The International Harvester Scout II featured Dana front and rear axles. International manufactured the Scout II from 1971 to 1980, and the Super Scout II from 1977 to 1979 as an answer against the popular Jeep CJ. The Scout II Terra and Traveler had a production run from 1976 to 1980. This rugged sport utility vehicle with a short wheelbase was the forerunner to contemporary compact and mid-size SUVs, but built with off-roadi usage in mind.
The Scout II had a wide range of power options: The base 3.2-liter in-line four-cylinder engine, the 3.8-liter straight-six and three V-8s with 4.2-, 5- and 5.7-liter displacements. Transmissions were three- and four-speed manuals. The Scout II featured a short 100-inch wheelbase, while the Terra and Traveler versions had a 118-inch wheelbase. Through 1973, the Dana 44 was the standard rear axle for the Scout II with the Dana 30 as a front axle. For the model year 1974, buyers could order the Dana 44 as a front axle to match the rear. From 1975, the Dana 44 were standard front and rear axles. Rear axle gear ratios were 2.72-to-1, 3.07-to-1, 3.31-to-1, 3.54-to-1, 3.73-to-1 and 4.09-to-1. Byers could order a Trak-Lok, or positraction, limited slip differential as optional equipment.
By scooting under the Scout II, owners can easily identify the type of Dana axle by inspecting the axle covers. If axle covers on the front and rear axles are identical, then the axles are Dana 44s. By inspecting the front axle, the owner may find the axle cover is more rounded and smaller than the rear axle cover. This means the front axle is a Dana 30, which was standard equipment on pre-1974 models. The rear Dana 44 axle featured a 58.5-inch wheel mounting space, 31-inch spring pad and 30-spline carrier. International switched the braking system for the 1974 model year and the backing plate on the brake system had a deeper recess to accommodate the axle.
The most important document to identify the front and rear axles of an International Harvester Scout II is the line setting ticket. Although the automaker attached a metal tag to the front and rear axles, more complete data was available on the line setting ticket. The ticket provided data to identify the axle model, transmission, paint codes, optional and standard equipment, rear axle gear ratio and traction device, such as whether the vehicle was equipped with positraction. The data provided by the ticket corresponded with the International Harvester parts book. Scout IIs manufactured through 1976 had the line setting ticked affixed to the cowl cover panel under the hood. The automaker affixed the ticket to the inside of the glovebox door for 1977 to 1980 models.
Related to the Dana 44 rear axle was the transfer cases. Scout IIs built through 1979 used a single-speed chain drive transfer case stamped with the International Harvester code 13143 or TC-143. The 1980 Scout II used a Dana Model 300 transfer case that was stamped either as 13146 or TC-146.
