[ihc] More Postal 800 talk

[David Bongo <dbongo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

OK, guys.  Thanks for all the help.  I'm sorry for not replying (or
thanking you all) individually, but there's just been so much input on
this.

OK, on to specific issues:

Turning radius/ drum brakes: When I told John I wanted front Discs, he
told me that the best way would be to swap in a Scout II front 2WD Axle
and narrow it down.  (Which solves the drum brakes all around problem). 
I just gave him a call, and asked if we could leave the Scout II axle at
its original length and how that would help.  He said that it should
provide for tighter turning, since the wheels could turn further before
hitting the frame.  Also, using smaller tires would help.  (I run
235/75/15's on the Scout II, and the Cherokee came with 215/75/15's,
although I have used 225's on it.)

What I managed to dig up on the internet (in Jeep literature, actually,
slamming the Scout.) was that the turning radius on the '61 or '62 Scout
was 42.5 feet.

So, here is what I've managed to glean from various promotional
literatures:
Scout 80 = 42.5ft
Scout II = 33.83ft (33' 10")
Cherokee = 35.9

My analysis: The Scout II is great, the Cherokee is a bit too wide.  How
big of an improvement will smaller tires and a Scout II axle provide? 
And what problems (if any) will the differing wheel tracks cause?

Power Steering - John says he can handle it, and a preliminary estimate
doesn't seem too bad.  (I won't make him sit down a figure out a firm
number until I KNOW I'm going to buy the truck.)

Power Brakes - John thinks the non-powered brakes will be fine.  (The
800 is, apparently, about 1000 lbs lighter than the Scout II)  Even
though I was talking about paying him to do the work, he felt it was
unneccessary.  Nice to deal with an honest guy.

Onto the general conversations: Michael quoted for me a question that
was asked of him long ago, "Why don't you actually look for one that
already has those
things-will be much cheaper than rebuilding this one in that image!" 
How many RHDs do you see?  How many of them working?  How many of those
within easy grasp of a shop with the ability to do the
fabrication/modifications I'm asking for?

Consider also, how many vehicles are _TRULY_ up to snuff for mail
delivery?  I guess this is common, public knowledge by now, but the USPS
put out a contract several years ago for new 1-passanger RHD delivery
trucks.  Ford won the bid, and based it's truck (called "CRV" - probably
for Carrier Route Vehicle) on the RHD Explorer.  The USPS cancelled the
contract.  The service record on the CRVs was worse than on 16-year old
LLVs (Long Life Vehicles, the Grumman body on a Blazer chassis).  We are
_VERY_ hard on our vehicles.  Saturn offered extended warranties on
thier RHD wagons; that was a very bad move.  Nothing you get needs NO
modifications.  At least this rig has a good base, including a
galvanized body.

Also, I wouldn't say I'm undaunted by the cost involved in doing this. 
About a year ago I priced out my Cherokee on Kelley Blue Book.  I
re-priced it yesterday.  It went down almost $5000.  Now, there is no
good RHD vehicle being made today (Wrangler is too small, Ford F- and
E-Series are too big, same for Chevy Express) so I have that to help
keep the value of the Cherokee elevated.  But this helps keep the costs
in focus.  If I did this a year ago, not only would the truck I'll be
selling have been worth more, but parts on the Scout would, probably,
have cost less.  (Inflation, if nothing else.)  Waiting a year cost me
(in terms of vehicle depreciation) a few thousand dollars.

As for the defroster (my main concern.  In this part of Florida we do
need heat ocassionally, me a little more so since the window is open. 
But still not often, so even a poorly working heater would be fine) it
seems that the general consensus is that the stock 800 defroster kinda
stinks.  But it can be modified to work very well.  Which is what I need
when I'm running late (almost every day) and there's ice on the
windshield (at least 3 times this winter).  Of course, I've been using
an ice scraper, so maybe it's not that important...

Lastly, Ed Sohm makes some good recommendations.  First, why do you
think I should swap the 152 for a 196?  (General question for the group,
which I've asked before, can a 196 even be swapped in?  I mean, easily. 
A 392 COULD be swapped in, with enough work...)  I will NOT put A/C in
this rig.  It'll be a delivery truck, with windows open all the time. 
Kinda pointless to put A/C in.  I'll never see benefits commessurate
with the cost.  But the combo can be a bit of a dog, and it'll all be
good.  I'm delivering mail.  If it can't move a fully loaded truck
(truck, me [~175lbs], up to 1000lbs of mail and parcels) then there's a
problem.

I like the idea of heat-proofing the floor.  Or, should I say, making it
heat-resistant.  I'll be asking for recommendations for materials should
I buy this rig.  (Although I love the herculined bed in the Scout II. 
Is there a heat-reflective herculiner/rhinoliner available?)

I guess that's if for THIS round.  Again, all comments are not only
welcome, but encouraged and appreciated.

Dave