Dieseled Dragon1966 International Scout 800: parked since 1980
The story
It's not a Bronco. This 1966 International Scout 800 is the original SUV, and the vehicle Ford was looking at when it came up with the Bronco. Mine had been parked since 1980, more than 40 years, when I set out to see whether it would run.
The find
For four decades off the road, the Scout is in good shape. The hood is solid, with surface rust where it looks like a battery sat on it for a few years, but no rust holes. The front end has a couple of dents that will hammer out. The bumper is beyond saving. The top comes off, which makes it essentially a convertible truck. The passenger seat has the "cushion delete option." The radiator was gone entirely.
Under the hood
The engine is IH's 4-152, a 152-cubic-inch four-cylinder and most likely the original. Newer-looking wires and a newer distributor cap showed someone had worked on it at some point. After clearing out leaves and debris, I put a wrench on it, and it turned, a little too easily. The old plugs showed it had been running rich. I sprayed lube into the cylinders to avoid dry-starting an engine that had sat for decades. The oil was about a quart low but looked acceptable. The ignition switch was missing, so a replacement went in, and the 850-cold-cranking-amp battery from my 7.3 spun the starter without trouble.
Getting it to fire
New spark plugs went in, along with a new belt to replace one that was barely hanging on. I poured fuel down the carburetor and repaired a fuel line I had crimped while cutting it. A check of the firing order, 1-3-4-2, showed two of the plug wires were swapped. With those corrected, the Scout fired: Dragon fire.
Why My 1966 Scout Wouldn't Start: Two Plug Wires Swapped Watch the Short: Why My 1966 Scout Wouldn't Start: Two Plug Wires Swapped ↗
Full write-up: Won't start? Swapped plug wires on my Scout
A $75 carburetor
On the old carburetor, the engine would not idle. A rebuild kit ran close to $100, and a new replacement carburetor was $75, so the replacement went on. The Scout started on the new carb as well.
Where it stands
It's not driving yet. The clutch Z-bar is disconnected and missing a piece, which I have to track down. What happens to the Scout after that is still undecided.
What every barn find taught me: Getting a car running after it sat for years
Watch the full first start in the video below.
Build facts
| Vehicle | 1966 International Harvester Scout 800 |
|---|---|
| Parked | Since 1980 (43 years when filmed) |
| Engine | IH 4-152 (152 cu in four-cylinder); the factory Line Setting Ticket lists engine code 12095 ("ENGINE 4 CYL HI C"). Most likely the original engine. |
| Condition found | Solid hood and front end (surface rust, no holes); bumper bent; no radiator; ignition switch missing; plugs running rich; oil about 1 qt low; engine turned freely |
| Work in the video | Lube in the cylinders; replacement ignition switch; new plugs and belt; fuel line fixed; firing order corrected (1-3-4-2); $75 replacement carb |
| First start | Yes, on the old carb and again on the new carb |
| Driving | Not yet: the clutch Z-bar is missing a piece |
| Plan | Undecided |
| Status | On hold; it's last in the current build order |
