1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Been awhile since i have been to this board.

just wanted to share my own personal build.

Started life back in 1963, 4 cyl, light blue..
I wanted to purchase an Ford Bronco for along time, but the prices keep going up and up and up. I'm not going to pay $35k to cut one up, well I would, but that's another story..

So, one day while on tour in AFG i found a nice little scout on cragislist.
Called up the number and told the owner, it's close to my home, can i put a down payment on it, and i'll tow it away in roughly 60 days when im back on US Soil..

Well once back home, i go to the address with my trialer and hand the fella over the cash to take home my 1st scout. He counts it out, and hands me back half the amount. Proceeds to say, i couldnt believe you were in AFG, and also didnt think this day would ever come. I held it for you, and thank you..

From that time to now, I went back over seas 2 more times, and the socut has changed a few times since then.

One chassis is on 40 inch tires, stroker BBC, and all the goodies to go with it -lockers, 1 ton axles etc

but, more recently, i started to look at the scout differently after the last 'Scout Get together' i attended...

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

I started drawing a few sketches, and then came up with this one.

I will have 2 early scouts.

One lifted, rugged machine on 40 inch tires..
And one sitting on the ground, on 40 series tires..

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

...currently waiting on some suspension pieces, but this where we are at.

The scout is in the corner of the shop, and working on the 'chop top'.. going to round the corners of the windshield frame, modifying it for 'flush mount' glass, and about 4 or 5 inches cut out of it for the chopped look.

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Hey..bk2life...didn't know you were on here to,...now I can keep up with you in both places..!!!!

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

lol

i forgot about this forum, until i did a google search and it popped up.

Figured i'd post here as well, as there is lots of traffic through here.

-james

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

been a little slow on updates this past week.
but the BBq has been good !!

hope you are all doing well...thanks for lookin

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

New LCAs arrived yesterday.
maybe this coming weekend i can get them on and see how they fit.
then modify them for the lower airbag mount.

They will be red powder coated with everything else once fitted and modified

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Removed the windshield frame and drilled out a bunch of spot welds on the side portion. These spot welds hold the ‘brackets’ which mount the door seals.

Since I wont have door windows, no door seals are needed, so off came the brackets.

Then I cut the window frame into 4 pieces and decided that a 4-inch chop was going to be the best for what I'm building.

Some measuring, a few templates to make sure left and right match, and voila’

It’s welded back together, and next is rounding the corners of the windshield frame.

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

So today I was working on my 4 link tabs, and a buddy came over.
So shootin the sh*t we started talking about the windshield, and a few hours later, the metal work is nearly done.
Some sanding, some bondo and primer and itll be ready for paint.
Then ill drop the frame off at the window guy and let the take it from there.
I want to paint it body color before dropping it off for the window to be made and glued in. This way I will know it is got epoxy, primer, paint and plenty of rust and corrosion resistance before the flush mount glass is mounted.
I'm not sure if the ‘red triangle’ needs to be made or not. Currently it is a not so 90 degree corner. I'm guessing the black around the glass will hide the corner. But, it’s something I got to figure out.

Hope you all like the chop, and the rounded window ‘corner’s

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Rounded corners are a subtle but cool mod. Looking good.

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

thanks

i think i might round off the upper square portion of the frame as well.

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

So as some of you might remember from my rendering, the door lines aren’t ‘scout’ lines. The scout doors have that inward angled portion on the back.

One of the modifications I wanted to do was suicide doors, and I don’t like how the rear B pillar is on the scout bodies.

Not anytime soon, but my plan is to use my old truck, ‘Alice’ door jambs and flip them side to side and shorten to fit. Peel off the door skins from the scout and modify them to attach to the 2001 doors frame.

This way, itll have inner hinges that are factory reversed for a reverse or suicide opening, just like it came from the factory.

I put the ‘drivers/left side’ door jamb next to the passenger side of Allison to see how much work it will take. I think I need to narrow the door jamb about 4 maybe 5 inches to fit, but, it appears to be a relatively easy modification. I think in a weekend or so I could have the ‘new’ doors hung and functioning. Not fully completed, nor body worked, but able to be opened and closed.

