Progress:
2024 April ~ May ~ June ~ July ~ August ~ September ~ October ~ November ~ December
2025 January ~ February ~ March ~ April ~ May ~ June ~ July~ August ~ September
April 2024: **********************************************************************
This is the one I settled on. She doesn’t look like much, but it is mine, so keep your opinions to yourself…or drop them in the comment section so I can either delete them (if bad) or add them (if good). It’s good to be king. (4/19/2024)
The first thing I did was take it to the mechanic to make sure everything was safe. When I say safe, I mean that the brakes work, and it cranks when I turn the ignition. Luckily, everything was good to go. I had my mechanic change the oil, check the brake and pads, look it over for leaks, tune it up, and do a change out of the distributor wires/cap. (5/1/2024)
All is going pretty well. The engine and maybe the transmission were already swapped out. One of the previous owners put in a GM Small Block 350, and I(my mechanic) think it was a crate engine. I don’t know much about the engine, but it sounds pretty good, and it is a V8. It also cranks every time. The major challenge is the gauges; I don’t have a top yet. It is just a soft top, which I don’t love, and it leaked like a sieve! The next piece I procure may be the hardest thing to find. Project: Secure – Scout Hard Top. (5/5/2024)
Also, you may notice the Wiper Swivel on the left side of the windshield is broken off. I will need to get this fixed. It may be a small project, but it may be a huge pain. I ended up buying the swivels from IHOnly.com.
May
May: EFI and First Mechanic visit.
The first step now that this thing has been checked out will be to update this Scout II to ensure winters aren’t a problem. Doing my research shows me that I need to move from the carburetor. I talked with my mechanic, and we settled on the Holley Sniper 2 EFI. I took it to the shop to get it started. Where to put my boxes? (5/15/2025). EFI Installed with new starter 6/15/2024)
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June
June: Issues with gears
June update. The transmission is failing. I can’t get it in gear. That means my June spending is going to increase, and I am not sure by how much $$$.
To finish out June spending, I had my mechanic put on rear disc brakes to finish the disc brake conversions started by the previous owner. I went with the Anything Scout Rear Brake Kit. This should give me all the braking power I need when I get new tires and suspension. This project will cost me a good bit, but as they say, safety comes third. Um-er. First.
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July
July DIY Side Project – I refreshed my back seat and saved a little money. Click here for details.
July Surprise! This is just a really nice surprise, AND……cue Cousin Eddie: The back end CRAPED out…. Time to replace
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August
August DIY side project – Emblem Refreshing
August Private Party Sale – The Grey One
August 15th – Upholstery Work
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September
September 6th – Emblem work complete. Check out the before and after and my comments.
Maybe in September, everyone could use 2 inches. I plan to start the SkyJacker 2.5-inch lift kit in mid-June and complete it by July 15th. I have a deadline for getting it into the shop to start the sandblasting and bodywork project. It will be too tight, but we will take it as it comes.
September 26th 2024. – I am working on the glass for the Scout. Project Scout’s Honor: Bringing the ’72 Glass Back to its Clear, Glorious Past is a good place to start. I have some side quests here, like the gas vapor separator.
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October
October 9th 2024: I finished refurbishing and cleaning all the windows. The triangle front windows were a pain in the butt. Make sure to take lots of pictures before you tear them apart. Since this was my first time, it took five times as long.
October 15th, 2024: I am getting 2 inches. I will tow the old girl from downtown Chattanooga to my suspension guy. He will put on the Lift Kit, Body Lift, Body Bushings, and rear axle. If we have the correct ring and pinion, we will put the new one in there too. My lift guy says it should take 2-3 days, which is going to be expensive.
October 26th, 2024: My scout has been lifted and updated, so it is back down the house for some Bondo. I talked to the body shop guy, and it seems that Bondo work is next, getting panels back on and lined up. It is going to be fun to watch the progress. Not sure how fast it will go. I am expecting a November update.
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November
November 19th. 2024: Bodywork is underway...in a big way. The Bondo dust is flying, and things are being added. All panels are back on except the hood to get everything lined up and to open and close as smoothly as possible.
November 23rd: Side quest- Project Drop It Like It’s Hot: Heater Box Restoration. Just like the silly songs from the early 2000′s….
