Specs, fluids & service · 1971–1980

International Scout II specs, fluids and service intervals

The numbers you need in the garage, on one page: spec sheet, capacities and service intervals, wheels and tires, and the parts to order. Sourced from owners, specialists and the factory; tags marked confirm in manual haven't been checked against a factory source yet.

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Spec sheet

BUILT	Fort Wayne, Indiana · April 1971 – Oct 21, 1980
PRODUCTION	≈ 260,000 (Hagerty)
CHASSIS	Ladder frame, leaf springs front & rear
WHEELBASE	100 in · 118 in (Traveler, Terra)
BODIES	Traveltop, Roadster half-cab, soft top · Traveler, Terra · SSII
ENGINES	IH 196 I4, 304 & 345 V8 · AMC 232/258 I6 · Nissan SD33/SD33T
TRANSMISSIONS	Borg-Warner 3- & 4-speed manuals · 3-speed auto incl. Chrysler A727
TRANSFER CASE	Dana 20 · Dana 300 (1980 only)
AXLES	Dana 30 / 44 to 1974 · Dana 44 / 44 after
RATIOS	2.72 to 4.54 · Trac-Lok optional
BRAKES	Power front discs standard from late 1974
GVWR	6,200 lb from 1975–76 (XLC)

By year

YEARS	PLATFORM	ENGINE	OUTPUT	NOTES
1971–1975	Scout II	196 I4 · 232 then 258 I6 (AMC) · 304 / 345 V8	—	Launched with the 196, 232 and 304; the 258 six and 345 V8 came later. Dana 30 front and Dana 44 rear; power front discs standard from late 1974.
1976–1980	Traveler / Terra	As Scout II, plus diesel	—	118-in wheelbase, fiberglass full top (Traveler) or half-cab (Terra).
1976–1979	Scout II diesel	Nissan SD33 3.3 I6 diesel	95 PS (Nissan rating)	Naturally aspirated; 4,222 built from 1976 to 1979 per Super Scout Specialists.
1977–1979	SSII	196 I4 · 304 / 345 V8	345: 163 bhp / 292 lb-ft (1978 test)	Soft top and doors, plastic grille, roll bar. Rancher Special, Brush Buster, Sport and Baja Cruiser.
1980	Scout II / Traveler / Terra	SD33T turbo-diesel · 304 / 345 V8 · 196 I4	SD33T: 110 PS (Nissan rating)	One-piece plastic grille, Dana 300 transfer case, T-19 manual with the turbo-diesel. 13,106 built.

Fluids, capacities & service intervals

Assume nothing has been done. Scout IIs are simple and almost everything is still available, but they're also 45-plus years old. Start by finding your line ticket, which tells you exactly which engine, axles, ratio and transmission you have. The IH V8s are flat-tappet engines, so choose oil with enough zinc.

