1973 International Harvester Travelall advice.

[jn6047]

Hi everyone. I'm new here but I've been searching the board for information.

As stated in this threads title, I'm working on a 1973 International Harvester Travelall and I need some advice. Currently the Travelall is being shortened from 4 to 2 door, and loosing about 18" in wheelbase.

I am now trying to figure out what to do for suspension, steering, and brakes. I want this to be more than just a street rod type of vehicle. First and foremost I want the truck to stop on a dime and handle better than average.

The stock front end is torsion bar, with the lower control arm having a strut rod like a stock MII setup. It also has 11.5" rotors, manual steering box, etc. Pretty standard stuff for the time. No manufacturer makes a larger brake kit, but I beleive that I should be able to peice together what I need from Wilwood. The ride height is OK (torsion bar travelall's tended to have a long low look to them), but could be 2-3 inches lower. Rear suspension is parallel leafs (of course).

I'm thinking I've got 3 options. Option 1 would be keeping the stock suspension, upgrading to a power box, piecing together larger brakes, and getting a large swaybar and replacing the leafs with some good aftermarket leaf springs. Option 2 would be the above with a conversion to coil-overs and possibly some type of rear suspension like Art Morrisons tri4link. Option 3 is getting a front crossmember kit (with the full meal deal, brakes, rack and pinion, etc) and rear tri-4link from Art Morrison to mate to my stock frame.

I had thought about a full AM frame, but I am trying to keep my cost down as much as possible.

I guess what I'm looking for here is some opinions as far as pros and cons of sticking with the stock front torsion bar and parrallel leaf. I know that this truck will never handle like a full on PT Camaro or the like, but the decision to modify stock or go aftermarket is the same. Thinks like steering box compared to rack/pinion, torsion bars to coil-overs, leaf springs or rear clip, etc are all decicions that everyone here has made.

Thanks very much for taking the time to read through my ramblings, it is greatly apreciated.

jn6047

[LMDGUY]

sounds like you might be better off getting a custom frame made for it..check with A. Morrison to see if they can build you something...there link is on the right side of the page..

[hdesign]

I had to google this one, cuz I had no clue what they look like. It's got some pretty clean lines and it sure is unique. Welcome and good luck with it!

For those of you that still have no idea what it is, look here:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.geocities.com/rustler7/HighBand/PIX/MVC-447S.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.geocities.com/rustler7/HighBand/Projects.html&h=480&w=640&sz=30&hl=en&start=7&tbnid=SUr_5rfUktWQrM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3D73%2Btravelall%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den %26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

[jn6047]

Thanks for the responses! I had been thinking about going with a full on AM frame, but worry about driving up the cost of my project too far. That, and I don't know if it would be enough benefit handling wise for the investment.

jn

[RatMalibu]

my dad had a white one of those when I was a kid....we called it "White Lightning" lol.....neat project, I can't wait for some pictures :)

[LowBuckX]

Sorry I had to take some liberties with a photo of a truck like yours.

I suck at photoshop but you get the Idea.....er...aa... my ideas...lol
Stock
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
4 door into 2 door

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Then I moved rear wheel wells back to eliminate some of the overhang... Can be done easy with new frame and the extra panel left over from the door removal.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

I think that front end would lend its self nicely to a big cowl hood
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
Now Ive gone too far lol 6 inch top chop
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

IM going to bed:usa:

Ahh the heck with it section 6 inches out of the total body

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Im not baggin on your project I realy likr it and cant wait to see some progress pics. Very original.

[LMDGUY]

Hell ya! needs some 20's thou

[Beige]

Then I moved rear wheel wells back to eliminate some of the overhang... Can be done easy with new frame and the extra panel left over from the door removal.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif


Actually you can probably get away with using the stock frame and cutting behind the rear spring mounts instead of cutting out a section between the front and rear wheels. I'm guessing the stock fuel tank might not fit afterwards depending on how large it is.

The power steering on scouts used a saginaw box. It's likely that you can use one on the harvester, which means that you can upgrade to a higher ratio GM saginaw box. The lines on the newer box are usually metric, and the splines on the steering shaft are different, but those problems have been addressed when upgrading the steering on older GM cars which means a similar solution can probably be used on your truck. You might want to brace the frame around the steering box since this is a crack prone area.

[LowBuckX]

Hell ya! needs some 20's thou

Forte SF1 in 20 inch

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
How about one of those infamouse PT.com billtet gas caps

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Charcoal gray or black.. Im bore but I realy like this truck.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[jn6047]

Wow quite the response! The green truck is mine, the red one is a of one I found on the internet that I enhanced to get the basic shape I wanted. I'm thinking of either dark blue or black for colour, and not red. The last photo is another I found on the internet of a Travelall sporting 18" rims.

Any other opinions on the original suspension and frame?

jn6047

[EFI69Cam]

Isn't a Scout II a two door Travellall?

[jn6047]

No, they are completely different vehicles. It's like comparing a Dodge Durango to a full size Ram pick-up.

jn6047

[LowBuckX]

What other trucks do they share suspension peices with? Id ditch the tortion bars, and do a coil over setup. If your not afraid of all the body fab a coil over set-up would be cake. A rear 4-bar would be an easy addition. Box the stock frame. c channel if needed. stock looking wide rear tubs. maybe narrow the frame rails at the wheel tubs if needed.
An arm and rod/tube type sway bar like race car stuff would be good.

As long as the stock frame is a good peice you can massage it.

[jn6047]

Thanks. I'm only "assisting" in the body work. My uncle is a bodyman and he will be performing the majority of the wheelbase alteration. To my knowledge, the Travelall only shares suspension pieces with other IH trucks of the same vintage, 1968-1973. I do know that the brake calipers and brackets interchange with some Dodge cars, but that the rotors are unique (and they are a 5 on 5.5" bolt pattern). The stock frame is pretty stout, it's 4x4 square from the factory. Included are some pictures of the front suspension a spare bare frame I've got from a 1970 pickup. The travelall is the same, except for having disc brakes.

jn6047

[LowBuckX]

Id use the frame you have and do a coil over -4 bar in the rear and some coil overs in front. I dont know much about suspension geometry so I dont know how what you have will work.

[ALLKAR]

It would take alot of work, but it looks pretty cool.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Jim Nilsen]

So is there International red paint with stripes or flames on this? White stripes would bring out the racing look but flames could be sooo cooooool !

[MonzaRacer]

Since its torsion bars maybe you could use some of the Air Ride Technologies Mopar stuff they are working on. May take some fabricating but the ART stuff sorks and makes a car/truck handle great.
Oh and good luck nice to see a dare to be different person also.
Lee

[John S]

Gee, looks like a Scout II without the second doors.... Have you been to binderbulletin.org?
BTW: I've owned my 72 Scout for almost 25 years now :)

[High Plains Mopars]

Gee, looks like a Scout II without the second doors....
:)

I agree. Rather than spend hundreds of hours shortening the Travel All, why not just trade it for an Scout II and spend your money and time on performance mods rather than basic body and frame work?

[jn6047]

John S, I check in at the bulletin every so often. It's a great resource for IH Scout related discussion.

While this project does bare some very rudimentry resemblance to a Scout II, in much the same way that a fullsize tahoe or blazer resembles an S10 blazer, there are some important styling cues that set them apart. As well, there is a major difference in size. I've owned many Scouts in the past, and one thing that I don't like is the removeable top and the "flow" of the windshield frame to the door glass, to the rear glass. It's fine for a 4x4, but it just doesn't feel right to me for a project like this. But thanks for the advice.

jn6047