Today, Reidus looked at a truck

"GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus" (genuinealexreid) 09/23/2016 at 19:39 • Filed to: Scout!

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Because my 1988 VW Golf isn’t interesting enough as a daily driver, and winter is coming, I’m looking for something to take over. This is a 1977 International Harvester Scout II.

It’s got GIANT 35" inch tires, 4wd, an AMC 304 v8 with a Holley 4 barrel, and a 4 speed.

The interior was in really nice shape, this truck had clearly been restored previously. Look at these seats! So cool!

Unfortunately it has the usual rust, around the rear arches and the “cab” corners.

It drove pretty nice, went into gears easy, but the tires and the leaf-over conversion make it really tall, so it rolls a little around the corners, stark contrast to the Roadster! Also, it’s had some sort of sound deadening put all over the interior, and there are a couple spots where rust seems to be poking though, so who knows what untold horrors are hiding under the paint. The Datsun looked in about this condition when I first saw it too *shudders*

He’s asking $5k, but he said he would lower the price if we changed the tires back to original, and said he didn’t really wanna see lower than $3500. What does Oppo think?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/23/2016 at 19:51

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Do it.

But you’ll hate the daily truck mileage.

GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 09/23/2016 at 19:52

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Yeah it’s expected to be about 13 MPG in the city. Probably worse with the big tires. I love the graphics though!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/23/2016 at 19:52

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Aren’t carbed vehicles hard of starting in the winter (especially in very low temps, which you guys can get in Alberta? [You are in Alberta, aren’t you?])

Very awesome if the rust proves not to be terrible!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/23/2016 at 19:53

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That’s a bit TOO interesting to DD. Have fun finding parts.

shop-teacher > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/23/2016 at 19:55

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Expect single digits. Seriously.

Scouts rust like it’s their job, so just be aware of that. Really cool truck though!

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/23/2016 at 19:58

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No. You will get nowhere close to what it’s supposed to get.

GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/23/2016 at 20:01

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I am in Alberta, yes, but they had to use carbs in the winter on 1977! The rust honestly scares me, not the outside stuff, but what could be hiding under the sound deadening.

GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/23/2016 at 20:02

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I’m sure any aftermarket is gonna be better than the Datsun, haha.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/23/2016 at 20:04

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He didn’t really want to see lower than $3500? That’s $3000 all day to me. Sweet truck, I’d buy it all day for even the $3500.

GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/23/2016 at 20:10

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That’s without the big tires though (which I don’t want anyway). It also smoked a little, the engine might be pretty tired, probably could also use a brake job. But I like it! That’s $3500 Canadian too, which is like, $57 US.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/23/2016 at 20:13

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Still a cool old v8 Scout with a stick, can’t beat that.

Tristan > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/23/2016 at 20:17

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As someone who grew up in the rust belt and has since escaped, I do not understand why the rust concerns you. Would you rather find a pristine, rust-free example to drive through the salt and rot out? A 1998 Taurus is a disposable winter beater- a Scout is something to preserve and keep away from the salt. This one is already pretty crusty, though, so as long as it has solid brake and fuel lines and most of a frame, it’s good to go. Personally, I wouldn’t pay more than $1,000 for a doomed winter beater.

GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/23/2016 at 20:17

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That’s my thinking too, also Broncos and Blazers of this era are crazy expensive. I’m kind of an off the wall guy too, I don’t like having a car that you see every day, it’s boring to me.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/23/2016 at 20:21

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Scouts are heading up in price as well, fix the rust and drive the hell out of it. The mileage will probably suck, but it’ll make up for it by being super fun.

GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus > Tristan 09/23/2016 at 20:32

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Luckily in Alberta we don’t salt! This isn’t just going to be some beater for me, I want to keep it and use it, it just so happens that it’ll be great in the winter. Rust concerns me because of my other project which I’ve had to build literally half of, from the ground up.

GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/23/2016 at 20:33

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A great man once told me “There’s more to life than MPG”

That man drives a 650HP 1979 Camaro he’s owned from new.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/23/2016 at 20:55

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He’s right. He’s totally right.

Also, a friend of mine had a Raptor with the vanity plate “MPGLOL”.

Tristan > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/23/2016 at 21:16

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In that case, I’d pass on this one! Though if it’s a Scout you want, rust you will get. I had to send a much-loved ‘95 XJ to the recycler after it lost its battle with Minnesota winters. If still looked great from the outside, but there was just nothing left underneath. Rust sucks.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus 09/24/2016 at 00:23

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It won’t be as bad but you’ll be surprised. If it had an original engine you’d be screwed but the AMC V8 is a likely slightly easier to find parts for.

GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus > Tristan 09/24/2016 at 18:49

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Agreed. Rust sucks.

GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/24/2016 at 18:50

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AMC 304 is the original engine. It just says international on the valve covers but the engine is made by AMC. If push comes to shove I’ll swap something better into it like a 345 or a 390. Maybe even diesel...