Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

[NateDiggle]

I am a huge International Scout fan and owner, and I have built several Scouts and Scout II's. The trucks are awesome... V8, 4 wheel drive, several removeable roof options: pickup, blazer style, or soft top, even optional soft doors. For Michigan, its near the perfect vehicle.

But there are some serious drawbacks. You get front disc brakes if its made after '74. The four wheel drive will bind on streets. The V8 and tranny combo alone is about 750 pounds, only revs to 4200 rpm stock, and puts out only about 150 hp. No overdrive. Suspension is four leaf springs and solid axles. And the are rust prone. Really rust prone.

Did I mention the 100" wheel base?

This project scout is about to get a serious modernization. I want a low, mean stance and real AWD street performance.

I have always loved Typhoon performance and engineering, but I want to keep my classic styling of the Scout. I envision a Ty chassis, LSx, manual trans, and AWD. I have either a full fiberglass or an original Scout II body to work with, and all the Scout specific parts I could need. The Syclone engines are sweet, but rare and pricey to rebuild when you want at least 400 hp. I think LS is the way to go.

So here are the questions:

1.) Should I start with a Ty or Blazer?

2.) Where can I find solid frame dimensions? I can only find the next generation specs online.

3.) Is the rest of the Typhoon drivetrain up to the challenge?

4.) How much can you lower the suspension and still keep all AWD functionality?


This is going to be a sweet ride. Help me out?

 

[Jimmy]

Re: Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

You can find all dimensions here

 

[leadfoot]

Re: Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

So here are the questions:

1.) Should I start with a Ty or Blazer?

2.) Where can I find solid frame dimensions? I can only find the next generation specs online.

3.) Is the rest of the Typhoon drivetrain up to the challenge?

4.) How much can you lower the suspension and still keep all AWD functionality?

1. Either or. Any 4x4 S10 should work. Depends on the scout wheelbase.

2. Answered.

3. For off roading or street? There are several LSx based trucks up and running already. :squint:

4. Irrelevent (IMO) -the AWD will function regardless how much you lower the truck. You will be limited by the torsion bar suspension unless you go coil over or airbags-not sure if McGuaghty's <sp?> makes a lowering spindle for 4x4 S10s yet??

Very doable project IMO. :tup:

 

[mattw]

Re: Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

1. Either or. Any 4x4 S10 should work. Depends on the scout wheelbase.

I'd go with a 95 or newer 4x4 S10 frame. Quite a bit more of that frame comes boxed from the factory. Ours is only boxed forward of the front doors.

You also get better brakes with that chassis.

 

[NateDiggle]

Re: Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

Hold on... back up.

First, the "sportmachines" link provided no frame dimensions. I already know the Typhoon wheelbase is 100.5", but what is the front and rear overhang? Frame Height? Frame Width?

Scout wheelbase is 100". Track width of the Typhoon and Scout is within one inch of each other.

Again, this is for a STREET build, not off road. What typhoon drivetrain pieces are going to be too weak for an LS conversion? Scout's come stock with Dana 44 rears, but the bolt pattern for the wheels is an obnoxious 5x5.5". It severely limits wheel choices, and I think my axles are open diffs anyway. Are all Typhoon axles Limjited Slip

 

[Captain Morgan]

Re: Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

Again, this is for a STREET build, not off road. What typhoon drivetrain pieces are going to be too weak for an LS conversion?

The transmission. Upgrade to a 4L80E.

Are all Typhoon axles Limjited Slip

The rears are yes. The front is open and I suggest you leave it that way.

 

[eviltwin]

Re: Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

You can find all your answers with the search feature

 

[ziembic]

Re: Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

You can find all your answers with the search feature

Ya but in this instance it gets all of our brains moving on something a little different.

OP: This is a cool idea. For the steering, are you going to convert over to a box like in the GMC or are you going do something different. Where does the steering column come out of the cab on a scout, is it close to where it needs to be for the engine clearance. I have participated in a couple of body/chassis swaps and this is one of the common gotchas. Another that i have seen is fuel tank placement issues and frame slope around the rear axle.

Good luck with the swap, keep us posted.

 

[NateDiggle]

Re: Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

I was going to run stock GMC steering, unless there has been noted clearence issues with a LS engine.

Thank you for noting that this is not an easily searchable subject. I am familiar with how forums work, and its not that I don't know how to use a search button. I have searched hard on the internet to try to find chassis schematics, but I can't find any for the Typhoon generation of S10 Blazers.

Because the dimensions of the two vehicles are so similar, I think this will be a fairly easy swap. I won't know until I find the full scope of chassis measurements that I am looking for.

I am particularly looking for Blazer / Ty measurements of:

1.) Front overhang (distance between axle center and front of frame)

2.) Rear overhang (distance between axle center and rear of frame)

3). Frame height

4.) Frame width

5.) Location of rear frame upcurve



I have a line on an AWD Astro for $250 near my house, that is running. I know I can't use this for the frame, but I think it would be a good donor for most drivetrain components.

 

[jpalmer]

Re: Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

Ty frames are the same as a 2 door 4x4 blazer. nearly everything is exact. our/ bravada/astro t-case and front diff will hold easy with what you want. drive-shafts will need to be adjusted length and strength (front factory prop shaft is weak) and i too suggest a 4l80e.

Ls platform is great and several of the vendors on here carry the necessary parts for the swap.

What is you hp goal? an dont forget torque numbers either.

 

[ziembic]

Re: Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

Ty frames are the same as a 2 door 4x4 blazer. nearly everything is exact. our/ bravada/astro t-case and front diff will hold easy with what you want. drive-shafts will need to be adjusted length and strength (front factory prop shaft is weak) and i too suggest a 4l80e.

Ls platform is great and several of the vendors on here carry the necessary parts for the swap.

What is you hp goal? an dont forget torque numbers either.

The LS7 while being pretty expensive (15k) is good for 505 HP out of the box, so depending on whether he adds the turbo, then the sky is the limit. But I would probably beef up the transfer case with the planetary parts that a couple of vendors make.

 

[leadfoot]

Re: Ty Chassis, LS7 AWD, IH 1972 Scout II Body!

I was going to run stock GMC steering, unless there has been noted clearence issues with a LS engine.

Thank you for noting that this is not an easily searchable subject. I am familiar with how forums work, and its not that I don't know how to use a search button. I have searched hard on the internet to try to find chassis schematics, but I can't find any for the Typhoon generation of S10 Blazers.

Because the dimensions of the two vehicles are so similar, I think this will be a fairly easy swap. I won't know until I find the full scope of chassis measurements that I am looking for.

I am particularly looking for Blazer / Ty measurements of:

1.) Front overhang (distance between axle center and front of frame)

2.) Rear overhang (distance between axle center and rear of frame)

3). Frame height

4.) Frame width

5.) Location of rear frame upcurve



I have a line on an AWD Astro for $250 near my house, that is running. I know I can't use this for the frame, but I think it would be a good donor for most drivetrain components.

I would not worry about the front & rear over hang as that can be cut off since the frame is boxed in the front but not boxed back.-unless you need to extend it?

Let me check my manual for a frame schematic. The one I have is for an extended cab.