Our news
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Mr. Fix It and the tale of the failing fuel pump…
There’s a special kind of frustration reserved for a vehicle that runs perfectly… until it doesn’t. Min? A small block Chevy 350 running a Holley Sniper 2 EFI with a return-style fuel system. Strong. Reliable. Confident. Until about 5–15 minutes into runtime. Then the gremlins arrive. Here’s the step-by-step journey that led me to conclude
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Tom Petty once sang about it: Breakdown
Houston we have a problem. My Scout II has a Holly Sniper 2 EFI, and the monitor is showing a high air-fuel ratio. I’m wondering what some possible causes could be. It idles and runs fine, but when I hit the gas, the engine shuts down as the AFR climbs. Of course, I went straight to Grok. Possible
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Sidequest: Fat Bastard- the story of the gas strut.
I decided to search around and start adding some small “luxuries” to my Scout II. The first thing I came across was a tuffy gas piston to help assist the opening of the tuffy box. I am going to be honest. I didn’t think much about this being a problem but it is a pain in
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Operation: Leaky Seals.
When I planned for this rig to be a daily driver, I knew there would be water entering the vehicle. I had my guys blast rhino liner in the tub, sides, and bumpers. This was all to prepare for rain and moisture. I have about 1500 miles on the rig, and she is running pretty
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Sidequest: Foghorn um, er, Legorn.
I have set out to get the horn working on this bad boy. I quickly realized the cancel cam wiring harness was not appropriate. As you can see on the left, the harnesses do not match up When you buy the wiring kit from Anything Scout, you will need a short-style harness. The short will
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Running Sidequest….My mecahinc is twerking or is it tweaking?
I decided to create a dedicated post for the ongoing tweaks to my Scout II. October 9th – 2025 As you can see, I have some leaks that I am currently looking to fix. I have a significant oil leak, and it appears to be coming from the pan. I can see that on the
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Sidequest: Back to Chatt Town
I have had the Scout back for 2 weeks or so, and it has been a lot of fun! I have also noticed a few things that need to be finished/fixed. I talked to Tony and he told me to schedule up and bring it in and he would get on it. This guy is
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Sidequest: How to Fix Serpentine Belt Noise
I woke up this morning, hopped in the Scout, and headed to the Waffle House to get my day going. On the way down the mountain, I noticed that there was a “chirp” coming from the engine compartment. It was a new noise, and if you have a Scout II. A new noise is not
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Get Low: Exhaust-ive Shenanigans with My ’72 Scout II’s Booty Call Pipes
I am in the market for a new exhaust system, and as with everything else on this build….I know nothing. I stopped by the muffler shop here in Chattanooga, and the guy told me to do some googling and listen to the sounds of both Flowmaster and Magnaflow mufflers. So, here I go. I will
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First Show! – Harvesters in the Hollar
This past weekend, I was able to get my Scout over to Crossville, TN, for the annual Harvesters in the Hollar, about 140 Miles round trip. I know that doesn’t sound like a lot, but I had only put 200 miles total on the new speedometer/odometer. My destination was up the hill a little, so
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Wheelie Good Laughs: Aligning My 1972 Scout Tires for the First Time
One of the things that I have already done is update the steering linkage. It helped a little bit. I am still working to get it driving better. I recently purchased a sway bar for the front end. I hope to have that this month and will install it with some Grade 8 or Grade
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1st gear? No problem! The other two. We have a poblem. Four slight challenges….
Okay, I was expecting that some crap was going to happen. I was actually just researching the dust cover that was missing when I bought this thing. I was thinking, man I should probably replace that thing. I am not sure if this missing dust cover has anything to do with next things to get
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Measuring the slither of my serpentine..and other items.
Back at the mechanic…. I think there may be a vacuum leak or a fuel pressure regulation/fuel pump issue. I will have it back at State Line Auto in a few weeks to see if we can get it running as good as it looks. Update: …so the old man is back on the tow
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Scout II: From Rusty Relic to Wallet Wrecker – Let Me Grab My Crystal Ball…as if You Care.