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December
December 2nd, 2024—The bodywork is almost done—well, at least the outside of the truck. Next up will be some fabrication on the floorboards to install seats. I expect the guys will work on that in mid-December
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January
Jan 4th 2025 – Finally get all the lights and whatnots (of course and what have yous). When the boys took the scout apart, they stripped all the lights. I will refurb them and nock as much rust off as possible. I am planning on it taking 1/2 day or so.
July 15th, 2025 – Added a sidequest here. I re-felted the rails of the Scout II to try to reduce the window rattle in the driver and passenger doors. See the Sidequest: Merkin for my rails here.
Jan 23rd: They started laying the first layer of bumper/inside bed liner for my Scout II. Updates are here.
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February
Feb 7th: Paint has been selected, and the project is started. We started with Part 1 and then moved on to Part 2.
Feb 14th – The paint is coming along, and I have started the final quest after the first quest. This will be final paint and restoration of inside.
Feb 21st: Sidequest of sorts to make the American Racing wheel thingies. I think they are called center caps. Sidequest can be found here.
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March
March 4th – Headliner sidequest has commenced. I have my boy J.R. working, but I don’t have the headliner and installation, along with some of my homebrew work.
March 14th—Assembly is slowly getting underway. I will use this post to update you with pictures and such.
March 22nd – Air conditioner installation…and serpentine belts.
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April
April 1st – Yes, yes, it is April Fools Day. Not that I am not fooling around. I am getting super close to having the new serpentine belts installed. State Line Auto has my truck right now. V-Belts are being replaced. Serpentine add with Holley Valve Covers and Air Cleaner.
April 15th – Yes, it is Tax Day, but I paid those mothers, so I should be ready. I talked to State Line Auto today, and they should have the parts tomorrow. I will be waiting for the call. I will then get it back over to the body shop by the end of May for the final rebuild.
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May
May 14th – Serpentine belts are installed, and the thing looks pretty sharp!! The challenge right now is the EFI oxygen sensor was misplaced, the engine electrical was not finished(just the lights), and the autometer dash gauges needed some love… I should have it finished this week and towed back to be put back together. Also, the wiper conversion kit is back in stock, and I ordered a set!!
May 19th – The final push is underway. I picked the Scout II up from State Line Auto, and the AC is installed and charged, the electrical in the engine bay with the Holley Sniper 2, and the Electric Fans are a go with the new radiator. I don’t think that much more will be posted in May. I hope to have an update in June!
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June
June 3rd – So I found my head unit for the radio and it fits! I looked high and low and found one with Apple CarPlay, wireless of course, GPS, and all the bells and whistles. We shall see how it performs!
June 9th – I am back from vacation, and the guys in the shape have been busy getting the Scout back together. They stated working on the rebuild in late May, and I was hoping that it would be done in June, but it looks like July is the time frame….could be late June.
June 15th – A little on reviving Scouts – BLOG
June 26th – It has been 1 year, 2 months, and 7 days…or 433 days. And she is back together!!
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July
Updates:
July 12th – So, Holley recalled my fuel pressure regulator. Well, that is at least what I think. I will have more updates once I get the final check from my serpentine installation and a/c addition.
July 24th – Still waiting on the mechanic to clear me to get back over to get this running. More updates to come….probably sometime in August.
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August
August 3rd. – I had AAA towing pick the SCOUT up and moved it to State Line Auto for a couple of reasons. We will start by getting it running better so we can get it up to speed and get it moving. After that, they will check the A/C and any other parts that need to be check. I think we have a fuel pump issue.
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September
Updates:
September 6th: It’s a good month! I finally got my Scout II back and am able to put some miles on it. We had a few issues that we needed to work through, but nothing that was crazy.
`September 18th: I decided to get the front end aligned, which cost me $147, but I was about to head to my first show! Harvesters in the Hollar.
September 24th: Today, I visited the muffler guy to see what it would take to add on to the HP of my rig and get it running a little better. More to come in October on that one.
September 27th: I will be taking it back to my body guy for a few days. Fixing a few minor issues. I hope.
Sept 30th: My plan is to stop this thread right here. Some 17 months later, I am driving and enjoying my rig. Of course, there will be other things that I am working on, but you can follow that here! Until my next build!
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