One of my 1972 IH Scouts

[McFarmer]

That really looks nice.

Did you know that IH would give you a scout if you bought a tractor ? That was just before Tenneco bought them.

 

[customtronic]

The original I-Scout was a great "parking car". That original Scout could be a pickup or a "station wagon" with the bulkhead out and the rear cap on. The back seat sat on angle iron that slid back and forth on combo wheel wheels/gas tanks. You could bolt the rear seat down, but it was easier to just let it side freely. This enabled a couple to quickly position the rear seat so everything lined up perfectly!

What Scout are you talking about? Early 60's Scout 80? I have one that old...a '63 with Terra top and bulkhead. No sliding back seat though. I've looked at countless builds on the Binder Planet and have yet to see this seat setup. That would be very cool to see.

 

[customtronic]

That really looks nice.

Did you know that IH would give you a scout if you bought a tractor ? That was just before Tenneco bought them.

That would be a great freebee! It's a shame that whatever bad decisions or management they had going on back then killed the Light Line trucks.

 

[customtronic]

I haven't been on here in a while so I figured it was time for an update. I managed to get all of the tan parts painted with the exception of the hardtop. I also got started on the sound system. Good tunes is a must in anything that I drive.






And just because you never know when you might have to pop the top on a cold one...root beer of course.

 

[customtronic]

Before running any cables for the sound system I laid down some sound deadening. This 40 year old truck is a noisy steel box without it. I first brushed on seam sealer everywhere that was needed and then covered most of the interior with Wirez brand sound deadening. Wirez is a Canadian company that offers great quality car audio products....audio cables, power and speaker wire, pwr distribution blocks, sound deadening, etc. After the sound deadening was laid down I then ran all of the cables and wires, securing them down, and then laid a thermal/acoustic barrier I get from a good buddy of mine that owns a Corvette customizing company called Madvette Motorsports.

 

[customtronic]

 

[customtronic]

You can see a hint of the custom door panels that I fabricated in that last picture. Here are some pics on that process. I wanted something that looked cool, unique, but not too modern or "fancy" as that would not fit a '72 truck.

I first needed to make a template of the door panel as a base to work/design from. I used an old door panel I had.









A lot of time drawing things out and router work with a flush trim bit and double sided template tape.





So, basically what I've done here is cover my base with masking tape, draw out my ideas using various templates that I have, use the same templates to cut out the individual shapes/pieces, transfer that masking tape shape to another piece of wood and then use the flush trim bit to duplicate what I have drawn on the base.




Using various router bits I'm able to make a positive and negative of any piece that I can design.

 

[customtronic]

More door panel pics.

 

[customtronic]

I found some very cool fabric depicting the map of Route 66. I used that to make some cool inserts in the door panels. I also used some perforated aluminum sheets to fabricate some speaker grills. That part is a lengthy process involving a positive and negative jig and a hydraulic press to mold the aluminum into a desired shape. I can show that process if anyone wants to see it. Here is the end result of all of that hard work.

 

[customtronic]

Next up is installing a new carpet kit that the brown truck will be delivering today. I have also started on the side panels in the back seat/rear cargo area. They will have the same look and design as the front door panels.

 

[nonhog]

Impressed! Yes show the speaker grill work.

 

[zmotorsports]

Those door panels turned out sweet as hell, as did the rest of the restoration.

Mike.

 

[mv213]

Man that is a nice build. How do you mold the door panel material (vinyl?) to the door panel? Love the green color of the paint!

This brings back memories of the hated old IH highway truck with utility body I used to used for work. It had a crew cab. Gutless 304. The worst thing about it was filling the gas tanks....the gas tank caps were right behind the front wheels in the front fenders...it took like 20 minutes to fill each tank. The pump was continuously shutting off. On the other hand I used to drive some great IH flatbed trucks to deliver building materials. Loved them and always liked the Scouts.

Great work!

