All Comanche Scouts "Where Are You?"

[Oil Scout]

Someone may have already done this, and if so please let me know, but I had the idea to track down as many Comanche Scouts as I could and document thier existance or demise if possible. So, if your an owner or previous owner of one or part of one, or know where one or part of one is, please let me know. I would like to document: where it is today, how it got where it is today, any PO info and LST info (or VIN) and anything else.

What got me started is the Thread "Tony's Scout", it showed up with a Comanche Hood, where did it come from? Where is the rest of the Comanche? This may be crazy, but thought what the heck?

Thanks - Oil Scout

[jeff campbell]

kool thing you're attempting,good luck-here's a piece! 196, i know it's not a scout but a part.if you don't want it in your thread,just have it deleted..jeff

[Comanche Scott]

There are at least three of us here (rlirland, Nick Rayer, and myself), that I know of.
Of the three, Nick's is in the nicest condition.
Roy (rlirland) has a database of Scouts, he's been collecting VINs for a few years.
If you do a Google search for Comanche Scout, you will find more. Between the pictures, and links to different sites, there are quite a few that seem to have been "painted over".
There is also a great website of nothing but Scouts. You'll find it through the Google search. It's a Picasa picture site. Page upon page, upon page of really cool Scouts.
Good luck.

[Thomas]

---Not a crazy idea at all. It will be the start of ending any rumor and documenting when and why, with where being Fort Wayne, Indiana. Also, with any changes between POs, a record of the most frequent of head casting numbers, block casting numbers, etc., will become known and eventually useful.

---The `76 I saved, was handed to my bud in AL when I moved. It was a bone stock Scout II w/Commanche 304, complete with gun rack, replacement wipers, keys, spare tire and a few other whistles, that was technically a 2nd owner truck to me, even though it was passed through another's hands before I saved it. My bud has joined the board, but has limited internet. So AFAIK, he hasn't posted anything yet.

---I'd suggest no viewable VINs (Vehicle's FIN/SSID), posting VINs other than privately or any other personal info thrown up on the board, even if the vehicle has been cr*shed. That just makes (for viewers outside the honorable community) forgeries harder... as well as restamping VINs on stolen vehicles. In other words, if they* know what is active, they have a better chance of using a number that isn't.

[jeff campbell]

what actually doe's the "commanche" indicate? jeff-( more $$ for a sticker?) heck,they shuda at least put a" indian head" on them also?

[Thomas]

---AFAIK it is an engine design that was offered between various different years/phases. Don't know when the first was built, but I have my own theory that is only limited by my not having the time to research.

---Recently an archive-retrieved ad was posted here, with printed reference to "the new Comanche line of engines", saying something to the effect of it being a powerhouse. IIRC, that ad was printed before the as picturing the "wrapped/revved up" Scout atop a mountain. Difference could be as simple as combining the past year's/years' ideas/designs brought to the table... dunno yet, but an inquiring and investigative mind operated by Oil Scout, is on a mission I'd like to see completed!

---My interest was peaked when in 2001, when I first saw the `76 (which I spoke of earlier... earliest post by me, that I can find), sitting behind a junk yard that use to be a Westwood Auto Parts. Prior to that, rumor had it the only* Comanches were L4s, but truth always reveals itself here. Maybe `cause we have the best of reporters who question and read/reed/weed between the row crops.

[Mike Moore]

He's talking about the Commanche package on an 800, not a Commanche engine...

[Oil Scout]

Thanks Mike.

That is the purpose of my original post to locate any Comanche Scout 800's. There were supposedly only 1500 built. So, where are they now?

However, I am very interested in the Comanche engine designation since you bring it up. Also, were Comanche engines put in the 1500 Comanche 800's?

I will begin with a simple data base compilation and let it grow as we find what we can find on the 800s. All will be confidential as Thomas pointed out. Not interested in getting into anyones business, just trying to record history.

I will do something a little different on the engines. Maybe first the history, when they started putting them in the Scouts, maybe some were in the trucks as well. What were they really. A Sales tool? Or was something really special about them? Research!!

Thanks

PS: This reminds me of the Camaros that came with 302 cu in engines and everyone denied it, thought it was a story made up by Ford or something.

[Nick Rayer]

The comanche name began as a sticker on the valve cover of the 152. Later on the 196 also. When the scoutII came out you could get a comanche 4 or comanche 8. It was nothing more than a sticker on the air cleaner. No special anything just a gimmick by IH to label the engines.
The 800B with the comanche package was an entire different story, just reused the name. For some reason IH liked the name I guess.

Nick
71 Comanche

[Oil Scout]

Thought I would add this as well, so you know where the passion of this comes from. I purchased my Comanche not knowing what I was getting. I wanted a "perfect" replacement hood for my daughters 65 Scout. Found an entire Scout for sale and thought I might could use some other parts as well. So went to look at condition of hood and found out it was a complete Comanche. Very bad shape. The tub was so far gone it had to be scrapped. I was going to throw the whole thing away or sell the parts off, but decided to try a complete restoration after seeing pictures of them when they were new and some that were still around today. Anyway, I noticed there weren't to many Comanche Scouts out there, thought it would be interesting to try and find as many as possible. So starts the fun.