Anyone ever done it? Looking to restore a '65 IH Scout that hasn't run in decades (long story).

Time is not a concern, nor a factor, but I'm concerned it might be a money pit to have it done professionally.

Thoughts? Thanks.

Better get a good parts manual. Those things had parts from everybody. Still cool though. I had a 76, had a ball in that thing

I agree with headache73. A good parts manual and a good parts man. My son and I worked a 77 over as a school car project. Our local parts house counter man knew scouts in and out. They do have parts from everybody! It may end up as a money pit even doing it yourself!! We had fun doing it! I believe there are a couple IH specific salvage yards in the Midwest. Good luck!!!

All car restoration is expensive and time consuming, but well worth it in the end.
I enjoy it.

I ran a 1960 Scout in the mid/late 80s for a hunting rig. Good good little buggy and easy to work on. As I remember they took 1/2 of the International Harvester V8 engine and redesigned it to make the 4 cylinder Scout engine. 153 cubic inch maybe? Not much on the highway but it did very well in the woods or in bad weather. The rear end was a weak point in them and I went through three before I got tired of scouring junk yards for rear ends and sold it. Went to a 76 Bronco from there.

Go for it!
I had a 66 with a 153 for a year or two then went to a 74 with a 304 under the hood.
The 153 it’s hard to keep 52 miles an hour on the highway because of the rear end, in my opinion.
The 74 model was geared much better.
Both were tanks on and off the road!

Headache73 is right about the parts confusion. Even in a single model year, parts were outsourced from many different sources. I was once asked for my frame number at an IH parts counter.

I had a. 72 Scout II. Mine was a v8 with auto trans and ac. The front hubs had thee positions. Free, Auto, and Lock. I ordered a Bronco in 78 and wanted hubs like the Scout had but Ford did not offer them.

There is one down the street i keep thinking about stopping and asking if want to sell

I was a mechanic for a couple years 71-72 at IH. Been under a few Scouts. Spent most of my time on farm equipment though.

My daughters boy friend has a business dealing in IH Scouts, Travelalls and truck parts and restoration. Salvages and sends parts all over. He is the guy in the know on this subject.
Google binderboneyard

https://thebinderboneyard.com/


https://www.facebook.com/BinderBoneyard/

Is a guy in SE Iowa bought up all around him. Last I was past there he had about a dozen sitting out front all done up. No idea what his prices were like.

Standard joke about parts on IH scouts.

When you buy parts for one , you need to know the year , model , month of manufacture , day of the week , time of that day and name of the guy on the assembly line and his address and phone number to get the correct part as they really did build them out whatever parts bins had been bought at that exact time the vehicle was made.

Also they are known for rust issues as they did not have inner fenderwell liners.

Not trying to bash the vehicle , just trying to state facts. Cool vehicle in its day.

I had a last of the production run Scout.
When they shut down production they shipped as many as they could out west.
220 miles per gas tank was a key figure in travel to remember.

The big V8 was standard in all IH farm trucks, so parts were always around.

I would love to get a good running scout. I remember as a kid in the 80s bouncing along everywhere with my dad and the CB radio. Thing was unstoppable.

I haven't any around here but when I was a kid that was an outfit I wanted. Never did get one but would love to get one someday yet.

I have been restoring one for my dad, its a 76 scout II 304 v8 and auto trans.. Started it last year but only have time in the winter to work on it. It is expensive, some parts are hard to find. There are a couple international parts places around.

I went to work in 65 for and IHC truck dealer selling parts.Worked there for 13 years.
In 76 I bought a 65 Scout.It was a 2wd with a 4 cyl engine.It had really bad gas milage
on the highway.On windy days you could hardly keep it on the road and with a
head wind you couldn't get any speed up.
I put chains on it and wheel weights in the back and could go anywhere, off the road.


Dan

Two other things you need to know!
1) They came withh a "cab card". As I remember, they were either on the drivers side visor or above it.
2 ) they had two names. IHC stood for International Harvester Corp. But after working on them all the time, it corrupted into In He!! Continuosly!

The cab card was important, told you all the parts used on that vehicle, with the info Crager was talking about. If it was lost, it took a darn good parts man. Speaking from experience, had one,will never have another. Toyotas are a much better investment and will go in the same places a scout would go, without breaking down! The rear ends in them were junk! Good luck bud!

Expensive? Yes but still cheaper than an excuse or drug habit....