No I won’t be putting the angled lower portion of the door as the scout had, it will be a normal ‘square’ door with rounded lower corners.

Here is a picture for reference.

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Cool build!

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

thank you, much appreciated

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

This evening, I had about 2 hours to spare, so I grabbed the new lower control arms and hacked off the bump stops from them.

Pulled off the front suspension and stuck on the new lowers.

I found it they 'went' up higher than the dehumped stockers I had previously, but they still hit part of the frame.

The sun was getting pretty low and visibility was very low, so I pulled the suspension, jacked up the front of the frame and slid in an airbag for a picture.

The opening. cut out for the airbag is very rough at this point. I am just trying to get everything to fit and operate correctly before it all gets torn apart for the frame rack, final fabrication and welding.

My S22 phone still amazes me at the pictures it takes. This below pic was nearly pitch black out. I couldn't walk without my flashlight, but yet, the phone can take pics like its 5 pm in the afternoon.. crazy

Tomorrow morning ill finish cutting the frame section that is hitting the lower control arm and do a bit more clearancing for the air bag. The object here is to get the suspension going up and down, steering, engine/trans mounts made etc..

Then tear down for final fab work, powder coating etc..

-oh, and no I do not know if I am keeping that sway bar mount there or if I’ll cut it off and move it.

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

So yes I removed the sway bar mount..

Did some more hacking on the frame to get the airbags to fit and not rub.



Hooked up some airline and gave it a few up down tests. (down is the fittings leaking at the airbags, theyre only hand tightened..)



The new bushings squeak, but at least it goes up and down in the front, and I can grease them after powder coating.



Next is to tackle the rear air ride and 4 link bars.



-----> small video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEP62aCrY-E


....one step closer

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Tonight I did the first round of body work to the window frame.
Possibly tomorrow i can block the areas and reprime it.

It is plenty straight i could paint it now, but, i want to finger the inner window areas another round before i paint it.

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Today, slightly hung over, i wet sanded the window frame and sprayed the base/clear onto it.
Tomorrow I'll drop it off for the flush mounted glass to get cut and installed.

The color is a tri-stage, grey base, violet pearl and then clear.

I had planned on gold pearl, but i didnt have any when i thought i did. So i grabbed the violet to see how it looks.

Now that this window frame is completed, i can get back to fabrication...

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

I picked up a 1964 ford car front bumper I think im going to section and cut down to fit my lowered scout front end. It's nearly 18 inches too wide 😆 lol

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Here is the bumper shortened to fit the scout. I have not shortened the sides of the bumper asi can't really do that until i assemble the front end to see how far I want it to go onto the fender..



I had to 'strgihten' out the bumper as it was more V shaped then it looked.



Came out pretty good though.



I am not sure if i am going to weld up the bolt holes, or use them..

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

decided to weld the front solid and make a 1 piece front end

sat the frotn end onto the body and propped up the bumper to see how much i have to cut out of the sides of the bumper.

Thought this pic looked cool with the scout between the other cars.

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

**edited**

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Little more trimming to the bumper..

i need to fab up brackets now to hold the bumper to the frame so i can make final cuts and adjustments on the bumper to fit the fender well openings and body lines better

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Well the show I want to take the scout to for the first time is coming up.
December 7th. So much to do before that date, but, if I can get it on and off the trailer then I'm happy. I really wanted to drive it there, but there is still so much needing done.

My goal is to get it there to the show, lay it out, and enjoy some margaritas and tacos..

The windshield is supposed to be done ‘by the weekend’..not sure what that means, but fingers crossed.

Ugh still so much more to do..

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

cut
more cut
even more cut

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

another pic..

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Was able to get a few hours on the rear suspension.
Got the 4-link all tacked in place.
I lifted it 8 inches and had 2 degrees of movement on the pinion, which is more than fine, as ride height will be about 3 inches off the ground.
Started looking at cross bracing, fuel cell and the other final components that need to go back there -such as air tanks and compressors.

Need to make the mid and front body/core support mounts and then remove the body for final fit and welding.

