Prodigal Son

["Chad F. Sibert" <csibert@domain.elided>]

I'm new to the list, but not to Scouts.  I've had two 66' 800/152s for
the last decade.  When I was going to school, I bought one for $450 and
the other for $900.  I used the $900 one as a parts car (cab floor badly
rusted).  Between the two, I have a travel top and a cab top, and both a
three speed and four speed transmission.  Although the $450 800 had been
sitting for 8 years (the person from whom I bought it used it as a bin
to hold his trash bags between runs to the dump), all it required to
start the engine was a new fuel filter.  In the next two years, the only
other parts I replaced on the engine were the spark plugs.  I used it as
a daily driver and commuting home from school.

I had to replace the ring gear in the rear differential, but after that,
all I did was put new seats in it and paint it (with a Wagner Power
Painter of all things).

Now for the mea culpa, when I got out of school and moved away from
home, I didn't have a place to store the Scout and the parts vehicle. 
So, for the last seven years, they've been stored inside my parent's
barn.  I have intended all along to restore the Scout back to factory,
but have never been able to find the space to do it.

Anyway, I recently discovered "lists" on the internet ( first on the
Hobie Sailing list, where there is at least one fellow Scout owner, Hey
Lee!) and reading all of your posts has rekindled the fire.  Now to my
question:

I have a co-worker that rebuilds engines as a hobby and has agreed to
rebuild one of my 152s for $200 plus parts.  One engine still sits in
the Scout (the last few times I drove it, it was getting progressively
harder to start (carb problems, I think), but once started, it ran
fine.  The other engine ran when I bought it, but was in nowhere as good
a shape.  I eventually dissassembled it, both out of curiosity and to
make it easier to move the parts around.  The dissasembled engine (all
the parts are there) is what I have turned over to my co-worker.  He did
some checking, and this is what he is telling me:

Machine work on the block - $150-$175 (plus $10 per cylinder if
they 												have to be bored out)

Ring Kit - $350.00 from International Scout Parts

Main Bearings - $57.99 for the set from NAPA

Rod Bearings - $15.49 each for four from NAPA

Water Pump - $42.99 from NAPA (old one looks good, but he recommends
a 								  	
								new one)

Oil Pump - still looking for one.


He also advised that International Scout Parts would sell a rebuilt
engine on exchange for $1100.00, or a total rebuilt kit (minus oil pump)
for $895.00.

Do these prices/parts recommedations sound fair?  Anybody know of better
parts prices/sources?  He said that he does not think the block will
have to be overbored.

I'm still committed (addicted?) to the Scout and will eventually do
something regardless.  Might it be a better idea to retune the running
engine and first concentrate on the body and suspension (it was
developing some wicked sway), then maybe rebuild the other engine down
the road?  I hope within the next year to buy another house with shop
space :), so maybe the space issue won't be a problem.

My engine repair experience only goes as far as putting a new short
block in a 67' Mustang, I've never rebuilt one.  I'd like to hear some
input on whether I should rebuild one of my existing engines, or just
buy one.

I know this has been long, but there are so many questions.  When I pull
out the old photos with the fresh Wagner paint job, the answers seem
simple.  Thanks for your time.

Chad Sibert
Jamestown, NC

2- 1966 800 4X4/152

and according to my wife, too many damn boats.