The International Harvester Scout II, produced from 1971 to 1980, holds a special place in automotive history as one of the pioneers of the modern SUV. This rugged, off-road-capable vehicle was built by International Harvester (IH), a company more commonly known for its farm equipment and trucks, as a direct competitor to the Jeep CJ
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Scout Traveler and Terra: The Electric Off-Roaders That’ll Make Your Jeep Blush and Your Gas Pump Cry
Buckle up, adventure seekers, because Scout Motors is back, and they’re bringing a pair of electric off-roaders that are ready to rumble through the wilderness like a bear with a battery pack. The Scout Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck are set to revive the iconic Scout brand, which hasn’t seen action since the days
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Before and After Photos: Back where it all began.
So, I will admit that I found a plugin that creates before-and-after photo sliders, and I like it. Since I like it, I will use it so much that you may be upset with my overuse. Deal with it! A brief note for you purists out there….you know who you are, and yes, I am talking to
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Sidequest: Battery Beefcake
I never thought I would have to think this much about a battery, but here I am. When I purchased my Scout II, it came with a DieHard Silver 24FT-5 battery, which had the following dimensions: a length of 10.25 inches, a width of 6.81 inches, and a height of 8.88 inches. When I decided
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Reviving the Scout II: A Resurgence from Bars, Fields, and Junkyards to Open Roads
Over the past five years, a quiet but passionate movement has been gaining traction among automotive enthusiasts: the revival of the International Harvester Scout II. Once a rugged competitor to the likes of the Jeep CJ and Ford Bronco, the Scout II—produced from 1971 to 1980—has emerged from junkyards and barns to reclaim its place
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The Rebuild…something is going to happen
Here we go! I have a few pics from today and will keep putting them up as things go back together. I was told that windows were going in today. So far, the rebuild has been ongoing for three weeks, but they are not working on my rig full-time. I will keep up with pictures
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Scout II Radio Quest: ’72 Tunes…in 2025
I have been doing lots of research, trying to figure out what touchscreen unit will fit without much modification to the dashboard or the dash panel. I think I found a winner—introducing the Single Din Touch Screen Car Stereo with Wireless Apple CarPlay. I purchased mine before the 2025 tariff wars for $99 plus tax. I am pretty
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GPS in a ’72 like its ’02…
I decided to hook up a GPS to my Speedometer. I bought the unit from AutoMeter. I am sure you can buy a cheaper version of the GPS unit on Amazon, and it works just as well as the $250+ one I purchased. But hey, one of my superpowers is overpaying, so I have that
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Miniquest: License Plate Light Refresh
I stopped by the body shop the other day to pick up the light that attaches to the license plate assembly on the back on my Scout II. They do have new replacement parts which I have found on the interwebs. ScoutParts.com seems to have limited availability but since my was from 1972 and in
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Project looking glass: Scout II Sleuth
I bought this scout from a 90-year-old gentleman who just lost his wife. He was the primary caretaker and held the position for over 10 years. He wanted to redo the vehicle but was unable to do so. I still send him updates from time to time. I also found it strange that my Scout
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From V-Belts to Serpentine: Slithering into a Smoother Scout II Ride
I wasn’t expecting this, but I am not surprised. We will do two things to get a more modern and serviceable engine. I will be taking pictures of before and after, but since a mechanic is doing the work, I may be missing some process steps. Updates: Talk to the guys at State Line Auto. Here
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Chillin’ Like a Scout II Villain: The AC Chronicles
I found a shop in town that can install the after-market kit. The guys at State Line Auto say they are up to the challenge and have a fabricator to fabricate the steel pieces to hold the compressor and move the alternator around. I am excited to get this piece taken care of because the
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Sidequest: Big, Shiney, Happy, Beauty Rings…and center caps.
So I grabbed the beauty rings off the Scout and brought them home for refurbishment. The outside of the rings were in pretty good shape. The biggest challenge I had was to blow the rust off the back of the rings and work them over with a wire brush. You can see how I handled
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Project Scout II:The final quest…before the ongoing saga.
Sure, I remember the Christmas of 1987. Why do you ask? Well, I remember that year I got the Legend of Zelda. It was under the Christmas tree, all beautiful and gold! I unwrapped that bad boy and stared at it. It took us a few months to beat it. Yes, we called the hotline in Seattle
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Sidquest: Headliners are for quakers.
