1977 Scout II body rebuild

[David Banner]

Impressive work sir!
Helps me get excited/inspired to get back at it now after finishing my move to Columbus, OH.

 

[vince konicki]

Thank's for the great documentation of your build ! I just purchased a 78 and your work is giving much needed motivation to dig in and repair mine.
The photo you took overlooking the river,sure looks familiar. If so im located not that far away in Steubenville. Great area and very interesting post!
I wonder if it might be possible to check your scout out in person?

 

[Jrc55]

Ab

Thank's for the great documentation of your build ! I just purchased a 78 and your work is giving much needed motivation to dig in and repair mine.
The photo you took overlooking the river,sure looks familiar. If so im located not that far away in Steubenville. Great area and very interesting post!
I wonder if it might be possible to check your scout out in person?

Absolutely. Come on up. My work schedule just went from 5 days a week to just working 18 1/2 hours on a night shift, 4 hour nap and back at it. I pretty much have an open door.

My shop is in Salineville...8 west main street next to the Tangerine lounge. I'm really close to removing the body hopefully for the last time.

And yes that's overlooking route 7 and yellow Creek.

I'd like to see which scout you purchased. I've been keeping a sharp eye out on every scout on fb marketplace for a while now. There was one with two hard tops that the guy wanted to sell as a package. In hindsight, I should've grabbed it.

 

[Jrc55]

After the driver's door was finished, I wasn't happy with the passenger door. I have an additional 9 hours of dolly and hammer work. It IS something I want to master, so I'm not concerned with the investment of time.

Here are all the dollies and tools required...

I also developed a new technique. Pretending that the sheetmetal on top is the door skin, and the bench is the inside of the door, you can use the wood circle to 'roll' the dolly into position under tension against the door skin. It gets very tiring holding a dolly all of those hours and in unique positions with no support.

 

[Jrc55]

Thank

Impressive work sir!
Helps me get excited/inspired to get back at it now after finishing my move to Columbus, OH.

Thank you, David. Maybe we can hook up when you get settled in

 

[vince konicki]

Ab


Absolutely. Come on up. My work schedule just went from 5 days a week to just working 18 1/2 hours on a night shift, 4 hour nap and back at it. I pretty much have an open door.

My shop is in Salineville...8 west main street next to the Tangerine lounge. I'm really close to removing the body hopefully for the last time.

And yes that's overlooking route 7 and yellow Creek.

I'd like to see which scout you purchased. I've been keeping a sharp eye out on every scout on fb marketplace for a while now. There was one with two hard tops that the guy wanted to sell as a package. In hindsight, I should've grabbed it.

I picked mine up in February from a guy in Beallsville.Spent the next month redoing the entire brake system and rebuilding carb etc. Goal is to get it running well first then digging into the body repairs. My concerns are that previous repairs are going to make it difficult to bring body to correct spec. The floors in front,rockers and front and center body mounts all need replaced. I have sheetmetal ordered but material is back ordered.

 

[vince konicki]

Now that i'm retired , I have the time and my goal is to make this scout a solid driver.
As to yellow creek, I've ridden a time or two there over the years,although new alex is more my stomping grounds.

 

[Jrc55]

View attachment 159492 Now that i'm retired , I have the time and my goal is to make this scout a solid driver.
As to yellow creek, I've ridden a time or two there over the years,although new alex is more my stomping grounds. Now that my other project is almost where I want it, time for new head ache. lol

Very cool! I get all my sheetmetal from super scout specialists west of Columbus. They have stacks of used stuff that they don't advertise. Plus, cash talks and it's a nice road trip. That scout does look familiar.

For me, it's just so difficult to spot repair. I think that it's actually harder. Those two will make a nice pair for sure!

 

[JeffR]

Very cool project JR. Thanks for taking the time and effort to share. I am really enjoying it.

 

[vince konicki]

Very cool! I get all my sheetmetal from super scout specialists west of Columbus. They have stacks of used stuff that they don't advertise. Plus, cash talks and it's a nice road trip. That scout does look familiar.

For me, it's just so difficult to spot repair. I think that it's actually harder. Those two will make a nice pair for sure!

I appreciate the invitation. Mornings or afternoons more convenient ? If your working that much I wouldn't want to impose and can always wait till better time.