 

[customtronic]

Thank you all for the comments. The vinyl wrapping of the door panel was pretty straight forward....a little heat, some awesome adhesive and a little bit of skill.

 

[customtronic]

Impressed! Yes show the speaker grill work.

Here you go.

This is accomplished in several steps. First is to make a positive and negative of the shape you want. I leave about a 3/8" gap between these two pieces to allow the grill material to move without getting sheared off. This will make more sense in these pics.


I first use a chamfer bit with a very small bearing. I then drill a 1/4" hole flush with the chamfred edge and carefully follow that edge around with a 1/4" spiraled flush trim bit to give me the positive and negative I need.



I then need to trim off a little extra to get me that 3/8" gap between the two. I use a double flute flush trim with a smaller bearing. This gives me a small chamfer edge. I then flip the piece over and flush trim it.





Next I build a simple box out of 3/4" mdf so everything lines up perfectly inside. I use double sided template tape to hold it all in place. Also, it's important to bevel the edge of the positive piece.







Next I cut a piece of the grill material to size. I then put the setup in my hydraulic press and ****....a pressed grill.





I then trim it to fit the ring/grill trim piece. I'll usually use CA glue to assemble it all at this point.

 

[nonhog]

Nice! Thanks. Where do you source that perforated sheet from?

 

[Xporter]

Nice build, always loved the way these looked.

 

[customtronic]

Nice! Thanks. Where do you source that perforated sheet from?

I was thinking about that a couple of days ago considering I need to buy more for the rear speakers. I usually buy from McMaster-Carr but I checked their website and didn't see the oval perfed. I'll check the few other places I know I've bought from in the past and update when I find it.

Nice build, always loved the way these looked.

Thanks!

 

[customtronic]

I got the carpet kit in yesterday. After installing most of it and then getting the front driver's seat bolted in I decided to take her for the first drive on the road in about 3 years. I immediately noticed a not-so-good noise coming from under the truck....sounded like or an issue with a U-joint, driveshaft, something like that. So, after driving it exactly 1/2 mile I took it back home and parked it back in the shop. I go on a vacation tomorrow so no work on it until I get back.

 

[ayer]

WOW - I love the door panels you built. great job.

 

[customtronic]

Thanks!

 

[richpa]

Hi there,

Loving the build and the quality work. Who makes the radius gauges that you used for the the door trim?

Thanks

 

[customtronic]

Hi there,

Loving the build and the quality work. Who makes the radius gauges that you used for the the door trim?

Thanks

Thanks. The company that makes those is Mobile Solutions.

http://www.mobilesolutions-usa.com/

Another product that I've used and really like is the Sonus Evol line. I bought all of the Mobile Solutions sets before Sonus came out with theirs. I prefer the Evol templates but I'm semi-retired and don't do enough car audio fabrication to justify buying more sets of templates.

Sonus Evol: https://squareup.com/store/sonus-evolution

The techniques I used here are a pretty common way of doing things in the car audio custom fabrication scene. There are some very cool videos to explain a lot of these different techniques on you tube. The channel to subscribe to is Car Audio Fabrication at:

 

[kbs2244]

That is just sweet.
Your workmanship is well beyond OEM
I do like the right rear bumper custom add on.

 

[54FordPanel]

Great build, thanks for the updates

 

[customtronic]

Thanks guys. I'm just back from a week long vacation so I can now get back to work on the Scout.

 

[ambenz]

Very cool built...always nice to see someone working on a true labor of love.
I am a big fan of Scouts and Broncos....would love to see a retro comeback with new technology in a original design.
Having said that, are you planning on updating anything like brakes, digital timing, LED parking lights, winch, etc....????

 

[customtronic]

Very cool built...always nice to see someone working on a true labor of love.
I am a big fan of Scouts and Broncos....would love to see a retro comeback with new technology in a original design.
Having said that, are you planning on updating anything like brakes, digital timing, LED parking lights, winch, etc....????