You will notice that my cover image is a little different. I quit paying for ChatGPT and use Grok now. Grok creates more realistic images which, I don’t know if I love or not—either way. GPT only allows the free version to do a few renditions of pictures before it says to try again tomorrow.
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So I have ADHD: The vanishing Scout II
So I saw a squirrel in the backyard on the way to rake leaves. I started looking at the squirrel and noticed mushrooms growing of old limbs decaying in my backyard. It got me thinking. How many Scout IIs rotted in the proverbial backyard? I think there were some 200,000 Scout IIs produced. They were
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Project II-Tone: Ready for paint! Part Deux
I figured I would break from the old post to jump to paint stuff here. Now that that deadener is applied and the spray on bed we will start to attack the exterior. Reed has started painting on the loose parts like the cowl, front grill, lower valance, rear hatch window, and glove box door.
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Sidequest: Merkin for my rails.
Okay, so you may not know what I mean by merkin, and you may be beginning to think about what I mean by rails. The rail is the easy part to explain. It just means the window track for the front two doors of my 1972 Scout II. By merkin, I, of course, mean the
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Project Running Like a Singer: Only hopefully with a little more power.
I am not going to B.S. you here. Getting this thing running correctly is not as easy as one would think. I am going to have the guys at State Line Auto help me, but Levi does a great job explaining the challenges. Bonus: Levi also shows an upgrade that I may drop in at
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Classic Scout II Revival: Bringing Back the Gleam to Stainless Steel Lighting Trim
The boys at the shop stripped all the lights out of the old ’72 Scout II, so I will “refurbish them”. What does that mean? As I plan it out, I think it means that I am going to knock the rust off the sides and make the trip pieces look as new as possible.
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Project II-Tone: Ready for paint! Part Uno
I think I have found the color scheme. I am not 100% sure about the color of the pinstripe, but I LOVE the front cowl, all in white. It will look great with the stainless grill. Leave your comments in the section below. I am going with sage green and an “antique white”. I talked
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Bondo Bonanza: Part DUECE – Almost ready for paint.
First day of December 2024 and things are taking shape for sure!! Update: 260 Total Hours83 Rust Repair and Welding177 – Til over budget 59.5 Hours panel sharpening.117.5 – Til over budget 36 Hours prime and Bondo81.5 – Til over budget 36 Hours prime and Bondo45.5 – Til over budget 30 Hours – almost ready
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Bondo Bonanza: My 1972 Scout II’s New Skin Regime
She’s back at the body shop: Update: I talked to Tony 11/5/24 about the process. We are going to go weekly on the truck. I will go down and get updates on the process and approve the next steps. We are getting closer to putting her back together. Update: 59.5 Hours of Body Work…. Okay,
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Project: Everyone could use 2-3 inches…and it only took 5 months!
Good day!….Um, er to spend money!!! So I had the tow guy, I use Cain, pick up the Scout. Cost me $150 to get it up the lift kit place but I don’t have any other option. My mechanic grabbed a crate and told me it could be fun after he finishes driving it with
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Body Work: How is it going?
My body guy put up a video on Instagram, which I pinched and posted below. I have sandblasted, removed rust, replaced sheet metal, cleaned up most rotted spots, refurbed the windows, and gas vaporizor. Chatt Town Exclusives Next: Back:
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Project Vapor: Restoring the gas vapor seperator.
This side quest should be pretty straightforward. I will need to figure out how to repair the missing nipple. My plan is to clean it up really well and repair the missing/broken nipple at the top right. It is crucial to connect to the charcoal canister in the engine bay. Update: This was pretty simple.
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Project Driver and Passenger Refurb: Glass refurb part deux.
I am working on the driver and passenger windows and both triangle windows. Now for the triangle window. I am starting with the driver’s window because the latch is broken. Update:I have been working to complete my glass FAQ on procuring glass for your drive and passenger door. You can order the glass ONLY here from
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Project Scout’s Honor: Bringing the ’72 Glass Back to its Clear, Glorious Past
So, let’s get into it, shall we? I have the glass from my Scout II that I would like to restore. This will include cleaning and restoring the glass, and I will also take on the hardware restoration. The glass is pretty grimy and gross, as shown in the pictures below. The front and rear
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Project 70’s Shag Baby: Secrets to a Deep Pile Satisfaction
Ah, carpet. You wouldn’t think this decision would be so hard to make, but there are many options for carpets. There is a plush cut pile, an ultra-plush cut pile (the most expensive), a neon cut pile (for those who love disco biscuits), an 80-20 loop, and a loop pile carpet. FYI: Neon-cut pile carpets
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Project Heavy Metal: Louder and Nastier than Ever!!
