Said to have been parked for 40 years, somewhere along the line, someone snuck a Chevy 350 V8 under the hood in place of the original four-cylinder engine in this 1963 International Scout 80. It doesn’t look like a restomod, really, in any way, until you look under the hood. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Rockton, Illinois, and they’re asking $13,500, or you can make an offer.
I’m normally a bone-stock guy, as in keeping things original, or if a vehicle is being restored, restoring it back to original spec. That being said, sometimes things like EFI are nice for ease of starting, and an electric power steering system can be really nice. But a Chevy 350 V8 in a tiny Scout? That’s a head-scratcher for me. They say it needs driveshafts, a radiator, and other work in order to be functional.
The I-H Scout 80 was the company’s first attempt at a little SUV, and it’s a really nice-sized vehicle, in my opinion. Most of you know I’m generally into smaller vehicles, unless it’s a huge diesel-powered pickup. The Scout 80 was made from 1960 through 1965, and this pickup configuration is the one I’d want for motorcycle hauling duties. Here’s what the little hauling bed looks like. By late 1958, International’s brass approved spending a big chunk of money to develop a small 4×4 to compete with Jeep, but making it a bit easier to drive, a little nicer, and more comfortable, yet also a little tougher. At least that was the goal.
How’s that for a luxurious interior?! All kidding aside, this looks like a nice little Scout, all things considered. The seller says this Scout has been in dry storage off the road for the last 40+ years, and it has 67,039 miles. Seats and other soft goods and fabrics are relatively easy to bring back, and as long as there isn’t a ton of rust, this Scout could probably be back on the road again in, what, three days? Isn’t that the usual deadline for a (fake) TV reality show to finish a project?
I’d rather bring this nice little Scout back to original spec if possible, or something less aggressive than a 350 V8, but I’m boring. At least use a 266 V8 from the International Scout 800 era rather than a Chevrolet engine, but that’s just me. How would you finish this Scout, with this 350 V8, or something else?
Back in the day, there was some talk about dropping a 283 SBC in my father’s ’66 Scout in place of the rather underpowered slant-four. We never did it and, like all too many Scouts, it finally rusted itself into oblivion.
Regardless of both the lack of oomph and the encroachment of tinworm, it was a pretty respectable vehicle, and I enjoyed driving it. It was about as basic as a CJ-5 (noisy, a bit rough-riding and totally devoid of frills) but reliable and, well, likable.
If I were to own a Scout today, I think I’d still consider the Chevy swap since a) it’s probably not much heavier (if any) than the “four,” and b) the extra suds would be nice for highway cruising. There’s plenty of space in the engine bay.
If I were to buy THIS Scout — and the price seems to about right for the market these days — I’d first find a full top and rear seat, which ours had, and hunt down an aluminum-block SBC, just to make sure things didn’t get unbalanced.
Oh, and I’d put disc brakes on the front. I seem to recall some fade from the all-drum original setup, though that might have been the driver’s (me) doing.
Okay, well, I can see it’s not some fire-breathing monster motor, looks like a 2 barrel, and I’d be concerned as to how they mated the Chevy to the IH running gear. This really isn’t much different than my ’51 Willys pickup with a SBC, a 307, I think it was, 2 barrel, and while it was sweet having a V8 in there, it really was too much, and I suspect the same here. Mine had an adapter plate for the Willys transmission or bell housing, I forget,, and worked okay, but it is something these vehicle just weren’t designed for, the V6 was pushing it. Again, what do you want, a Scout and used for its intended purpose, or some cobbled dangerous vehicle that won’t do anything good. I kvetch about the 4 cylinder in my Jeep, but it’s not all that bad. The Slanty 4 here was a heck of a motor, and that’s what I’d want in a Scout like this. Scout ll, different story, but this is so rare to see, it should remain stock.
Okay, see this is a classic example of something that could have been a beautiful stock restoration hacked up by someones aspirations and dreams of something they saw on Sunday morning gear head tv. This is a perfect example of that. We know that things had to be cut, hacked, changed and rerouted to cram that motor in there. Probably the beginning of another rock crawling dream that went broke. I’m with you on keeping things stock or just changing things for convenience and safety, brakes, steering, stuff like that but those stock drivetrain parts were never designed to handle high torque and horsepower. My dad had a 64 Scout and they weren’t a powerful vehicle but a sbc is way too much. I’m in total agreement, keep things stock or close to stock
I agree with John Irwin. The mounts a so vastly different something had to be welded to the frame or holes drilled… both compromising no-no’s. I was an IH Travelall owner for many years back in the day with a 345. For pulling torque and off-road… beat the 350 any day of the week!
This would make for a fun field,farm or beach rig with a bit of tlc and I am sure the patina look this has will help sell it.
Looks good overall, but as adaptable as an SBC is, a Scout is not really the best place to try to drop one.
International fours and V8s are a front sump while the Chevy is a rear. The truck is designed for the front sump. Now, the engine sits fairly high so that might not be that big of an obstacle. The bottom line is still: “whatever floats your boat.”
IH started putting V8s in the Scout 800s starting in the later 60s. They went like a striped-a$$ed ape with a V8 but they still made the grade. I know a few 80s, more 800s, and a lot of Scout II models that are powered by International V8 engines and, while I would maybe stop short at anything beyond a 345 (a 266/304 would be just fine for me) they handle just fine.
I might add that I prefer to see the whole engine in that bay instead of just half of one…
That’s a beautiful Scout! Nice 👌👍
15k for a non-runner. good luck
I repeat: Every vehicle on the planet doesn’t need to have a Chevy engine shoved into it. 😖
wow, the “toomuchpowa” comments just keep coming. I knew a guy in high school that put a built 350 and a straight front axle under one of these and it was a straight line killer and a daily driver. To each his own but I like this IH….maybe would go for a 215 aluminum v8 for weight savings
I had a 66 Scout with a V8 and that was a great 4 wheeling machine. Loads of power and rust free from the West Coast. Had to sell to help pay for a driveway of my future home.
Howard and Geo have hit the high points.. As most of you know, I am inclined to stay stock. The first thing I would do is replace that boat anchor 350 for the later bigger slant 4!! This Scout is basically unuseable as it sits, and will take a lot of $$$ to either get it back near original or finished as a monster. I had the big slant 4 in a mid 70’s Scout II, they were a tough durable engine with more than enough guts. I have hauled lots of full loads of firewood out of the woods with it.
About 1971, we went to a local hillclimb. The local IH dealer sent either 2 or 3 brand new Scout V8s. They all grenaded the differentials.