Not on this build but I'm planning on a restomod w/ more modern features for my next Scout build. It's also a '72. The plan in 4-wheel disc brakes, EFI, power windows and door locks, etc. I probably won't start on that one until next year. I have a few other projects in line after this current build is finished.

 

[davethorik]

I think I first noticed the Scout in the late 80's. I grew up in Providence, RI and don't remember ever seeing one. Cadillac and Lincoln everywhere but very few 4x4's where I lived. I'm sure they were around, I just never noticed them. A neighbor had one when I moved to Seattle after leaving the Army. His was a '76. I didn't buy one until about 2007. After buying that first one I was hooked and ended up buying 4 more plus a '69 IH Travelall.

Very nice job!

IHC engine blocks may have had high nickel content, but their sheet metal pretty much rusted thru as soon as it saw a salted winter road. I've only ever spotted 1 Scout here in OH in the wild, and it looked like a good strong wind would've turned it into a pile of red dust.

So you guys that live in the south and out west where they don't salt the roads in winter...you ****. Lol

 

[customtronic]

Very nice job!

IHC engine blocks may have had high nickel content, but their sheet metal pretty much rusted thru as soon as it saw a salted winter road. I've only ever spotted 1 Scout here in OH in the wild, and it looked like a good strong wind would've turned it into a pile of red dust.

So you guys that live in the south and out west where they don't salt the roads in winter...you ****. Lol

This one had some minor rust which was easy to find and remove. I believe it was originally an Arizona truck. My other '72 and my '71 800b are also in very good shape. Minimal rust. Pretty sure these were both Pacific Northwest trucks.

 

[customtronic]

My 4x8 sheets of 1/4" MDF are finally in so I can start on the rear side panels! Woo hoo! I had to order them from a buddy that owns a cabinet shop. My local Home Depot and Lowes do not stock a full sheet. I saved money this way also.

 

[customtronic]

Nothing new in the way of car audio updates but I have been getting work done. I stripped down the old hardtop to bare metal, plug welded some unnecessary holes, bodywork, high build primer, and finally paint!

 

[PCO6]

That's going to be a nice colour combination. Nice work all round!

 

[Thors_Garage]

My wife want's a Scout. I've been looking for a decent example to rebuild for about a year now. That's a nice build you've got there. I see you're in the Olympia area. I'm a little further north in Tacoma. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Go Hawks!

 

[customtronic]

My wife want's a Scout. I've been looking for a decent example to rebuild for about a year now. That's a nice build you've got there. I see you're in the Olympia area. I'm a little further north in Tacoma. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Go Hawks!

Cool. Always good to see some local people. This game is a nail-biter in this 4th quarter!

Keep searching Craigslist for a Scout. Every one of mine has come from CL. If you find one close by me I'd be happy to look at it with you. Over the years I've learned where all of the trouble areas are and where the rust likes to hide. I'm retired military so I have a good bit of free time. Just shoot me a message if I can be of any help.

 

[Plombob]

That's great work your doing! I grew up around Scouts and Travelalls. They were very cool vehicles. Glad to see one is getting freshened up!

 

[customtronic]

That's great work your doing! I grew up around Scouts and Travelalls. They were very cool vehicles. Glad to see one is getting freshened up!

Thank you sir! Much appreciated!

 

[KCarGuy]

Fantastic Job...
Great Ideas and Very Creative.
I love those Scouts and Jeep Wagoneers!

 

[customtronic]

I finally got the rest of the materials I need to finish up the audio/interior portion of this build....vinyl, carpet and headliner material. I was also able to get the amp I'll be using in this build recapped....Phoenix Gold Route 66, 6-channel amplifier. These amps were built in Portland, OR in the mid 90's and the capacitors on the circuit board will eventually leak and can cause some major issues. The amp also needed a few resistors replaced. It's like new again after the refresh she just received!

 

[MP&C]

Beautiful work on the door panels!