Lil' Pink Scout

[Monte Lauer]

After the 2007 mud drag season my wife decided she was done driving my trail scout in the powder puff heats. She wanted her own vehicle and she wanted to race in the main event.



So I started looking and came up with this $400 1977 Scout II.



I started brain storming and the wheels slowly started turning. I had aquired a Dodge 440 earlier in the year and I figured it could be transplanted into a scout. After talking to Mike Mayben he confirmed that he had mated a few IH tailshafts and dana 20's to Mopar 727's. Since the scout already had 4" superlift springs I decided to really get crazy and do a spring over for an extra 4". I found a smoking deal on some 38.5 boggers so the extra 4" was a must.

I then reasoned that if I was going to raise a scout that high it should be wider. I new where I could get some 3/4 ton dodge axles with 4.10's and they were already sprung over. They had previously been hung in a scout, but had since been left to rust in my buddies back yard. I quickly took possesion and figured it was time to get started.

[Monte Lauer]

I knew I couldn't do this alone, so I enlisted the help of Terry Davidson. He was more than willing to help a fellow binder nut. So after I pulled the 345 and transmission, I loaded up the scout and axles and headed to his place.



For those of you who don't know Terry, he has the ultimate set of tools and he let me use them. We put the scout on the lift and soon the old dana 44's were gone.





Next we wrestled the full size dodge axles under it and went to work moving springs and hangers.

[Monte Lauer]

While things were progressing well with the axle swap I made a trip south to Leaburg to visit Mike Mayben and deliver a few trannies.





Mike had agreed to build my hybrid transmission, but what he was really excited about was that I was using a Mopar 727 motorhome tranny. For those of you who don't know the significance of this check out this thread. http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=80744 Anyhow, when Mike is done rebuilding my motorhome tranny he is mating it with an IH 727 tailshaft and dana 20 transfercase.

[Monte Lauer]

With the transmissions delivered it was time to get back to work on the axle swap. Once the axles were in place it was time to consult Dan from TracTractor Offroad. It was time to figure out the steering and I was clueless. He made a few suggestions and here it is.



I will admit it is not quite the way he would have done it, but he pointed me in the general direction.

This is how she sits now. I still have alot to do and the first race is only a month away.

[Drew Merrick]

Monte,

I am glad you finally posted this. Its nice to know you can walk under your scout without ducking down at all for some nice shade during these hot summer days .

I can't wait to see her in action. That is going to be loads of fun! Thanks for all the help you have given me as well.

[StuartTX]

That looked pretty nice for $400!!! It looks even better with those boggers! Nice build.

[terryd]

LOOKS GOOD MONTE!

When does the engine install begin? maybe I'll stop by, get in the way, and check out the progress.
You'll have to explain the pink camo thing...

[Monte Lauer]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Drew you are welcome. Terry you can come by and help anytime. Without your help I would never be this far along. The scout is moving this week to another shop where the transmission and the 440 will be installed. As far as the pink camo, that was not my choosing. The wife said that was what she wanted and she usually gets what she wants. I came home tonight and found her in the garage doing body work. She had even busted out the body hammers and was pounding away.



I did a little work on it today as well. I removed the grill and core support to make it easier for the install. I removed the external lights and cleaned up the engine compartment. I started stripping the dash and removing all non essential items. This rig will never be driven on the street again, so anything that can go will go. More to come later.

[Mark Ashford]

Dan suggested that steering set-up??? That surprised me. Unless he used some super zoot material for the tie-rod I see some bendage in your future. That draglink already has a little wow to it (I suspect deliberate) that would be a failure point as well.


Surprised he didn't recommend high-steer.



Looks good otherwise, nice work. Clean looking truck for $400 as well

[Monte Lauer]

Dan suggested high steer, but I was using dodge axles. When you get right down to it I am on a tight budget and this set up was what I could afford. This vehicle is going to be running straight through two feet of mud, not making sudden turns or crawling over rocks. It will never see street use again. Hopefully the 1 1/4 x .250 DOM will hold up for awhile. You can't fault Dan, he told me it wouldn't last forever. Given the right amount of $$$$ we could've done better, but as I mentioned earlier it wasn't the way he would've done it. He just pointed me in the general direction.