 

[Jrc55]

I appreciate the invitation. Mornings or afternoons more convenient ? If your working that much I wouldn't want to impose and can always wait till better time.

Just message me. I'm here most of the day today

 

[vince konicki]

Just message me. I'm here most of the day today

I will do so and thank you.

 

[Jrc55]

Very cool project JR. Thanks for taking the time and effort to share. I am really enjoying it.

Thank you sir! That means allot!

Today, I attached the tailgate to adjust my corners. The new tailgate form scout specialists needs some dent work, but I got things to line up.

Question....Has anyone put slots in the tailgate tube to make the tailgate removable like a GM tailgate?

When I bought this scout, I knew it was all about the doors. Door fitment is everything.
I have spent sooooo many hours on door fitment. Stuff just changes. Even from door to door. Long story short, I had to add a custom 3/16" hinge shim between the door and the hinge, and two washers on the jamb side to close up the rear gap.

Both doors, and tailgate gaps are dialed in.

Did all the grinding today on the body. I'm debating on getting an Eastwood rotisserie tomorrow. I am able to remove the body myself with an engine hoist on the front, and my walk behind forklift lift on the back.
I just need to blast the rest, primer, and seam seal

 

[Jeff Jamison]

Before you go any farther,put the tires on and set it on the floor with no jack stands,and bolt the body bolts in.Then check clearances again.The frames flex some when its not on the tires(or jackstands under the springs at the axles at all 4 corners)You might end up readjusting again.I have never needed shims behind the hinge,but maybe your hinge is slightly bent,but with all the work you have done,thats not to far out of wack.

 

[oneof3k]

I'm debating on getting an Eastwood rotisserie tomorrow.

I can't speak for an Eastwood rotisserie, but my Derek Weaver is the single best investment, equipment wise, I've made to date. I doubt there is a huge difference between the better brands, but look for free shipping as a tie breaker!

 

[Jrc55]

I can't speak for an Eastwood rotisserie, but my Derek Weaver is the single best investment, equipment wise, I've made to date. I doubt there is a huge difference between the better brands, but look for free shipping as a tie breaker!

Thanks, I'll check it out. The Eastwood is cheap and I can drive there, but I haven't decided yet. I almost bought a used whirly jig, but the seller was firm on price.

 

[Jrc55]

Before you go any farther,put the tires on and set it on the floor with no jack stands,and bolt the body bolts in.Then check clearances again.The frames flex some when its not on the tires(or jackstands under the springs at the axles at all 4 corners)You might end up readjusting again.I have never needed shims behind the hinge,but maybe your hinge is slightly bent,but with all the work you have done,thats not to far out of wack.

Thanks, Jeff. I took the rig off of the tires because the leaf springs were at different heights because I over compensated for driver side sag buy putting in more lift on that side. It was giving me torsional or twist measurements that were way off.

The original door fit perfectly, but this door needs pulled out at the front bottom and moved back 1/4". Strange.

I will take your advice tomorrow. I hope that the body is rigid enough to maintain it's shape with leaf spring heights being different. Oh the joys of scout building haha

 

[Jeff Jamison]

If its different highth it wont work right,your frame will twist some.I have seen some scouts that the doors fit great,put on a lift and the doors wouldn't open.

 

[Jrc55]

If its different highth it wont work right,your frame will twist some.I have seen some scouts that the doors fit great,put on a lift and the doors wouldn't open.

Oh no...That is not what I wanted to hear. I have a little experience with what happens when building on crooked frames. That's why I didn't want to build it to compensate for the springs. Thank you for your advice. I'll see what it looks like tomorrow.

 

[Jrc55]

I put the scout and it's axles, and it seems pretty much unchanged. But, I DO still have the door braces in the door jambs.

I will start documenting the windshield repair.
Today, I had a couple of hours to do some exploratory surgery and come up with a plan. The original is the super rusty frame. I stripped all the items from it today.

Surgery and taking stock in this corner to repair the donor.

The donor, which I acquired from a generous and knowledgeable member here(Jeff), has a corner missing, but is in much better shape.

The black pitting in the original is too deep.

Donor...

if by chance, anyone has this corner, I'd pay