Rebooting the 64 "Wilma"

[Desert Scout]

Since I lost my work space last June she has been sitting collecting dust in the driveway. So I dove back into her the other day and decided to get her running and driving again. I used the dizzy in another Scout to verify that the engine ran so I re-installed that and it should be close enough to get her to start. I have some adjusting to do to the body on the frame straighter than it is. That's the next thing to be done, then the brakes are up.

That's it for now

[fpscabs]

Glad to hear Chuck

[Big Ed]

Good news.

[Desert Scout]

This all started with a leaky Tcase in Beater, the 63. It turns out that Wilma's Tcase is in MUCH better condition so I'mm thinking that maybe her whole drive train may be in better condition than Beaters, so I decided to get her running and driving to access her condition.

I did alot of work on her last June, fixed the frame, changed the worn out D27 in the front for a decent D30 from an 800, replaced the crispy wiring in the engine compartment, and replaced the body bushings and hardware. Then I lost my working/storage space at the end of June and everything came to a grinding halt and she came home to sit.

Fast forward to today; I got tired of seeing her just sitting there and got to fixing the the exhaust that was now to short with new engine/trans mounts. Once I got the exhaust out I noticed the muffler is trash with a giant crack in the top of the body. I lengthened the down pipe and cut the muffler off and put her back together, dumped some gas in her and she runs again. Have to put in a radiator, do some brake work, change a bent axle, and get some u-joints for the rear drive shaft. Then take her out for a shake down drive.

[Desert Scout]

Spent the rest of the day going over her and we have decided to do her right, I will be pulling the trans/Tcase and put them in Beater to keep him a DD. I will rebuild the other combo and then swap them back into there rightful owners.


Need a Scout for IHWR and this is the easiest path...I will continue on other things on her in the meantime.

[Big Ed]

Need a Scout for IHWR and this is the easiest path...

Looking forward to seeing it there.

[fpscabs]

sounds good Chuck

[Desert Scout]

Haven't really done much to her after stealing her trans/tcase right after I got her running, but I just made a deal for an 800 4 banger T18 with the bell housing and Tcase and a SII front D44. I also procured some 1" aluminum pucks for a slight body lift for added tire clearance, and found another nose piece, between the 2 I have now...I can make 1 good one, and I also picked up a used set of front lens and trim rings. I will start back up on her soon.

[Desert Scout]

The "parts gathering" phase has ended for now and the "putting it together" phase is next. I've gathered an 800 4cyl T18/D20 combo with bell-housing and D44's from a SII.
I started cleaning her out for working room in preparation of the trans/tcase swap. We have decided to downsize to just 1 Scout and Wilma is my preferred version of the Scout 80 line. The plan is to put the T18/D20 in with the SII axles SUA with 2" lift springs and 5" shackles in the end. First is to get the trans/tcase installed and working with the axles that are under her. I have to replace a bent axle, but I have a replacement. Once she is a driver I will get the SII rear 44 ready to swap in. We believe the SII axles are 3.73's and I will verify that, if they are were doing pretty good, cause the D30 from the 800 that's presently in the front has 3.73's, so I will at least have 4wd.

At this point I need to swap the tapered 44 back into Beater so that ratios match and 4wd works again, then sell Beater to fund Wilma's finishing.

[Desert Scout]

Went and picked up the T18 combo today, will start on the install on Monday. In the words of my grandson...hebby!