Now that all the sheet metal is in, I must take it to the sheet metal guy for advice. As you remember, I am gaining two inches or more with a new suspension and a one-inch body lift. UPDATE: I took down the HD Surefit Wedge from the boys at Anything Scout. I forgot that it would
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Project Drop It Like It’s Hot: Heater Box Restoration.
My order came today! I must take the box out of the scout, but I have all the necessary pieces. There are no updates yet, but I plan on working on this project this fall. Luckily, the boys at Anything Scout have a GREAT video showing the process. I will update with pictures as I
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They Gray One
I woke up today and went to go see 1974 International Scout ll Original 345 v8 4×4 Borg Warner T18 4-speed manual transmission. Front power disc brakes, power steering, Dana 44 Rear and Dana 60 front axle, Redhead power steering gearbox, Holley Sniper EFI fuel Injection, 33×10.50 BF Goodrich All-terrain Tires 90% tread on 15″
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Project Fresh and Fresh: Emblem Restoration
$60 per piece. That is about how much you will have to pay to replace each of these pieces. There is a KIT here you can buy from AnythingScout. I want to see if I can take my old pieces, remove all the paint, and repaint them. I don’t know how they will look on my
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Project Dune Part 3 Part 2: Scout Prime
I visited my friend down at Chatt Town Exclusives to see the recently blasted and primed Scout II. I took some pictures and discussed the items needed. Essentially, all of the floor panels needed replacement. That means I needed the following: UPDATE- So, the suppliers came through. Right front quarter panelLeft front quarter panel EJClassis
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Project Hog Ring 101: Tan Corbeau rear seat cover installation.
Today, I had a little bit of extra time so I decided to work on the rear seat. I didn’t have 100% confidence that I had the skill / patience / detail to make it happen. I have been going a little over budget on some of the other things. HUH HUM – BROKEN Axle.
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Project “Arm-rest”oration: Upholstering a 1972 Scout’s Interior, One Pun at a Time
I really do hope you appreciate the work that went into the title of this blog. Yes, most others are stupid, but this one is pretty good!! One of the most frustrating parts about re-doing this ’72 Scout has been finding the people to do the work. I don’t have any relationships. I ask friends
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Project Dune Part 3: The sandblasting.
I have read the horror stories. Sandblasting can warp steel. There are ways to minimize warping and maximize the outcome. I am putting a lot of trust in A2Z Sand Blasing, and I must admit. I am a little nervous. I would say that this portion of the restoration has caused me the most anxiety.
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Project Broken Axle: The Story of a July Suprise.
Log Entry 129: I felt like the tide was turning in my quest to have a good July, and I made it less than a few hours before I heard the news. I took my Scout II out to tweak my EFI a few days ago. I noticed a rattle in the back end of
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Towt up from the flow up: (Part Deuce)
Okay, so my transmission seems to be acting up—so much so that it won’t go into any gear. It will go into park right now, which is the only positive that I see right now. I am going through what everyone told me would happen. My Scout II keeps breaking down, with issues ranging from
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Project: “Brake It ‘Til You Make It – Journey from rear Drum to Disc Brakes!”
The International Scout II is a classic vehicle cherished by off-road enthusiasts and vintage car lovers. While its rugged design and robust performance are notable, upgrading its braking system is crucial for safety and performance. Replacing the master brake cylinder and converting from drum brakes to disc brakes are significant improvements that every Scout II
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Getting Towt up from the flow up….
