Houston, we are go for lift off…

The one man Scout Travel Top lift project got started last night.  And with 100% certainty, I can tell you that it was almost totally a partial success.  Sort of.

I only have about a foot and a half from the top of the lid to the ceiling.  This BARELY gives me enough room to make the block and tackle pulleys work.  Which means, there can’t be any slack in the straps around the top.  The straps in the back were so tight, they were pinching the bottom of the top together, so they ended up getting wrapped around the luggage rack and whale fin (yes, my top has a whale fin) which might not be too secure.

Pulleys at work.

Time to build a better mouse trap.

I think I’ll run a 2×6 under the back of the top with some hooks on the ends that will stick out on each side.  This way, the Scout top can ‘rest’ on the 2×6 and the pulleys will just lift from the hooks.  My wife has been making me watch Million Dollar Designer lately and I think this idea is much more delicious and sexy.

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A Box of Joy

I’ve taken a little time off from working on my truck.  A little travel, a little work, a little blah, blah, blah.  But things are rolling again and it all started with this beautiful package that came in the mail today.

The magic mystery box...

Could it be:

A. new license plates? – no that would be TOO awesome.

B. new bracket for my passenger seat?  no – but I’m working on it.

C. new block and tackle system for taking off the travel top by myself in the garage?  I’ll give you a hint: YES – it’s C. a new block and tackle system for taking off the travel top by myself in the garage.

The travel top for my Scout 800 weights about 200 – 300 pounds, but it feels more like 12 tons when you’re lifting it by yourself.  It’s practically impossible to remove single handed.  I recently had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles – Lucy’s El Adobe Cafe.  My friends and I discussed many methods to achieve the one man Scout top lift.

• Sliding on a ramp
• backing into a forklift style structure and deflating the tires
• I think chains, ropes, jacks, springs, cannons and catapults may have been mentioned as well.

In conclusion, I’m sticking with my original plan.  2 block and tackle pulleys will be suspended from the ceiling of the garage.  Back in, unbolt and wrap some straps around the front and back and up to the pulley with a carabiner.   A few tugs on the rope and tie it off on the side.  Then I should be able to drive right out from under it.

Stay tuned…

mc

Seat Progress

I’ve officially dragged my entire family into the Scout restoration process.  My sister has been storing my new (old) bucket seats in Houston for a few months and dad just drove them in this past weekend.

As it turns out, removing the previous Ford Taurus seat was no problem at all.  It was mounted on a Scout II base that I might be able to sell on eBay.  With the area clear, it’s easy to see how the folding seat will work.  The problem is that the base of the folding seat is rusted out.  I’ve sent out some messages on Binder Planet to see if I can find a replacement.  If not, Jimmy Rig time.

The Ford INTRUDER!

Ford seat has been DELETED 🙂

And finally… a better picture of Lora’s new ‘favorite part,’ the Travel Top.

Goo

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The Steering Wheel and Full Top Return

Considering that I’ve done very little with the Scout over the last few weeks, we’ve made some huge progress in just one day.

I purchased a new travel top (just like it originally had) and discovered the following:

1. Heavier than you can possibly imagine.
2. Needs some rust repair
3. Needs an exterior paint job
4. Needs new seals around the glass
5. May need a bit of welding on 2 of the seams
6. Has a few significant dents – that I may be able to live with

But other than that – SCORE!

Crummy picture... but you get the idea.

On the same day as the new top delivery, and with the help of George, the previous top’s owner, I was able to re-attach the steering wheel.  This brings my 3 month dashboard reconstruction project to and end.  100% successful.

Next up, cleaning out the garage and installing a block and tackle system to lift the lid.

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Buckle Up

Seat belts arrived in the mail today.  Great find on Amazon.com.  My crew is now standing by…

Seat Belts

Co Pilot

Navigator

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The Excitement is Building

The paint job on some dash parts and steering wheel/column turned out quite nice.  I’ve got just a few more touches to complete on the horn (details, details) and I’ll be ready to plug it in when dad gets here in 2 weeks.  Then we’ll be back on the road again.

New steering wheel is looking good.

Also dropped in the new back seat.  Nice upgrade.  I’ll be painting the frame on this once I finish building a deck, paint the kitchen, remodel the basement, build a bed frame, put on the screens, and just a few dozen other things.

Millie checks out the recent changes.

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When it rains, it pours.

This is ridiculous.   Exibit A:

Bench Number 1

This is the rear bench that I finally found.  I knew I would eventually find one, but that it would take me years or be rediculusly expensive.  In the end, I traded my top and bulkhead for it.  Not a bad trade really.  The top had a few issues and the seat has a few issues.  But at last, I had my rear bench.

One week later… Exibit B:

Bench Number 2

I just bought this from a guy down the road.  He was selling it on craigslist – Cheap!  How can I pass this up?  Original upholstery… original arm rests… it’s great!

Now I own 2 rear benches.  Maybe I should buy another Scout.

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Perty Stuff

I can’t believe I’m at the point where I’m making major cosmetic changes.  It’s a good feeling.

Not much to look at now.  Steering wheel got a little epoxy on some cracks.  Column and wheel have their first coat of primer.  I’ve got to really take my time here.  Sand, paint, sand again, paint again, repeat…  This will have the biggest impact on the ‘look’ of the truck.

Original Horn

Epoxy

Primer on the rusty steering column.

Primer on the wheel and horn.

Stay tuned…

mc

I’ll Live With It

I’ve done nothing but think about my upside down W for the past 24 hours now.  I’ve calculated the time involved to repair this job.  It wouldn’t be too bad.  Maybe an hour or 2 if all goes well.

But then again, with the M so close to the C (for the inoperable choke knob) I’ve now realized that the truck has my initials right there on the dash.

Things just went from bad to awesome.

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“M” is for “Man, That Sucks!”

Step 1 – Spend 2 evenings removing knobs and dials from the dashboard.

Step 2 – Spend 8 hours removing the dashboard

Step 3 – Spend a full day untangling and labeling wires

Step 4 – Spend 1 week testing and running new electrical wires

Step 5 – Spend 2 nights refurbishing knobs and dials

Step 6 – Spend 1 night reconnecting knobs and dials to the correct wire

Step 7 – Spend 2 nights replacing the dashboard

Step 8 – Spend 1 night reattaching knobs and dials on the dashboard

Step 9 – Realize that the knob for the left windshield wiper is on upside down, so it looks like an “M” rather than a “W” (for wiper).  This is because the component behind the dashboard that the knob is attached to was put in upside down.

Step 10 – Also realize that this tiny little glitch will drive me crazy from now until the end of time and will have to be repaired.  And to do that…

Step 11 – Return to Step 1

Notice the M in the center of the picture.

This is a major blow.  I’m trying to relax and enjoy the moment of seeing my shiny new speedometer and gas gauge bezels… but man, this sucks.

Next steps:

• Repair the wiper knob
• Paint the rusty steering column and faded steering wheel

mc