My interest in IH Light Line vehicles started in 1986 with the purchase of a 1980 Scout II powered by the Nissan SD33T turbo diesel engine. This truck was in nearly perfect condition with factory tilt wheel and air conditioning. All diesel powered Scouts in 1980 came with a close ratio 4 speed manual transmission and a Dana 300 transfer case. The 6 cylinder Nissan diesel was an impressive engine for the time and I always considered it the "little engine that could". At only 3.3 liters, producing 101 horsepower at 3800 RPM it was not fast, but nearly unstoppable off-road. Although the Scout weighed about 5500 pounds and possessed aerodynamics similar to a refrigerator, the little diesel would average 20 mpg at 65 mph. The Scout was available in many configurations as shown below. All the pictures are of the same 1980 Scout II over the years I owned it. Unfortunately, I can't find the pictures of when I first bought it.
After 10 fun years with the Scout II, I moved on but only lasted about 6 months before getting back into the IH world. This time, a much older truck.
This was a 1962 Scout 80 equipped with the latest and greatest 4 wheel drive technology of the day. Power from the 152 c.i.d. 4 cylinder flowed through a 3 speed manual transmission with non-synchomesh 1st gear to a twin stick Dana 18 transfer case and finally the Dana 27 axles with 4.27 gear ratios and powerloc differentials. Top speed was about 60 mph although I could occasionally reach 65 mph for short runs, but if held there very long, the engine would overheat. This truck also had a full hard top, but I never had it on.
