Modernized 1973 IH Scout II: LS3 Punch And Coilover Control

When David Fernandez picked up this 1973 International Scout II, it was a half-finished project. The body shell wore fresh Porsche NATO Olive paint, but it had no glass and almost nothing else. It sat on the factory chassis with stock axles, leaf springs, and a 5.3-liter GM LS V8 tucked between the framerails. David, owner of DVF Custom Designs, a shop known for restoring and customizing vintage 4x4s, instantly saw its potential. “I was like, ‘No brainer! Let’s go!’”

He kicked off the build by removing the body and engine and diving into restoration of the frame. He completed a rolling chassis and then set the body back on before knocking out the final details. The payoff is a stunning rig packed with custom touches you don’t usually find on a Scout.

Corvette 6.2-Liter LS3 ‘Plant

David ditched the 5.3-liter and stepped up to a 6.2-liter LS3 V8. He started with a Corvette short-block and packed it with performance upgrades. The parts list includes Brian Tooley Racing valve springs, lifters, and a Truck Norris camshaft; reworked heads; and a Holley intake, throttle body, and serpentine accessory drive kit. Fuel comes from a DVF 30-gallon tank, and exhaust is carried away through a custom 3-inch stainless steel system with a Magnaflow muffler. Cooling is handled by a custom DVF/Ron Davis Racing Products radiator with dual Spal electric fans. The engine is painted to match the Scout’s body color.

4L80E Transmission, NP241C T-Case

Bolted to the engine is a 4L80E four-speed automatic from a 2005 Chevy Silverado 2500. David scored it on Facebook Marketplace and had it rebuilt with stout internals to handle the LS3’s added power. The NP241C manual-shift transfer case was another Marketplace find, and David rebuilt it before installing it in the Scout.

Dana 44s With Limited-Slip Diffs

Each factory Dana 44 axle runs a Yukon Gear & Axle Dura Grip limited-slip differential and USA Standard Gear 4.10:1 gears. The front axle sports Mile Marker manual hubs, and the rear is upgraded with Dutchman Axles chromoly axleshafts. Power moves from the transfer case to the axles through 1310-series double-cardan driveshafts.

Custom Coilover Suspension

One standout feature of the Scout is its DVF-designed and built coilover suspension. It was a challenge to engineer, but the payoff is huge, and it ranks as one of David’s favorite parts of the build. He says, “This took a long time to figure out and make all work on the stock Scout II chassis. It turned out better than I thought it would and rides like no other.”

Up front is a three-link design and out back is a four-link setup. Each lower link is made from 2-inch-diameter DOM tubing, and the upper links are made from 1.5-inch-diameter DOM tubing. Each lower link is fitted with Barnes 4WD 1.250-inch chromoly Heim joints and the uppers use 0.875-inch Barnes 4WD chromoly Heim joints. The front coilovers are Fox 2.0 remote-reservoir units with 10 inches of travel, while out back reside Fox 2.0 remote-reservoir coilovers with 12 inches of travel. Finally, Fox 2.0 bump stops are used front and rear as are Rock Jock Antirock sway bars.

The added suspension height gives the LT285/70R17 Toyo Open Country R/T Pro tires plenty of room to cycle in the wheelwells. Each 9-inch-wide KMC KM235 Grenade Crawl beadlock wheel is painted to match the Scout’s body color.

Bumpers With Light Ports, Blacked Out Logos

Outside, the Scout sports DVF bumpers with built-in ports housing Rough Country LED auxiliary lights. The rig’s trim, outside rearview mirrors, door handles, and logos are all blacked out for a sharp, modern look. Finally, there’s a pair of Classic City Plastics billet aluminum headlight bezels.

Interior Amenities Abound

Inside, the Scout packs a long list of upgrades. Front passengers ride in Procar Elite seats on DVF brackets, while the rear passengers sit on a factory Scout bench. RetroBelt three-point belts keep everyone secure, and a DVF 5-Point Rallye Cage adds extra protection. Other interior highlights include a modified Tuffy Products console, a Nardi steering wheel, and a Focal/RetroSound audio system. There’s also a Wolfbox rearview mirror with front and rear cameras to boost visibility. DVF created the custom carpet, and it can be pulled out for quick washdown, a nod to David’s 25 years of off-road experience.

The Bottom Line

A Scout of this caliber takes time to build, and David says the project stretched to about a year and a half from start to finish. Aside from the body paint, every bit of work happened at DVF. What’s next for the Scout? David says it was built to be driven, and that is exactly what he plans to do.