Just dragged home a brand new 1971 Scout 2

[Infinite Monkeys]

Hi,
I just got my new project. It has a 304, Dana 44s, front and back, automatic and 4X4. This is going to be a birthday present for my wife.

There is a mounting bracket on top of alternator, which I assume could have been from an AC compressor. The underneath is covered in oil and grime. The top of engine still has a good amount of paint on it. I'm rebuilding the carb right now and the first thing I noticed is the float is set way off. It's about 1/4 inch too low. Looks like a real hack job on the carb rebuild. It was last register in 1998 and has probably sat since because ain't no way it could have been drivable with that float. The engine oil is complete sludge.
My questions are:

Can I use the remaining paint on the engine as a possible indicator of its actuall miles. It has 680000 on the odometer now.

Did they come with factory AC.

I'd like to add power steering and power brakes. What are my options for a steering box from other vehicles?

I also have a 1971 Bronco that I built from the ground up, so I'm not a stranger to modifications and fabrication.

Thanks

[Eric VanBuren]

Yes AC was available but it was an under dash unit, not integrated with the heater.

If you want to add PS just get a PS box from another Scout II they are still pretty common, heck you can even get a rebuilt one from Napa. One note there are 3 different PS boxes the 1980 unit is unique in that it has metric fittings as Saginaw switched all their boxes to metric at that time and there are 2 different input shaft sizes again because GM decided they didn't need as big of a shaft for what ever reason. You'll need the intermediate shaft anyway since the manual box is longer so make sure you get both from the same 79 or older Scout.

[Doc Stewart]

for off road, off camber driving, setting the float a little lower, especially in a Holly, can prevent flooding but that sounds too low.

Paint on the engine as an indicator of miles: the engine in my 67 service truck has 50K miles on a rebuild and I don't know how many miles before that. It is shiny blue all over because I cleaned and painted it before recent installation. I would not rely on paint to determine mileage....

[Infinite Monkeys]

Hi,
I have not been able to find another Scout in a 100 miles in a junk yard around here. I could go the ebay route, but the prices there are high for the box. Thats why I was considering an alternative option. I can get the lines built at a local NAPA. Thats not a big deal. I'm not big on keeping it OEM.
I'd like to pick up a box for around $50 to $100 and rebuild it if necessary. newer stuff is cheaper.

What do you think of the paint on the engine as indicator of millage.

[Eric VanBuren]

Originally Posted by Infinite Monkeys

Hi,
I have not been able to find another Scout in a 100 miles in a junk yard around here. I could go the ebay route, but the prices there are high for the box. Thats why I was considering an alternative option. I can get the lines built at a local NAPA. Thats not a big deal. I'm not big on keeping it OEM.
I'd like to pick up a box for around $50 to $100 and rebuild it if necessary. newer stuff is cheaper.

What do you think of the paint on the engine as indicator of millage.

Boxes are cheap on E-bay or try your local craigslist, there are always a couple being parted out around here. The pressure hose is on the shelf at Napa, no need to pay double to have one custom made and the return is just straight hose that again is on the shelf.

Trust me it will be cheaper, quicker and easier to just use the parts that fit and can be installed in an hour rather that spending more on "modern" parts that will require hours of fabrication to make so they sort of work.

[scorp1us]

Originally Posted by Infinite Monkeys

Hi,
It has 680000 on the odometer now.

680,000 you say? And obligatory: PICS or it didn't happen!

[scoutboy74]

Engine paint as an odometer is always accurate to within 5/10ths of a mile, give or take 30 furlongs. 68k is possible, but in the condition you've described plus the age of the rig, I would expect that 168k or even 268k would be more likely. These would be rollovers as there aren't enough digits to display more than 99,999.9 miles.

[Infinite Monkeys]

Man, I was way off. The millage is 68,000. Only one extra zero, can't mean much.
Guess I'll do a compresson check to see where that is to get an idea of millage.
I was hoping to get power steering unit from a local yard, but thats not looking likely. So ebay it is.
Looking forward to building this Scout. Here's a newbe question. What does "Binder" mean.
Thanks

[DAGATOR16]

Originally Posted by Infinite Monkeys

Man, I was way off. The millage is 68,000. Only one extra zero, can't mean much.
Guess I'll do a compresson check to see where that is to get an idea of millage.
I was hoping to get power steering unit from a local yard, but thats not looking likely. So ebay it is.
Looking forward to building this Scout. Here's a newbe question. What does "Binder" mean.
Thanks

My understanding it that it's a farming term. When a corn farmer bundles up corn he is said to be a corn "binder".

[Lowell]

Originally Posted by Infinite Monkeys

What does "Binder" mean.
Thanks

One of the first machines make by International Harvestor was a binder that put crops into shocks or bundles..


http://www.hansenwebdesign.com/truck...d-corn-binders