Slammed Daily Driver 1971 Scout 800B 2WD

[71scout800b]

The frame ahead of the IFS is no biggy because like you said cut it off, but the problem is I didn't notice (till the I got the whole front clip off) a big crease behind the IFS bucket on the driver's side. My next door neighbor owns a body shop so I'm gonna ask what he thinks I can do with it. If it is all bad I will go to the local junkyard and trade them out for a rear smashed s-10/blazer.

I was at the local Discount Tire getting my tires rotated and noticed a set of 22s sitting in the corner and for just about 30 seconds I though hmmm wonder how many death threats I would get from fellow binders if I ran those? For $200 a for the set (I buy a lot of tires there so they said $50 for me) I really thought about it for those 30 seconds.

[71scout800b]

Got the fuel tank out, looks good inside and out will probably get it coated just to be safe if I decide to try to use it. I will probably just use the Blazer tank as long as I have enough room after the drop and four link.


Pulled the rear axle, no big deal till I tried to get the leaf springs off the axle. Broke my last metal sawzall blade, and my 18v impact wouldn't turn the nuts. It was more of a pain to remove those 6 remaining nuts then pulling the motor and transmission.


Oh well impact won't be a issue by the end of the week. Got this beauty this weekend so rusted bolts are no longer an issue.

Speaking of rust I went to beating on the crud on the rear inner fender well and found shinny white, original color I guess and the first bed rust in the rear most corner right along the seam. This got me curious so I started the arduous task of removing the sprayed on FIBERGLASS bed-liner. I have to say this is the biggest pain in the since I changed the spark plugs in my LS1 Camaro. The worst part of it is I hate how much I love this fiber glass! The bed is in GREAT shape!!! I have only found a few tiny little rust spots in the corners and the dents you see are from my less than patient fiberglass removal techniques. The bed is perfectly straight and I will be able to patch the few holes in no time! I got about a third of it peeled and pried off before it got too cold, not to mention beating on the Scout at 0130 tends to irritate the neighbors.






Yes in my haste to get started I forgot to empty the trash, compost pile and scrap metal out of the bed before I pulled it in the garage and removed the axle, Anyone want some yellow Spare rims!?

[71scout800b]

I have to say this scout has very little rust and I have to think the bed cover saved it from a lot of damage over the years, but dog-gone-it I have never spent 3 days removing anything from a vehicle in my life. Pick ax, crowbars, grinder, sawzall, GOOD GRIEF!

I found a good bit of rust in the rear driver's side. I figured it was coming by looking under the fender well but it really doesn't look that bad, we'll see the total damage after sand blasting. Slow progress this weekend as I upgraded the lights in the garage and spent a bunch of time tracking down a new frame.




I started peeling the bed floor back when I realized this is going to SUCK! Is it best to cut out most and just air chisel it off the frame supports? Please throw a word of experience in there.

[71scout800b]

sorry I double posted

[71scout800b]

Since the Blazer frame was a bust I tracked down a salvage yard that will trade me the blazer sans what I need for a complete s10 frame minus axle for a even swap. YES! I started carefully removing the dash and unhooking everything. My first time pulling a dash, not that tough, just a lot of little 7mm bolts. I have completely given up on keeping this truck old school as it is just too hard to keep it safe and old school without spending a ton of money. Here it is... YOU WERE RIGHT MR. MODERATOR!!! That being said, how many guys do I need to lift the body off this frame? Should I still use the back half of the scout frame or go all S10? I am four linking it and going with factory spring style rear suspension until I can afford bags. I am still hunting the guy who built the bagged s10 frame scout last year. Back to deconstruction (the Blazer), removing the whole wiring harness to make it easier to keep what I want when I do the scout transplant.

[71scout800b]

Originally Posted by Mark Ashford

I'm commented in a couple of your other threads, but now that I read this one... well, with the bit of information about your blazer donor... a BODY SWAP is looking better and better. After you swap the drive train, mod the axle(s), improve the steering, brakes, booster/MC you still have a leaf-spring 50's technology rig with custom parts.

I'm a mild "keep it IH" guy.... but if I had your donor list..... well I'd have a hard time not melding the two.


Either way its your project and a cool one at that. Post up pics and keep the build going!!

YOU WIN!!! I gave up on the old school, and have started down the body swap path.

[guidolyons]

When I removed my bed, it was pretty well rusted out. I cut it into 3 sections along the crossmembers and used a combination of drilling spot welds and using an air chisel. It didn't take too long.