Josh's 79 Scout ii

[Josh Schrecengost]

Howdy. I bought this 79 Scout 2 from a buddy that was moving to another state and didn't want to haul it along. I've always liked scouts and since I'd been looking for a good hunting and fishing rig for a while I couldn't pass it up. This is a 345, 727 auto drive train. The first things I did were an oil change, new plug wires, and new air filter. The truck is pretty solid for its age but there is a bunch of stuff that needs done. I've been driving it about 10 miles a week mostly because it is fun and seems like the best way to find all the issues. The suspension definitely needed some help. Shocks were totally roasted and the springs were sagging and even looked a little bent. I ordered a rough country 2.5" kit and installed it this weekend. Im pretty happy with the results. Here is the before, during, and after photos. I ended up with about 4" of lift. Some of that is needs probably due to sag in the stock springs and some to tightening the shackle bolts while it was up on Jack stands instead of on the ground. It will likely settle a little with a few bumpy roads behind it.

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

Here is something weird I found on the rear spring perch. One side had this spacer and one didn't. I left it out when I installed the rough country springs. Does anyone know why this would be on the passenger side?

 

[J.J.]

Welcome! Looks like a great score from here. The spacer was used to level them, that is a factory install and most had them. I left mine out on my '76 Scout II build myself when putting my 4 in Skyjackers under it.

JJ in TN

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

Welcome! Looks like a great score from here. The spacer was used to level them, that is a factory install and most had them. I left mine out on my '76 Scout II build myself when putting my 4 in Skyjackers under it.

JJ in TN

Thanks J.J. was it to correct for variance in the factory springs?

 

[winchested]

Thanks J.J. was it to correct for variance in the factory springs?

Yes it was front and rear pass side had these.

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

Its difficult to prioritize when so many things need attention. My ultimate goal with the scout is a capable backroad rig for hunting, fishing, camping and light off roading. My daughters, now 10 and 13, will be riding in and likely driving the scout so safety upgrades are a must as well. Since the old thermoquad is drooling fuel onto the intake a rebuild is the next task. I have the rebuild kit and new floats but I am a bit intimidated. It'll be next week before I get to it.

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

Drove around on the new suspension today and I'm very pleased with the ride quality. There are lots of complaints about the RC lifts being too stiff but I have no issues with it. A note for anyone installing one of these lifts: I had to drill out the u-bolt holes on the plate under the front passenger side because the provided bolts are 5/8. $30 drill bit, yikes. Also, the bottom of the shock is making a little contact against the mounts front and rear. It makes me a little nervous and I may need to get longer bolts and a couple extra washers for it to clear.

 

[J.J.]

I did a Skyjacker on mine that was used. I had to get new u bolts so I did not have this problem. On your shocks, post up a pic, I don't think you'll have any issues with a longer bolt and spacer. My full size IHs have stock metal spacers. Im not a carb guy so I am no help on that battle.

JJ in TN

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

I did a Skyjacker on mine that was used. I had to get new u bolts so I did not have this problem. On your shocks, post up a pic, I don't think you'll have any issues with a longer bolt and spacer. My full size IHs have stock metal spacers. Im not a carb guy so I am no help on that battle.

Here is what the bottom shock mounts look like. The front barely clears and the back is making contact. I think I will swap the stock bolt for a 1/2" longer one and add 2 flat washers between the shock and mount.

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

Well poop. I spent the last hour meticulously taking apart the old thermoquad and taking enough photos to qualify for paranoia just to find that the plastic bowl is cracked. If anyone has advice on the best path to a new carburetor I'm all ears. I'm off to search all the carb threads. For what its worth, most of the emissions stuff has been butchered out by POs so it might be best to start over with a simpler carb set up anyway.

 

[J.J.]

Spacer should fix that.

Well poop. I spent the last hour meticulously taking apart the old thermoquad and taking enough photos to qualify for paranoia just to find that the plastic bowl is cracked. If anyone has advice on the best path to a new carburetor I'm all ears. I'm off to search all the carb threads. For what its worth, most of the emissions stuff has been butchered out by POs so it might be best to start over with a simpler carb set up anyway.

and that is disheartening.

If it were mine, I would roll with a Edelbrock 1406. I have several IHs, and all of them except my '76 Scout have this carb (its a 2bbl Holley). Every single one that I have got was perfect right out of the box. Minor adjustments and go with it. Get one thats coded as a 9906 and you'll save some $$ there. They are 600 CFM, I think that will work on your 345. They have the electric choke. The 9906 is factory reconditioned with a warranty.


