I-H Scout vehicles

[Mike SC Hunter]

I worked for I-H tractor dealer for a short while during the 1979 to 1981 downturn. The International representative , Walt, would NOT allow me to purchase a Scout. He told me how many problems he had with his and was quite adament about what a piece of junk it was. As I remember he carried a clutch cable and a can of spray sealant, for the rust holes in the fenders at all times.

The I-H tractor dealer was where I had to order parts for my Scout........Funny story. One Sunday my wife and I were riding in the woods in my Scout. Climbed over what felt like a stump......Gas tank straps rusted out and dropped the gas tank in front on the rear tire...Gasoline everywhere We bailed out and ran about 50 yards before stopping. Figuring it was gonna blow up...........This was one of several times it got towed home behind the tractor.
BUT!!! I came out ahead. I traded it to a guy for a Browning 12 ga A5 and a reloader with components.

 

[m75rlg]

I drove this one around Cape May, New Jersey for about a year and a half.('72-73) Never let me down on pavement or sand.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Obviously I asked on the right forum. Better to find out your baby is ugly than take a chance acquiring one.

 

[Fishinfool]

Ah, the Scout.... I had one, 1962 or 63 if I remember right. 4wd, forget if 3 or 4 speed, super low gearing, 4 banger with an oil filled air filter. Got it for my labor in a side job my father done. I was 15 at the time. Totally rusted, I replaced most of the lower body with tin typesetter plates from the local newspaper, cut to shape, and riveted on. Painted the whole thing with cans of red spray paint. Thing would max out at maybe 50mph, revving and vibrating like a big dog.

I used it that summer, just around our isolated neighborhood, and 4 wheeling the local trails. A buddy lived at the end of a serious steep driveway. I used to start up it in 4low, pull the choke out a little, then get out of it and walk along side while it idled up that hill. By fall, it had a busted axle, leaking brake lines, doors that always popped open and steering that went mostly the way you pointed it. Mostly. My father declared it a death trap, and I sold it for parts.

Larry

 

[Sistema1927]

Dad had a couple of Scout IIs.

He proved the adage that a 4x4 just gets you stuck further from civilization. For three successive Thanksgivings we went quail hunting while Mom fixed the dinner. Each time, my brother and I had to either dig the Scout out or cut enough brush to provide traction. Fun times, NOT.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Have a lot of good memories in a 68 Scout. Hunting and 4 wheeling. Never had a problem.

They didn't do as well 4 wheeling because they were too heavy and under powered. I would buy another but only drive it on the street.

 

[schutz5]

My folks has a brand new Scout 2 around 1973. The first one had a 4 cylinder engine. Dog. They complained at the dealer and got a V8 auto trans version.
That took me to ski trips ,off reading and a long road trip (Yellowstone etc) with one minor problem. Brand new it had bugs to be ironed out under warranty including a plastic liner or bag in the fuel tank.
I think the engine had the smog devices.
Anyway it eventually was sold 3-4 years later. Color was kind of tan w white removable roof section.
One funny anecdote was the respect it garnered in Hicksville areas during the road trip. Me and the 3 other young guys appreciated that brownie points amidst glaring untrustful eyes! Haha

 

[310Pilot]

In the mid 70s I had a Jeep CJ-5 with a 304 V8. My buddy had a Scout, which he always claimed was far better than my Jeep and could go anywhere. We used to go 4 wheeling in the desert. After I pulled him out of a sandy wash that my Jeep could simply drive through for the third time, he never said that again. They are kind of cute, though.

 

[twodog max]

Growing up in the late 60's and early 70's the Scout was popular in our area. I rode in several but they were slow and cumbersome feeling. My Dad had a 2wd IH truck. I learned to drive on that thing. You did not drive that thing as much a herded it along. Rough riding too.
Good memories but not all vehicles of that era were works of art.

 

[eveled]

I always liked Scouts, Broncos,& Jeeps.

I went with a 79 Jeep CJ7, bought used in 88. The main reason was tge body, it's mostly just 1 layer of steel. Less prone to rust and easier to fix when it does. Plus a huge after market support.

I still have the jeep, ironically it has an IH V8.

 

[steelslaver]

I have a 68 Commander, plugging up some shop space now. Step daughter got me to drag it home for her. Bunch of lttle issues, many caused by previous owner who should not even be allowed to hold a hammer.

Had one myself in years gone by. Mostly they are as basic as vehicles come

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

One step ahead of a fast pair of tennis shoes.

 

[SMSgt]

Jeep--Just Eats Every Penny.

 

[eveled]

I have a 68 Commander, plugging up some shop space now. Step daughter got me to drag it home for her. Bunch of lttle issues, many caused by previous owner who should not even be allowed to hold a hammer.

Had one myself in years gone by. Mostly they are as basic as vehicles come

The Buick V6 they were using in those was really a great engine. Plus the longer wheel base. They were great rigs.

 

[WR Moore]

The Scout I bought new in 1974 is sitting in the back yard. I had intentions of a restoration, but I've never gotten around to it. Expect to junk it. Loved it. Much better gas mileage than comparable GM products.

OP, stay away from the 392 V8 gas engine (and probably the 196 ci 4 banger). It had issues with wrist pins wandering about. The 345 engine was used in millions of school buses and is a work horse. BUT, install a tach. The maximum rpm is 4200 due to a long piston stroke. If original, should be a brass plate in the passenger door frame with the engine rating and rpm limits.

 

[ColbyBruce]

WR Moore, please send me photos of it if you are near metro Atlanta.

 

[rockquarry]

Jeep--Just Eats Every Penny.

I know practically nothing about Jeeps and have only had one, a 1975 CJ-5 that I bought very used in 2000. I drove it off road only. Pretty good vehicle. I sold it eight years later for more than I paid for it. That's never happened to me before or since and I've owned a few vehicles in the last fifty + years.

 

[mtgianni]

I worked at an IH dealership in 76-77. I was a tractor mechanic and didn't see many scouts other than on the showroom floor.
I had a friend that welded on the line and said every now and then the line would break down and you could put on as much weld as the specs said it needed. That was for mid sized trucks but tells you the state of their line.

An older guy had one as a daily driver where I worked in the 90's. He said finding parts involved a 2-3 week shipping time.

That said I really liked the smaller line of trucks, the Terra, but am so tied into Air, Cruise and Tilt that I would rarely drive one if I owned it.

 

[sceva]

Grew up in the Springfield, Ohio area. I saw a lot of IH pick-ups and Scouts back then (1960's) A lot of folks worked at the IH plant and, I believe got an employee discount and liked buying vehicles they had a hand in making.

 

[twodog max]

I had a 71 CJ5 ragtop. The ragtop leaked like a screen door, it was cold with the heater going full blast, the front fender kept cracking at the body joint and needed welded periodically, the carburetor on the 6 banger was junk that no one ever got to run right.
After 5 or so years of abuse I got rid of the jeep phase of my life. never wanted another.