This is my plan for my 1972 Scout II. I found out the brakes are shot, and thus it's been "grounded" for some time waiting for the parts.. which I've collected, and then some. So...

What my Scout has now:

Sitting in my garage, waiting for my Scout:

On their way (for me to still order):

Now that we have the stage set.. here's my plan:

  1. Remove the seats (done - 4/16/98)
  2. Remove the rollbar
  3. Remove the factory rubber matting / sound deadening floor material
  4. Remove fan shroud
  5. Disconnect the ignition harness, steering column, gas line, and anything else that connects from the body to the frame
  6. Unbolt the 8 body mount bolts
  7. Lift the body a bit, so there's room between it and the frame
  8. Grind out the rusty parts of the floor and front body mounts
  9. Weld in replacement steel
  10. Remove the doors
  11. Lift the body off of the frame
  12. Flat tow the frame to a local welder to have the front reverse shackle "towers" welded on, some mounts for a rear 4-link suspension, drill and "sleeve" two holes on either side of the frame, near where the old rear spring mount is.. inside diameter should be 1/2"
  13. Add some cargo storage compartments in the areas between the innder bed tub and the outer rear quarter panels
  14. Install 3.5" or 4" mid-range speakers in the kick-panel area up front
  15. Sand the entire interior of the body tub, primer it, then Durabak it
  16. Sand what I can of the underside of the body tub, then primer, then Durabak
  17. Durabak the lower edge of the body - where the stock trim would be, and then down - this will avoid nicking any paint in the future
  18. Remove engine/tranny/transfer case from the frame (skip this?)
  19. Remove axles, shackles, manual steering box
  20. Grind off stock front shock mounts, drill holes to use Jeep CJ bolt-on higher front shock mounts - 2 per side
  21. Sand blast the frame
  22. Clean the frame with Acetone
  23. Paint the frame with POR15
  24. Re-install the 304V8, with the T19 and Dana 20 from the garage
  25. Re-install the body onto the frame with new body bushings, new body bolts, and one inch spacers (1" body lift)
  26. Bolt a StrateSteer and the power steering gear box onto the frame
  27. Attach the steering column
  28. Re-install the doors
  29. Re-fit the 4pt GUS rollbar, and add in the Smittybilt front rollcage.
  30. Remove the cage, have a professional do the finish weld, then primer and Durabak the rollcage
  31. Install roll-cage
  32. Install the rear bench seat (sand blast, paint, & Durabak the under-side rear bench seat mounting bracket)
  33. Install front bucket seat bases
  34. Install an 8" Subwoofer in the passenger seat base
  35. Install 10-disc Sony CD-changer inside the driver's bucket seat base - or, install in a Tuffy console
  36. Install some tweeters in the upper corners of either the rollcage, or the windshield frame
  37. Install bucket seats
  38. Trim the glovebox edge, and relocate the headlight switch and e-brake release to clear the front feet of the rollcage
  39. Install the power brake booster and disc/drum brake mastercylinder and proportioning valve
  40. Remove the rear springs, and replace all bushings
  41. Place rear axle under the springs (springs-over-axle), and measure amount of rotation needed for a CV rear driveshaft
  42. Have a professional welder move the spring perches to the top of the axle at the appropriate angle
  43. Have the welder add the 4-link mounts to the axle as well
  44. Welder will also add 2 shock mounts per side, along the axle tube
  45. Install an 8" longer rear brake line
  46. Locate and install a Ford front Reverse Cut Dana 44 diff cover - with a higher fill plug
  47. Add a bracket to the old shock upper rear shock mounts to relocate the upper shock mounts up one inch - make accomodations for dual shocks
  48. Cut one extra rear spring pack in half, drill two 1/2" holes in the ends of the main leafs. Install these springs under the frame on the front, to be my rear buggy leaf spring mount for the reverse shackle front end
  49. Install the stock front springs (with new bushings), using the front spring "tower" and the new buggy spring rear mount
  50. Position front axle under the springs, and make measurements for axle rotation for front CV-joint driveshaft
  51. Disassemble front axle
  52. Grind welds
  53. Rotate the axle the proper amount for the CV 'shaft, and 4 to 6 degrees of caster
  54. Have a professional re-weld the knuckles
  55. Grind a new perch into the passenger side diff webbing, at the appropriate angle
  56. Have a professional relocate the driver's side spring perch to the top of the axle tube at the appropriate angle
  57. Add shock mounts in an appropriate position
  58. Install the new front Dana 44 under the springs
  59. Test the suspension articulation - measure for front brake lines, front shocks, and front driveshaft - along with rear shocks and 'shaft
  60. Order 4 shocks, and the rear driveshaft
  61. Order the front driveshaft(when $$$ allows)

At this point, the truck will be in a perfectly driveable condition. Other items I plan to do by or at this point, would be:

Tell me if I've overlooked something!

-Tom
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