"Beater" the expedition Scout

[Desert Scout]

Thanks Ed, we were tryin to get Beater ready for Scoutmas but couldn't pull it off. I think it's ready for light duty now, next hurdle...making 4 wheel drive work again.

[Desert Scout]

Getting it ready for I.H.W.R., got my FTM-350 ham radio mounted and working with a cheapo mag-mount antenna for now. I will have to save some pennies and get a good antenna soon. I also fixed my cup holders today they work great on a soda size can but the cup was so tall the larger travel cups didn't reach the bottom so I cut them down an inch or so. I need to move some cables and switches around so they don't interfere with the giant travel cup that I use.

[Desert Scout]

Tackled the doors today, they were just barely workable. The windows didn't operate very well and I don't have a key for the doors so I ordered a set of locks from IH parts and today they came in. Changed the locks out and now I can actually lock it if I need to...WoHoo! I also took everything apart and cleaned and lubed it all and now my windows aren't perfect but they work MUCH better now. I still need to replace the window track stuff since there isn't anything in the front one and the rears are cracked and falling apart. I remember reading about using Velcro in the tracks, maybe I'll go that way. Either way my doors are operating pretty good now for a 54 year old truck.

[Desert Scout]

Took both doors apart and pulled the windows out and did 1" Velcro hook on the front track, the rear track was still intact so I lubed it and left it alone. I will never put door window felts on Beater so I used the cloth side of the Velcro on the outer door sill to stop the widow frame to door rattle when the windows are down. Added some strategic rubber pads to the glove box door to stop that rattle, all in all it's getting quieter while driving...still can't hear a radio at highway speeds, but below 55 mph you can.
The engine has always been "piston slap" noisy for as long as I've had it but it runs great and has good compression and oil pressure. So while out on a test drive today I was climbing this hill in third and when I punched it pinged. When I got home I decided to check timing.....I guess I never checked it when I got it. It was timed at 12* BTDC, what a dolt I am, I reset the timing to 0 and went for a drive...what a DIFFERENCE!!! The engine is SOOO much quieter and has more pull on the top end too, can't believe I didn't check it! The rattles are slowly being resolved and it's driving better and better, its becoming a solid driver...now if I can stop the body rattles...

[Desert Scout]

Added weatherproof storage in the bed today. I was going to do 2 "fat" .50 cans on each side, and may still go to that, but I got such a great deal on theses standard .50 cal boxes from Big John I had to buy them. I didn't want to get into the main bed storage area and this is the what I finally came up with to get 3 on each side and still be able to operate them easily with the bed packed.

I also came up with a mount for the telescoping flag pole...

[Big Ed]

Are they bolted down?

[Desert Scout]

Are they bolted down?

Yup bolted in...


Modified the existing steering stabilizer mounts to accept a stock 60's era CJ-6 unit, there cheap and available over the counter most of the time. Drives much better now, doesn't wander around as much at highway speeds. The one that was on it had no resistance at all anymore and was doing nothing.

[Desert Scout]

Started the loading of the needed gear today. Went to 4 wheel parts and picked up a mount for my Hi Lift and got it mounted. I picked up a nutsert tool...MAN this thing makes using nutserts a breeze!! I need to work on a spare tire and fuel can mount.

[Desert Scout]

Finished the install of the lock bars for the storage boxes. I still need to reinforce them with solid rod plug welded inside the tube to make it harder to bend them. These bars are double duty, hopefully they will keep the boxes fairly secure and to hold a tarp down over stuff in the bed when it's fully packed.

[Big Ed]

Cool lock idea.

I started getting things together a few days ago too.