I think the last thing I'm going to tackle before the show is the gauges in the dash and steering.

I'm not stressed, but I'm trying to get it to the show as a motivator. If people, see it now it'll get me going to push harder.
I have already 'failed' as it's not running and driving, but that is how life goes.

I ran the upper bars on the outside of the frame rails to not have them visible once the inner sheet metal work is done. I wanted to keep a non-cluttered section visible. I think I'm going to run the spintech mufflers as well, as I like their square small boxy appearance, and they have such a unique sound to them.

-oh and windshield wasn’t done. Maybe today I’ll get it back…

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Laid out some 3 inch tubing to visualize an exhaust system...

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

motor/trans mounts

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Got the front bumper somewhat mounted. I got a few real good ideas on how I will be permanently attaching it after the show. But for now it won’t fall off and I can get some good eyes on to see where I need to adjust it. Not trying to be perfect, but, wanting to make it look like it is supposed to be there.

I think this is the 1st Scout with a car type bumper, and I want people who see it to not know that. Unless you’re a scout fan, you probably wouldn’t know anyways.

Started workin on the steering column mounts. The lower is done, just need to fab up a column drop for the upper.

Also started the dash panel. I’m going to not use the stock scout panel and just start fresh with a piece of sheet metal as it will save time of me trying to weld up all those spots for no real reason. Also, I might mount the gauges in the middle of the dash.

I had an old GM truck billet grill laying around so I butchered it to fit, not sure how I feel about it yet, but, we will see.

I think I'm not posting any more pictures until after the show. Sort of want a bit of a surprise for y'all..

-james

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

few pics

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

bracing for the side mounted hinges. the gate will open on the passengers side and hinged on the drivers side.
I see no benefit of having the gate drop down 6 inches onto the ground. More so it'd just wreck the paint.
So one sided barn door opening it is...

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Swinging gate is gonna be cool..!!

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Ahh, thanks amigo

it was the easiest thing i could come up with.

my down low hinges were rusted and i destroyed them taking apart.

my tailgate was in bad shape with who knows what drilled and attached to it throughout the years.

Ive redeisnged nearly the entire vehicle, so i didnt want to salvage the 'international' text, but i for surely needed the 'scout' script.

so this is what ive come up with...

thanks for lookin

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

new tailgate hinges arrived...

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Been working the side swinging hinge for my tailgate. It’s not 100% where I like it, but its opening and closing. The hinges are made for a thick door, not a thin tailgate. OS I have to work some sheet metal to cover it and make it look good.

Not sure if I said it above but I'm trying a new powder coater. I sent off oil pan, transmission case, trans pan and front cover to be coated. If they look good, ill send more parts to the shop. Eventually all chassis and parts will be powder coated red.

I dropped off my lower control arms to my buddy and had him press out the ‘stock’ lower ball joints and installed ‘tall’ style ball joints to help with alignment and getting another ½ inch drop out of the suspension.

I order some new upper control arms that will allow more lift from the air bags. I might use them and make a jig to modify them to work more with this type of suspension, and not the ‘drag race’ set up they are made for.

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

Stance and proportions are looking awesome. It is hard not to appreciate the styling of a Scout 80 and it looks sick in the weeds. Cool to see all of the custom things you are having to figure out also. Looking forward to additional updates.

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

thank you, very kind words..

much appreciated.

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

today mr UPS man dropped off a few boxes.

I promptly took the new holley intake and ground off the 'holley EFI' logo and ran a DA with 80 grit over the top surfaces to smooth out the rough casting and bead blasting they did.

Then I put the parts in my truck and dropped them off for powder coating...

-intake manifold
-fuel rails
-valve covers
-front engine cover
-valley plate / knock sensor cover
-engine oil pan
-4l80e transmission case
-aluminum trans pan

I also dropped my cell off for new glass as it has had some nasty cracks for awhile now.
And since my phone is linked to my computer, i cant upload any full res pics, so youll have to enjoy this tiny one for now..

Re: 1963 Scout 80 resto-mod
 

....and now they are all red