I need some knowledge on my limits with a stock scout.

[Bares62IH]

As much as i read about wheeling and Scouts and as much as i know about Scouts Im sorta confused on just how tough a Scout is. My dad has a stock 65 which I have done some light weight wheeling with just around my friends sand pit on 15 inch normal tires.

I have my 62 which is pretty solid mechanically and is stock except im running 31 inch tires on. It has the 152 with a small air intake mod (air filter instead of oil bath).

Everything I have seen stock Scouts do is quite impressive. Im planning on a few mods like a lift and some bumpers and a winch and a couple other things. I dont plan on rock crawling or hammering up a sand dune. Here in Michigan really the only sand my Scout will see will be an occasional trip to Silver Lake where im not planing on beating it up just cruising around the dunes for fun. Other than that I plan on wheeling in the snow for fun and doing some trailing around here on old fire trails. Where itll see some mud holes nothing deep but definatly fun. Some day I may do axle swaps and and some other major changes but for now I want to enjoy my Scout as is for the most part. Trust me when i say this I dont want to beat this thing to pieces its my first real car that I ever bought and I want it to last. I just want to be able to have some moderate fun with it and get it a little dirty like it was built for.

Considering my 31 inch tires and other wise stock drive train, and the moderate wheeling I want to do, What should I worry about or be careful about? Alot of people on here and other forums talk about breaking dana 27 axels and there seems to be a ton of horror stories out there yet I have seen plenty of stock Scouts having fun.

If Im carefull and cautious do I have alot to worry about ?

[Dennis Bernth]

Since you're asking technical questions and not documenting a build, your post was moved to General Tech where it will get more exposure.

[Jay Tabor]

best start searching for a dana 30 fa, to replace your dana 27 FA [ i suspect it is]
it will break, AND its hard to find many parts for them anymore.
gather an extra T90 trans, so youll have a spare..
gather extra brake parts ..................
gather extra steering components-drag link, tie rod ends

[fredsterra]

I am going to guess you have a 4.27 gear ratio?

I would upgrade to a Dana 44 (disc brakes) Look for a 4.10 ratio. Might be hard to find unless it's a 77 or newer Diesel or 196.

As long as you keep your head and don't push it too hard my shoud be OK. But I would look into an axle upgrade.

If you go to a smaller tire, P or LT225/75R15 or 235 your stock set up will live longer. It will let the tires a better chance to slip, vs putting more HP and Torque to the ground. Guessing you have a 31-10.50x15 now.

[Carl Wiese]

Wheel it like it is and enjoy it. There is no sense in doing a ton of work and not being able to enjoy your international for something might happen. Wheel it like you want to. Invest some spares so if you get trail breakage you can fix it and upgrade when and if its needed. If you bought the truck new off the lot you wouldn't have upgraded it. Just make sure its in good working condition and your up on your maintenance and enjoy.

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[oldrattler65]

I STRONGLY agree with Carl!!! Even though I myself have that terrible disease of "disassemble it even though it's working like a singer sewing machine" (my dad always got really really upset at me over this particular illness, because for the longest time it was his stuff that fell victim) I know of ALOT of vehicles that are still setting on jack stands in the garage, growing trees and moss out of the bed, or have been pushed aside from lack of funds or interest that were started with the best of intentions. You can and will enjoy your rig at its current capabilities alot more than you could disabled, even though the visions of modifications may be of the best of intentions. Use it a while in it's stock form while you gather your pieces and parts, then do your mods a little at a time!! Good Luck

[Mark Ashford]

Originally Posted by Carl Wiese

Wheel it like it is and enjoy it. There is no sense in doing a ton of work and not being able to enjoy your international for something might happen. Wheel it like you want to. Invest some spares so if you get trail breakage you can fix it and upgrade when and if its needed. If you bought the truck new off the lot you wouldn't have upgraded it. Just make sure its in good working condition and your up on your maintenance and enjoy.

Sent from my Droid

X3.

It will be fine. Maintain the crap out of it, replace/upgrade any scetchy parts. Enjoy it till something breaks. Replace it with a like used part then if it breaks again, upgrade it.

Seat-time will tell you what you want/need/should upgrade or change. Some will be done for durability, some will be done out of necessity (part not avaliable or stupidly expencive), some will be done for pleasure (such as upgading the brakes or steering).

[grendel_cave]

Let me tell you about my '63. I got it planning just to enjoy it as is. ....I never did. I started off just wanting to weld up a few places in the bed and do a few other minor upgrades. Before I knew it, I had a whole frame off in progress. Its taken 2.5 years to get the truck where I want it. Now, I'm waiting for warmer weather to shoot a clear coat over the base coat as the temperature has fallen and I'll have to wait till Spring to finish the paint job. If you bought it to enjoy it, do just that. Do not do what I did. Having a few spare parts will never hurt, but there is no need to worry about breaking the stock set up if you plan on keeping it local and just enjoying it. Keep in mind that eventually something will go and cross that bridge when you get there. ....you might want to renew your AAA membership, though.

[timscout1]

I also agree! just drive it and enjoy. I have run these scouts since they were new and the only drive train break I had was with chains on all 4 and fighting 3' of snow, broke a front axle but drove 75 miles home on the rear after shoveling the snow. Your truck has run for almost 50 years, most problems arise when you add large tires, big engines etc. to the drive train. I have used 31x10.50's for years, just do not get in a hurry or stupid?? and you should be fine. I would also check the u joints in the front axles and make sure they are well lubed. They tend to wear out even when not using 4 wheel, due to steering movement.

[Doc Stewart]

I have the same rig you have. It has lived on a ranch all its life with bone stock everything [I did add a roll bar]. It has been to Death Valley and run the same trails my previous 78 Scout II with many mods ran - no problems. Going again in March. Bring your bone stock Scout and join us!

This iis the Scout model that initially gave the Scout its good name!