I got the pictures and they are awesome. Someday I will get at least one Scout done and hopefully be able to join you. Hope you and Tara have a great New Year!

[jtl1100]

Hey Dirk, I like the blacked out trim on the window frames. looks like a pretty good tub rust wise. I have some tail lights if you want em.

[kb'sforme]

i will most likelly be headed to bob's soon to pick up some things. let me know and we can make it a weekend.

[Selkirk]

Dirk,

Park that thing in front of you house and we all can take bets on how long before the HOA runs you out of the neighborhood.

Selkirk

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

Dirk,

Park that thing in front of you house and we all can take bets on how long before the HOA runs you out of the neighborhood.

Selkirk

I figure between that and the body tub on old tires or cinder blocks and an engine core thrown in would make me extra popular :nono:. The neighbors already dislike my hobby but I do enjoy the extra garage space so I don't want to make them too upset.

[Dirk Kolnsberg]

i will most likelly be headed to bob's soon to pick up some things. let me know and we can make it a weekend.

Thanks for the offer ... I am not sure that I am ready just yet, lots to do on the first project before I start on a second.