My brother and I just picked up a 1980 Scout II with 78,000 miles on the odometer. It has the 3.2L in-line 6 Nissan Turbo Diesel. It seems to have a suspension lift as well, but after inspecting it, we may have to purchase new springs and shackles. We tried to get it running, it turns over nicely but won't fire, we're checking out the fuel lines, filter, pump etc. Does anyone know if the 1980 deisel has a mechanical or electric fuel pump, how do we pressurize the fuel tank? It was a steal for $1,500 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

welcome to the vintage side! Thats cool, another 'Zu owner buying an IH.

I can't really help with the diesel question though. I would guess the fuel pump system is mechanical. do the glow plugs work? is it getting fuel? thats the extent of my knowledge on that engine <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good Luck with your new toy! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
Mike W

I am speaking in generalities here, based on marine diesels, but it may apply.

All the diesels that I have worked on have two fuel pumps, a low pressure pump and a high pressure pump. The low pressure draws the fuel from the tank to the engine and the high pressure forces it through the injectors. Older injectors may need bleeding. Very analogous to bleeding brakes - you have to get all the air out. On the diesels with which I am familar, you crack the nut securing the injector and pump fuel until it flows around the injector. A lot of pumps have a manual wobble handle on the pump for this purpose.

If the fuel has been sitting for a while it may, as strange as it sounds, have algae in the diesel. The algae will clog your filters and your injectors. You can buy an algacide at any marine store. If your Scout has the serviceable type fuel filters, I would pull them and clean them. If not I would replace the fuel filters.

Finally, your starter electrical circuit needs to be up to snuff. It takes a lot of pressure to combust the diesel and a weak battery will lead to a lot of frustration.

Sounds sweet....The Nissan diesel should have a priming pump on the fuel filter housing, or if it has been removed, you can fill the filter manually. If everything else is ok, you should be able to get her started, by turning the engine over for a couple of minutes. The whole key to a diesel fuel system is clean fuel, like Jim said, and no leaks in the fuel lines. If the fuel line from the tank has any perforation, the fuel won't be able to be drawn from the tank, since the whole system must rely on vacuum, like vehicles with mechanical pumps. If after a while of cranking the beastie over, and it still doesn't start, the issue may not be fuel, but compression or glow plugs. If you decide to check compression, all I can say is DON'T, unless you have a diesel compression gauge. It is not uncommon for a diesel engine to put out over 300psi. Hope this helps...Mike <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/oink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the tips! I'll get some pictures up soon.

We found a broken u-bolt on the left front differential side. It has dual front shocks, is this normal? They have a sticker on them, orange with WWWW Ord printed on them. I've found that this company is no longer in business.

Do springs go bad? We don't know if this thing has aftermarket springs or stock springs. It has 31" tires on 15" rims, and it still has a lot of clearance in the wheel wells. The shackle bushings are shot, the list goes on, and I won't tell you about the 2 rats that were living in the Scout!

This thing has been sitting for 7+ years, the owner used to go out and start it but hasn't started for years.

Our wives can only look at it and laugh at us, but we're going to drag them out into the desert with us when we get it running! Who'll be laughing then! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> We can't wait to start using the Scout, we got the 4x4 bug in 2002, and now we have our project! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

NICE!!! Congradulations on the purchase of one of the best Scouts ever built. The fuel pump is a completely mechanical Bosch Kiki Diesel pump.My guess is the Odo. has turned over (at least once). My '80 Scout with the SD33T Nissan turbo diesel has over 300K and I drive it every day (100 mi. a day)!
If I can help you shoot me an Email.

Dave,
45home@110.net

Update on the "New" Scout.

Found a broken fuel return hose, after it was replaced the engine started and will now run more than 10 minutes. Bought new 33" BFG M/Ts over the weekend, and went wheeling. This thing motors like a tank!

One thing we did notice was that the brake lines that hang down from the body to the differential is too short. The prior owner must not have replaced the line when the Scout was lifted. We're in the process of finding some steel braided lines to connect to both the front and rear brake connections.

Are the doors usually a problem on these vehicles? Both of the two doors are not aligned correctly or close very well. Ready to break out the BFH to correct the door alignment.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Took some pictures this past weekend, I'll try to post them in a few days.

Glad you are enjoying the Scout! The doors are usually not the problem, when they become misaligned. The problem is actually the body to frame mounts under the front part of the body. When these rot, the body flexes, and the door alignment becomes an issue. There are replacement mounts out there on the net, and anyone with a mig welder should be able to install them...Good luck...Mike <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/oink.gif" alt="" />

Yea the springs can sag after a little while, good canidate for a spring over <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Your truck should have a D300 xfer case nice low gears. Watch out for oil leaking out of the draft tube when wheeling, it's common but carry extra oil just incase.
Nice truck, Have fun <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

My brother and I have noticed that the rear wheels spin on steep climbs. We removed the rear differential cover and the scout seems to have the optional track lock mechanism.

Does the track lock signify that the differential case is the same as an open differential case? I have an aussie locker that fits an open D44 case, would it work in my scout's rear differential?

Track locks seem to only fit in an open differential so I'd have to think that any open differential locker should fit in the rear differential.