I know it’s a stupid title, but it’s my blog, and you don’t pay for it! Let’s be honest. From the first day of this little adventure, I knew this day would come. The day I needed to call Doug Yates to get him to send out one of his beautiful tow trucks. The day
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Videos
Cool Videos I Found…all in one place. Engines. Windows. Hardtop. Wiring. Seals. Wipers. Exhaust. Sniper 2. Gears/Transmissions/Axles. Tires. Steering. Dealing with Rust. Fuel System. Coolant. Carpet and Sound Dampening. Water Pumps. Brakes. Other Videos. Engines: (TOP) Windows: (TOP) Hardtop: (TOP) Wiring: (TOP) Seals: (TOP) Wipers: (TOP) Exhaust: (TOP) Sniper2: (TOP) Gears / Transmissions / Axles:
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Project: Tweak my EFI
I am working on gathering some tweaks for my EFI. I plan to get it idling great and then running great!! I will tell you how things go when my mechanic installs the EFI. We are still having some issues but Holley has been great with help and support. TIPS from the video:1) Always make
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Project Steering Wheel: Like an old batch of collard greens.
I am searching for the perfect replacement steering wheel for my trusty Scout II. When I bought my Scout, I knew the steering wheel had to go. It was time for an upgrade, and I was determined to find the perfect replacement. Little did I know that this seemingly simple task would become an epic
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Project: Where to put my boxes. EFI added!
In this blog post, I’ll share my experience hunting for the perfect location to attach the ignition box and tie-in box while installing the new Holley Sniper 2 electric fuel injection system on my vehicle. The process required careful consideration, research, and a few trial-and-error attempts. Background:I recently decided to upgrade my vehicle’s fuel system
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Project: Baby needs a new pair of shoes.
Scout II Factory Options and Specifications for Scout II applications Aftermarket Basics to Know for Scout II applications Current Setup: Update: Here is what I am thinking. BF Goodwrench 33/10.5/15 They came in today! I decided to order them through the Walmart app because I use Walmart plus and the prices were good and they put them
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Mistakes….
I will list a few mistakes and link them back to the blog post. Hopefully, my stupidity will save you guys some money. Money Saver – Grab a membership to AAA. I opted for the Premium, but the Premier is not much more and gives you a longer haul of 200 miles if that makes.
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Project: Plug the holes…
It’s better known as dropping a grand on gauges… The boys at Anything Scout recommend gauges from AutoMeter.com. Over the next month or so, I will research these bad boys and consider the look I want inside my Scout II. So I pulled the trigger on my gauges and went with the AutoMeter American Muscle
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Project: Electrical Up to Snuff?
The boys at Anything Scout have a Scout II specific wiring harness and I am thinking about adding this to the project list. When embarking on a journey to restore or upgrade a classic vehicle like a 1972 Scout II, one of the most critical and intricate tasks is rewiring the entire electrical system. This
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Unveiling the Past: A Comprehensive Guide to Sandblasting a 1972 Scout II
In the world of restoration, few tasks are as crucial and transformative as sandblasting. This process, when done correctly, can breathe new life into a vintage vehicle like the 1972 Scout II. But what exactly does sandblasting entail, and how much should you expect to pay for this service? In this blog post, we’ll delve
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UPDATE: Project (Secure Hard Top)
So, I got the hard top on the Scout II. It came with a little pain, but I guess so do everything in life…..I had my 13-year-old helping me, which was a 1.5-man crew working on a 2-man project. We took it slow and steady and got it up on top. I did get my
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Project: Everyone could use 2-3 inches…
Well, well, look at you, Mr. Scout II, getting ready to stand a little taller with a 2-inch lift kit. Let’s hope your ego doesn’t get a lift, too, or we might have a situation on our hands! Before we get to the kit part, I ran across this video and wanted to understand it
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Restoring a Scout II: A Step-by-Step Guide
Welcome to the world of classic car restoration, where patience meets passion! Today, we’re focusing on the iconic Scout II, an off-road vehicle produced by International Harvester from 1971 to 1980. Known for its rugged design and versatility, the Scout II makes a fantastic project for enthusiasts looking to bring a piece of automotive history
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The Rise of the SUV in the 1970s: Embracing Adventure and the Great Outdoors
The 1970s marked a significant turning point in American automotive culture with the rise of the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). This era, characterized by a robust spirit of adventure and a burgeoning appreciation for the great outdoors, perfectly matches the versatile and rugged SUV. One of the iconic figures of this movement was the 1972
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Project: Safety Check
I took my ’72 Scout for its first real visit to the mechanic. To start, I am having the boys at D & M Motors check it out. I have known these guys for years, and David met me to review the car and determine what we needed. We sat out in front of D
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Project: Tighten the steering….
