With my '72 tied up in litigation, I've been watching my timeline for building it up slip farther and farther out of reach. I want to have a truck with some mods to take to the "Divide Ride 98" trail ride and Jamboree in Boulder, MT this summer two weeks before my wedding.. as it looks, the '72 doesn't stand a chance (nor does my pocket book) of being done by then. I've now determined I will make the '72 a 1 year project. Take my time, do it RIGHT the first time. This will give me the extra time to clean up what rust I find WELL, etc.

So, once I came to that realization, I decided that my '77 Scout II would get some treats.. Long term plan for this truck is to run 33s, have a V8 (probably), and be look "respectable" while keeping Julie safe.. since I plan on handing it over to her for trail riding and winter road use when I get my '72 finished.

Knowing that at some point the '77 would get a lift and such.. I just decided to accelerate my timeline.

I have a 4" Skyjacker Softride suspension lift on the way, along with 4 new shocks.

I plan to install the lift kit, and leave everything "as-is". I will be running my 31x10.50" BFG Trail TAs since I can't afford to buy anything larger (nor would my 196 appreciate that) at the moment. The rear axle will also be a bit "forward" in the wheel well.. this means 33s would definitely rub. When I move to 33s, I'll relocate the rear axle back an inch or so, and then spend the $$$ to have the driveshaft lengthened, etc. In the mean time, I'm running 31s, so it'll do.

With the lift kit installed, I'll have a fairly competent trail machine. I also plan on doing the twin-stick mod to the Dana 20 sitting in the garage, and then swap that in along with the close ratio T19 that was supposed to go into my '72 (Looks like it might get a wide T19 after all.. if I find one). The close ratio T19 will GREATLY help in the streetability and off-road ability of my 196 powered '77.

With a 4spd and a 4" suspension lift, 31s, and my rear Track-lok, I should be in good shape.

I'm going to try to get the Smittybilt rollcage installed early this summer, just to have it in there.

The next mods will probably include a front Lock-rite (Julie says it must have one before I give the truck to her!), and now that I'm building two street and trail Scout IIs, I can afford to "go cheap" on ONE winch. So after the front locker, I'm going to be looking for a Ramsey REP8000. It's a permanent magnet motor that won't run as long continously as a series wound winch, but it'll do well enough. Again, I can afford to buy a $400 winch for ONE of my Scouts. My '72 will get a Superwinch S9000 series wound winch.. it'll be the "heavy puller".. The REP will be primarily for getting myself out of situations I shouldn't be in! Not "winch boy" duty..

The only mods that'll follow all of that.. maybe a V8, some paint, some minor rust repair, and some 33s. Now that I think of it, this old '77 doesn't need much to make it a real good trail rig. Less work than I'm putting into my '72..

I'll add more details when I think (dream) 'em up.. :-)

-Tom

Scouts