Re: [ihc] Postal Scout purchase

[David Bongo <dbongo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for all the help, guys.  This negativity (for lack of a better
term) is what I was looking for.

First, let me clear up a misconception.  Apparently some people have
gotten the impression that I'm concerned about the engine needing
replacement.  I'm not.  I was just wondering what options I would have
in the future with regards to the engine should it give me problems. 
With an estimated 31 1/2 years of postal service left in me, I imagine
that it could be an issue.  Of course, by that point I'll have a
government truck or won't be a carrier any more.  Fleck is confident
that, with maintainence, the current engine will last a long time.

Now, onto this next comment "...it sounds like you really just want
another truck!"  You're absolutely right.  I don't want the 800 as
presently configured.  Long story about my Scout II (which I won't delve
into here) but I paid for a frame-off restoration on it.  I made a few
missteps along the way.  I did a few things I should NOT have, and
didn't do a few things I SHOULD have.  (My biggest regret is going with
the 258.  That's too much of a gas hog.  I should have gone with a 196. 
Or even a Chevy conversion.)  But I digress, the mods I'm talking about
on the 800 are not overly daunting to me since I won't be doing them -
I'll be paying someone with the right knowledge/tools/experience to do
them.  They're potentially daunting to my savings account, but not to
me.

I'd always heard bad things about the defrost capabilites of the 80/800
and that seems to be confirmed here.

The 800 Fleck has seems like a good truck.  But there are limitations to
the 800 which I'm uncomfotable with.  One very attractive part is that I
can afford it NOW, and can overcome most of the limitations within my
current budget.  The best part about the Scout II is the turning radius,
and Howard's message is a potentially fatal blow to this proposed
purchase.  My Cherokee turns too wide, and this thing is even worse?

I like the fact that Fleck's Scout has a galvanized body.  Is that a
must-have?  Not really.  My current Scout II doesn't have that, and I'm
not losing sleep over it.  In the past (and even in this current thread)
people have suggested a DJ-5 (AKA Postal Jeep) and I've always rejected
it.  Why?  They're too small, built with the cheapest parts American
Motors could find, and, at times, difficult to get parts for.  If you
think I was talking about making major modifications to a postal 800,
don't even get me started on the DJ-5.  I've never seen one that was in
better than "OK" condition, and even the reliable ones seem to have odd
problems.  And every one I've seen in person has had some rust on it. 
One of them had holes almost large enough to pass your hand through.

I know John is parting out a Postal Scout II.  Maybe he has a 196/727
equiped Scout II (in good condition) that he could swap the dash out
on.  Heater core and windshield frame, too, come to think of it.  Or
maybe I should just keep the current one as my delivery rig and have
John convert a truck with a 304 or 345/727 combo over.  And use THAT as
my backup delivery/primary personal vehicle.  I don't like the 7MPG I've
been getting, but it's not that bad, especially considering the size of
the truck.

This is great.  Finally enough things have come together to make me
doubt the wisdom of doing this.  I knew there were drawbacks, and now
I've got a good feel for them.

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning against this.  More than
anything, it's the darn turning circle.  But putting that body onto a
Scout II frame probably increases costs dramatically.  Plus it's too
small for the Scout II frame, so something would need to be fabricated
to cover up the tail end of the frame.

Bottom line - getting a good RHD truck is a pain.  Getting the RIGHT RHD
truck is a bit harder.  But it's still easier than getting a good RHD
car.  (Considering your car choices are the Subaru Legacy, Saturn
station wagon, Rolls Royce, and a few old oddities.  Of course, some
would claim Scouts are "old oddities.")

Thanks for the help guys.  Any more input would be welcome.

Dave