Oh boy, buckle up (or maybe not, considering the steering situation) as we dive into the wild world of the 1972 International Harvester Scout II. You know how they say “the road less traveled” is more adventurous? Well, in this case, it’s the road that’s less traveled because the steering on this beast is about
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Project: Lights Camera Action
Okay, please refer to #2 of the home page – “Gullibility”. I am on Instagram a lot, yes more than I would care to admit. I found a guy –Wallace 4×4 with some really cool stuff! He doesn’t have a store or anything, but he does have a VENMO…. I mean, what is the worst
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Project: Color Scheme
So, I can’t tell the difference between Hunter Green and Forrest Green… I am sure that one of them is darker, or something like that. I will enlist my wife when it comes to picking the exact color, but I found some color schemes that I like, and I think the interior work with most
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The top is off…
I have owned this thing for a week now and decided to take the top off! To my surprise, the Soft Topper is pretty easy to take down and put back up. I am glad because I will probably want to remove the hard top and put it back on once everything is in order.
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Project: Secure – Scout Hard Top
I secured a replacement for the missing hard top. I hope I got lucky because the guy I bought it from is SUPER nice. He lives in Minnesota and is going to build a pallet to ship it to me. Yes, it is ruff, but it is mine, so LAY OFF! UPDATE: Big shout out
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The Time to Spend
Picture this: you’re cruising down the highway in your freshly restored International Scout II, wind in your hair, sun on your face, and nothing in the world. Sounds like a dream, right? But before you can hit the road and live out your classic car fantasies, you must know what it takes to transform your
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’72 Scout Wiper: Journey to fix the black eye.
Mistake made. Let me explain. As you can see from the image above….My scout is missing a wiper. The post was broken off the right side, and I really don’t have any clue as to how this happened. It doesn’t even make any sense. Okay, the wiper is missing fine. But the post being broken?
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I bought one. One eyebrow.
So- This old thing had to come home with me. I know it is not perfect. I am sure I will look back and say that I overpaid…the self doubt is real. Next:
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The Red One ’79
Well, Craig is back at it again. This one looks pretty good, and actually, the guy that had The Yellow One texted me and told me about the post. I don’t like the way the seller puts the pictures in very specific places, but I want to go down and see this. I am going
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The Yellow One
This one is interesting. I decided to drive up to the beautiful state of Kentucky to see a ’77 Scout II that seemed in pretty good shape. I found this one on Craig’s List. I did some research, and it is true that a guy named Craig started it. I only knew one dude named
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The Black One ’72 w/ winch
Okay, so I got in touch with a guy named Marlin. He bought this 1972 IH Scout II for $16K in 2022. This guy is super nice! He is 89 years old and looks like he is in his 70’s. His wife had a stroke, and he took care of her until she passed this year.
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The Black One ’76 Scout II
I live in Chattanooga, so I figured I would look there first, and to my surprise, there were two! The first one was listed on Facebook, but it turns out it was at a used dealership named Z Motors. I contacted a guy named Phillip, and we set up a time to meet. I showed
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Cool Links
Buy Parts:Anything Scout is a cool store with some great videos! Legit outlet. 10-20% markup. CUSTOM Parts for easier fit. Very responsive to questions and I have made many purchases from them. Shipping can eat you alive. Be smart and buy a lot at one time to get better shipping. Call them, too, to make
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Engine Swaps
I am very interested in understanding the options for replacing the engine in the Scott II. The old IH engine has already been swapped out with a ’69-’80 model Small Block Chevy 350. 3970010 – Unsure if it is a 4-bolt or 2-bolt. I don’t think you can determine by looking at it but would
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Buying a Scout II
With my youngest approaching 16, I am looking for a daily driver International Harvester Scout II. I fell in love with Scouts at a very young age. My next-door neighbor, Martin G. Rush (G for Gregsby), had one, and he drove it daily until he died in 1985. I grew up in Selma, Alabama, and lived next