JJ in TN

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

Spacer should fix that.



and that is disheartening.

If it were mine, I would roll with a Edelbrock 1406. I have several IHs, and all of them except my '76 Scout have this carb (its a 2bbl Holley). Every single one that I have got was perfect right out of the box. Minor adjustments and go with it. Get one thats coded as a 9906 and you'll save some $$ there. They are 600 CFM, I think that will work on your 345. They have the electric choke. The 9906 is factory reconditioned with a warranty.


JJ in TN

Thats the advice I needed JJ. Does the 1406 require any kind of adapter or is it good to go on a spread bore intake?

 

[J.J.]

I think square bore is better, but it will bolt to the spread bore. You might want to consider a spacer to help with heat and there might be an issue where the secondaries don't open up all the way because of the spread bore. Don't remember exactly but I did have one on my '75 200 before I replaced the engine. Measure and see how much room is under there between the top of the motor and the hood. You should be able to find a phenolic spacer pretty easy.

JJ in TN

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

Thats the advice I needed JJ. Does the 1406 require any kind of adapter or is it good to go on a spread bore intake?

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

Just ordered an Edelbrock 1406 and square carb to spread manifold spacer from Jegs. I will update when it arrives. Ka-ching. That spent my paycheck from guiding fishermen Tuesday.

 

[J.J.]

Just ordered an Edelbrock 1406 and square carb to spread manifold spacer from Jegs. I will update when it arrives. Ka-ching. That spent my paycheck from guiding fishermen Tuesday.

atta boy, just be careful with the spacing under the hood with the aircleaner to hood. Ive taken play dough and put it on top of my air cleaner, then watched and slowly closed the hood.

JJ in TN

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

The new Eddy 1406 and spread to square bore adapter came last week but I didn't have time to work on it until today. Clearance is tight but it looks like I have room for the stock air cleaner. I guess I have the linkage rigged ok but I do see lokar in my future. All the stupid vacuum lines are a PITA. I have to replace the fuel filter and lines tomorrow.

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

The inline fuel filter was located in between the block and radiator below the air-conditioning pump. I didn't like the access at this location so I pulled it out along with the rubber and metal lines between the filter and carb. I replaced it all with rubber line and installed a transparent inline filter 8" or so from the carb. Cranked up the engine and once it had fuel it took off like a rocket. The only immediate adjustment I had to make to the 1406 was to turn down the fast idle. Im very pleased with throttle response and performance. Way better than the old thermoquad.

 

[J.J.]

The inline fuel filter was located in between the block and radiator below the air-conditioning pump. I didn't like the access at this location so I pulled it out along with the rubber and metal lines between the filter and carb. I replaced it all with rubber line and installed a transparent inline filter 8" or so from the carb. Cranked up the engine and once it had fuel it took off like a rocket. The only immediate adjustment I had to make to the 1406 was to turn down the fast idle. Im very pleased with throttle response and performance. Way better than the old thermoquad.

YAY! and that my friend is why I am such a fan of the 1406. Straight out of the box every time!!! Congrats, time to drive it.

JJ in TN

 

[Josh Schrecengost]

Been tweaking the carb a little this week. I'm at 4500 feet so things have a tendency to run rich. Also, after a couple days the carb developed a vacuum whistle that got progressively louder and more obnoxious. I sprayed a little carb cleaner around the manifold and that seemed to be the source. Tightening the carb and the spread to square spacer didn't help. I finally took the spacer off the manifold, polished the manifold with some 320 grit sand paper and put it all back together. That seemed to solve it. My daughter and I decided to take an evening drive on some forest service roads. The scout was purring like a kitten. About 15 miles into the mountains we were just idling along a bumpy road. The rattling and gravel grinding was louder than the engine and I didn't realize we stalled until I tried the brake. Luckily the emergency brake did work. I turned the key and only got a click. Not the first time this has happened. I thought it was just a bad ignition switch connection but I tried tapping on the starter and then she cranked. Add that to the repair list. I had to repeat this a few times as I cranked and scratched my head over why the scout wouldn't start. Even gave it a shot of starting fluid with little effect. I said to my daughter that I could smell fuel but it seems like there is no spark. That's when I noticed the coil wire was disconnected! Plugged it in and the 345 came to life instantly. Woo-hoo! Disaster averted. I had noticed the coil wire seemed a little loose when I replaced all the wires a few weeks ago. Im going to see if I can tighten it up somehow. I learned a few things about my rig tonight and got home safe. It was a good day.