[ihc] Converting a 74-75 to a 69-73..

[tsm1@xxxxxxxxx]

.. well, sorta.

I'm considering getting another Travelall, a 1974.

From the pictures, the body appears to be in much better shape than my
tumor-ridden '72 (no driver's floor, no rear quarter bottoms..).

BUT.. it has an AMC 401/727 combo, and the 401 is said to be stuck from
sitting.

Now, maybe the 401 is OK and a little work will bring it back to life..
maybe not.

I'd rather have a 392 anyhow.. and my '72 T'all has an IC392 from a '74 in
it that could be put to good use.  I also have 2 2wd SV 727s lying around
taking up space (plus a close and a wide 2wd T19..).

What I don't have is the necessary parts to convert the 74 over to SV
motor mounts, and I don't want to deal with finding another unobtanium
shroud or rear dumps (I have 2 sets that are good, for the '74 single-cab,
while the '74 T'ette will have headers).

It's occurred to me while wrenching on my various IHs, that for ease of
maintenance, the 69-73 engine location is SO much nicer, and it doesn't
appear IH modified the transmission tunnel or firewall (other than the
tranny tunnel cover) to accomodate the engine set-back in '74.  They just
shoe-horned the 392s back until the valve covers try to contact the
firewall and called it good.

My '74 T'ette already has the WRONG bellhousing crossmember - the tranny
mount style from a 69-73.  It has to come out to accomodate my headers, so
I'll have the "mid" mount needed to convert a 74 to the more-forward
engine setup.

Fabbing a crossmember to take the dogbone front engine mounts would be a
snap, and I have extra mounts (I think.. hmm..)

In any case, it seems quite do-able to just swap some parts from a 69-73
into a 74-75 and move the motor and transmission forward, swap to the
front sump pan and pump, use an easier-to-get fan shroud, and enjoy plenty
of room to work on it.

Plus, I could use center-dump exhaust manifolds.

Note that I doubt thise conversion would work too well with an IFS coil
sprung truck, but I don't see a problem with a 4x4..

-Tom Mandera, Helena MT
http://www.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout
Too many IHs already.. '72/74/76/77/77/79 Scout IIs, '72 T'all, '74 P'up,
'74 T'ette, '68 800 (hers)