Polk Family Blog

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Specs on Dad's Scout

Since posting the pix I've had a few questions about Dad's Scout and what we're specifically doing. Here's the scoop:

  • Started out with a 1980 Scout Traveler Diesel snowplow truck from a trucking company in Fargo. Very rusted. Purchased for $800 (with plow)
  • Sold the plow for $500
  • Sold the Nissan diesel engine for $700
  • Sold the 4wd transfer case for $350
  • Bought a green 1978 Scout II parts truck for $600
  • Sold the green Scout's engine and transmission for $225
  • Sold the green Scout's F&R axles for $250
  • Parted the green Scout's sheet metal, fasteners, etc. and gave the remains to a local body shop owner
  • Purchased a 1989 fuel injected Chevy 350 and 700R4 transmission from eBay for $500
  • Purchased a 1990 NP241C transfer case from binderbulletin.net for $250 with crossmembers and driveshafts
  • Purchased a 1976 Terra top (short pickup top) from a junkyard in WI for $250.
  • Rebuilt the Chevy 350 and 700R4 transmission
  • Lots of new & used sheetmetal
We broke even on part acquisition costs, which was pretty cool.

The Scout's going to have all the goodies and reliability of a late model truck (leather heated seats, fuel injection, A/C, power windows, locks, etc etc) with all the coolness of a 1980 Scout.

Current status is we're about 75% done with the sheet metal replacement (floors, rockers, rails, supports, crossmembers, body mounts). Then the re-assembly part begins.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Update on TERRABL

Dad's truck's been a real pain. We've been working on the floors for quite some time, and it' s obvious this is my first structural steel replacement job. Things are so close, yet so far. The door needs about another 1/2" width to close properly, otherwise everthing lines up.

Regardless we'll press on. It's only a matter of time, and persistence is better than giving up. The only concern here is that this is supposed to be his replacement truck, and his current daily driver, the Ranger, is a ticking timebomb.

So. Without further delay, here's a few pictures of the current progress: