68 Scout 800 A/C?

[lopan]

So, this is my first post, I'm new to the whole scout experience, however I just purchased myself a fully restored (supposedly) 68 scout 800, with a 266 in it (didn't realize they came with 266's but I'm assured that it's all as much to original as possible). It's in transit right now to my location... So I haven't even driven it yet

Now in order to get this vehicle I had to convince my wife that I could use it as a daily driver at some point and kid friendly for my 3 year old. Meaning I need A/C because sometimes here in VA it's brutally humid. I'll probably also add power steering and brakes at some point, but first on the list is A/C..

I've been looking around at kits from ackits.com, however they don't have any specifically for the scout 800, just scout II's. I'm guessing the main item I'll need to get one of these kits installed is a compressor bracket? Does anyone know where I might be able to find one? Or is this something that will have to be fabricated?

Has anyone put A/C in a scout 800? Any experiences to share? Useful helpful hints? Parts other then the bracket and a complete kit I might need?

Anyway, thanks in advance!

[Foy]

lopan-
First of all, welcome to the board. You've found a very helpful, and very friendly group of people, many of whom have forgotten more IH/Scout stuff than I'll ever know.

Your 266 is a gem. It was originally designed as a medium duty truck engine and was used in the fullsize pickups/Travelalls, too. It first appeared in 1967 in the Scouts. For a small displacement mill, it's a monster, weighing in at 600+ lbs. It's also very, very similar to the IH 304 (which is NOT to be confused with the AMC 304 put in early 1970s J**ps). I don't recall if any of the 800, 800a, or 800b models had factory air, but if they did, I'd strongly suspect they had either a 266 or a 304, and if so, that's an obvious place to start looking for parts/conversion info.

As I see it, you've got a couple more of issues to look at as well: insulation and rollover protection. Insulation first: My '67 800, 266, stock, was my daily driver from 1973-1978. I used it for mineral exploration work in central VA for 3 years, and drove many a mile from my NC college to Charlottesville to see my girlfriend (now wife of 26 years). Anyway, the 266 becomes a glowing nuclear reactor-like heat source in summer, and it's, say, about 6" from your right leg or your passenger's left. The exhaust system will run somewhere directly beneath the floorboards where the kiddies ride, warming them up, too. I'd look as some sort of heat shielding/insulation if I was going to be concerned about that, as I suppose you don't have the option of "windows down, back window up, vents flipped forward, cutoff Levis w/no shirt" like I did back in the day. Even then, a 200 mile trip would leave me pretty beat up and dehydrated.

The rollover issue is hopefully already solved by an installed rollbar. That's not a foolproof protection, but it's a great start over "no rollbar" status. You should be able to see some pics of rolled Scouts herein, and it's not pretty. Even the 800s are pretty heavy trucks, and the steel traveltop isn't much protection. Again, never a problem with me, as I was 20, bulletproof, and immortal when I drove mine so much, but at present, both my '65 and the old '67 (which I still have) are awaiting rollbar installation before I let my sons drive them on the highway. Some of the vendors who advertise herein offer full 6 point rollcages, too, and I'd have to say if I were to do daily driving in a busy urban/suburban environment such as Northern VA, that'd be on my list, for sure.

Finally, check out the Old Dominion Binders Association in the club section herein. Lotsa good folks, and several 80/800 junkies, too. It'd be a treat for you to come to a gathering with a nicely restored 800. They're mostly family affairs w/ camping and trail rides, and are usually within a 2-3 hour ride from Northern VA.

Good luck with your project. You've gotten yourself a cool little truck. Just don't call it a SUV, OK?

Foy

[lopan]

Actually, I'm pretty sure there isn't a rollbar in it, so I guess that'll be a first on my list. I looked at some of those, OK I'm a stickler for appearance and I just don't like the way those 6 point rollbars look, the regular rollbars look ok. but for safety sake I might consider one.

But I won't be calling it an SUV....

[Alex]

For air conditioning try Arizona Mobile Air. They have a kit that pretty much replicates the IH Dealer installed A/C available in later 800's.

For brackets, Travelalls had factory air as an option, so that may be a place to start.

[justinshelton]

I *strongly* suggest that you put PS in the Scout first! If you take off the roof, you'll have all of the "air" that anyone could ask for! But back to PS, I have to parallel park where I work, and it sure is a bear to get that Scout parked w/o power steering! On the other hand, my upper-body is looking better and better . . .

Welcome. I'm new to Scouts too, and have found this site to be full of really wonderful, resourceful folks.

- Justin

[Amfab]

I am currently in the middle of putting AC in my 64 travelall with a 266. I am using a Vintage Air unit (http://vintageair.com/) because I wanted a more hidden installation and ducts I can put anywhere. Plus the unit has AC, Defrost and heat all in one box with one set of controls, and floor heat outlets. All the controls are servo motor driven so they are easy to turn. Even the heater valve is servo.

I was fortunate enough to get an AC -Alternator bracket off a 67 Travelall (304). It bolts right up. I think there are a couple versions of this bracket.

I am attaching some pictures as I install it and Ill take some more as I continue. This is the largest unit Vintage Air makes and they have some very compact versions that may be better suited to a Scout.

I bought a York to Sanden adaptor plate with big ears so you can adjust the compressor belt tension easier, and the whole apparatus sticks up pretty high under the hood, I dont think it would clear a Scout hood. but they make other adaptor plates and a kit that routes the refrigerant lines out the back of the compressor for tighter clearances.

The whole kit and kaboodle ran a little over $1k including compressor, heater & ac hoses & fittings, heater valve, the ducting for the vents and defrost, the vents themselves, compressor mounting adaptor, drier, safety switch, Evaporator-blower unit, a big condensor and the basic four knob controller which gives you heat, cool, fan speed and the ability to switch between defrost , vents, bi-level and floor heat.

Basically to install it all you have to figure a way and a place to mount the blower-evaporator unit, then run wires, punch some holes in the firewall if you dont already have them, figure where your hoses will end up, cut them to length, take them locally to be crimped and then charge the system

I am putting in a 3 pass radiator in place of the 2 pass which I think is standard with the 6cyl and 266 and a flex fan to help keep up with the cooling.

Cant you Scout guys just fold down the windshield though?

-Andrew

[Foy]

Cant you Scout guys just fold down the windshield though?

-Andrew[/QUOTE]
Andrew-

Some Scout 80 models (approx 1961-1965) and, from what I've gleaned here, a very few, very early 800 models, offered fold-down windshields. As far as I know, none of the later 800 models offered it.

Foy

[lopan]

Andrew, thanks for that helpful bit of info, so basically any AC bracket for an IH 266 engine will work?

[Amfab]

Maybe someone makes one but i couldnt find one. Basically you need to be able to mount the alternator, the AC, and if you want powersteering, a pump for that. So you can make something i guess, but the way the factory did it was; AC and alternator on one combo bracket and PS on the other side.

Look at the other recent post about belt configurations:

http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=24993

he has some pictures there of a 74 with AC, it looks like the scout has a closer to the head, lower profile AC mount. So much stuff is the same from the 304 to the 266 odds are if you pull it off a 304 it will work on the 266.

I dont know if any 266 AC bracket will work, well let me put it this way anything you can find with an AC bracket for a 266 or 304 should work, but whether you could close the hood after you are done would be the big question

[George Womack]

Brett-
I put a custom A/C system in one of my 800s, and wrote an article on the installation which appeared in the web site newsletter back when it was on paper. Mine is in a 4-cylinder 800, so there will be some differences, but it may be of some help to you. I'll email you a copy of the article.