ITEM	SPEC / CAPACITY	INTERVAL	NOTES & PARTS
Engine oil & filter	7 qt with filter on Scout II 4x4s (IH Parts America tech moderator) · high-zinc (ZDDP) oil, e.g. 15W-40 or 20W-50 for a worn engine	Then every 3,000–5,000 mi confirm in manual	It reads one quart over on the dipstick. On Binder Planet, owners warn that modern low-zinc oils aren't right for the IH flat-tappet cam.NAPA Gold spin-on oil filter, IH 152/196/266/304/345/392 · IH Parts America ↗Baldwin B2 spin-on oil filter, IH engines · IH Parts America ↗Baldwin oil filter, 1976–80 Scout II Nissan diesel · IH Parts America ↗
Air filter	IH 196/266/304/345/392 element; separate elements for SD33 and SD33T diesels	Inspect at every oil change	The 1980 turbo-diesel uses its own filter.Air filter, IH 196/266/304/345/392 · IH Parts America ↗Air filter, 1980 Scout II SD33T turbo-diesel · IH Parts America ↗
Spark plugs, cap and rotor	Champion RJ12YC or NGK 3332 (IH Parts America fitment) · gap confirm in manual	At purchase, then per manual	Caps differ by distributor: Holley, Delco or Prestolite. Check yours before ordering.NGK 3332 spark plugs, set of 8, IH V8 · IH Parts America ↗Champion RJ12YC spark plugs, set of 8, IH V8 · IH Parts America ↗Distributor cap, IH V8 with Prestolite distributor · IH Parts America ↗
Coolant, thermostat & water-pump tube O-rings	Capacity confirm in manual (AMSOIL's lookup lists about 20 qt for the 1980 5.0 L V8) · coolant type confirm in manual	Flush at purchase, then every 2 years	The IH V8 water pump feeds through a separate tube sealed with O-rings. Replace them whenever the pump comes off; a complete IH V8 gasket set includes four.Robertshaw thermostat, IH 152/196/266/304/345/392 · IH Parts America ↗Water pump tube O-ring, IH engines · IH Parts America ↗New water pump, IH 4-cyl and V8 · IH Parts America ↗
Automatic transmission (Chrysler A727)	ATF · capacity confirm in manual (AMSOIL's lookup lists a 5 qt initial fill) · fluid type confirm in manual	Drain, new filter and refill at purchase	Moses Ludel of 4WD Mechanix credits the A727's lack of overdrive with helping it survive. Do a pan drop and filter change, not a pressure flush.RockAuto catalog, 1978 International Scout II (transmission filter kits) · RockAuto ↗
Manual transmission (T-19 / T-18 / T-15 etc.)	AMSOIL's Scout II listing gives engine-oil grades (10W-40 class) for the manual gearboxes · confirm in manual	Change at purchase	Factory boxes vary by year and engine. The line ticket tells you which one you have.Super Scout Specialists — transmission parts search · Super Scout Specialists ↗
Transfer case (Dana 20; Dana 300 in 1980)	Capacity confirm in manual (AMSOIL's lookup lists 3.4 pints for the two-speed case) · lubricant grade confirm in manual. IH specialists on the IHPA forum recommend SAE 90 GL-1 or straight 50-weight motor oil in Dana 20s, not GL-5.	Change at purchase; check for leaks at the output seals	The 1980 Dana 300 was a one-year fit. Gasket, seal and overhaul kits are still made for the Dana 20.Dana 20 transfer case gasket & seal kit, Scout 800 / Scout II · IH Parts America ↗Transfer case output shaft seal, Dana 18/20/300 · IH Parts America ↗
Front & rear differentials (Dana 30 / Dana 44)	GL-5 gear oil · grade and capacity confirm in manual (AMSOIL's lookup lists 4.2 pt front, 3 pt rear) · add friction modifier for Trac-Lok	Change at purchase and after deep water	The line ticket or the axle tag shows the ratio (2.72 to 4.54) and whether there's a Trac-Lok.RockAuto catalog, 1978 International Scout II (differential parts) · RockAuto ↗Dana 44 differential master install kit · Anything Scout ↗
Front wheel bearings, seals & locking hubs	Repack with wheel-bearing grease · new inner seals	At purchase, then per manual confirm in manual	Pull the locking hubs and check them while you're in there. Rebuilt or replacement Warn hubs are available.Wheel bearing kit, 1972–80 Scout II · IH Parts America ↗Front wheel bearing hub seal, 1971–80 Scout II · IH Parts America ↗Wheel bearing nut kit, Scout 80/800/II · IH Parts America ↗
Steering: power steering fluid, rag joint & box bolts	Power steering fluid type confirm in manual (AMSOIL's lookup lists an ATF-type fluid)	Check at purchase	Check the rag joint for play and the steering-box frame mount for cracks. New grade 8 box bolts are cheap.Steering rag joint, 1971–80 Scout II · IH Parts America ↗CPT grade 8 steering box bolt set, Scout II · IH Parts America ↗
Brake fluid & hoses	DOT 3	Flush at purchase, then every 2 years	Replace old rubber brake hoses. If the pedal is poor, check the master cylinder and booster too.New brake master cylinder, 1974–80 Scout II / Terra / Traveler · IH Parts America ↗Braided brake hose kit, Scout II · Anything Scout ↗
Fuel filter & rubber fuel lines	Inline 5/16-in filter on V8s; spin-on filter on SD33 diesels	At purchase	Replace cracked rubber fuel hose. In-tank sender filters are also available.Metal inline fuel filter, 5/16-in · IH Parts America ↗Baldwin spin-on fuel filter, Nissan SD33/SD33T · IH Parts America ↗
Driveshaft U-joints & grease points	Chassis grease	At purchase and every oil change	Greaseable ball joints (Moog) add zerks up front.Driveshaft U-joint · Anything Scout ↗
Line ticket & factory manual	Build sheet for your VIN; licensed IH service manual reprints	Once	The line ticket settles every 'which part do I need' question. Factory service manuals are split 1971–75, 1976–77 and 1978–80.Line Set Ticket — factory build sheet · IH Parts America ↗Service manual set, 1978–80 Scout II / Terra / Traveler · IH Parts America ↗Service manual, 1971–75 Scout II · IH Parts America ↗

Capability

GVWR	6,200 lb (2,812 kg) XLC rating from 1975–76 (Super Scout Specialists dates it to 1975; Wikipedia to 1976)
Fuel tank	19 US gal (72 L) 1972–80 rear tank, per replacement-tank listings
Curb weight	about 3,800 lb (1,724 kg) 1979 Scout II Traveltop V8 automatic, per Hagerty
Wheelbase	100 in (2,540 mm); 118 in (2,997 mm) Traveler and Terra

Wheels & tires

Factory tire	10-15LT on 15x7 chrome rally wheels (1976 Spirit of 76 line-ticket codes)
Bolt pattern	5x139.7 (5x5.5")
Biggest tire · Stock	30–31 in (31s marginal)
Biggest tire · 2.5 in	32x11.50R15
Biggest tire · Spring-over	33x12.50R15

Open the International Scout II in the tire fitment tool →

Common International Scout II repairs

Always confirm torque figures, fluids and capacities against the factory service manual for your VIN. See the disclaimer; some parts links are affiliate links.