1976 International Scout II Restomod Pairs 485-HP LS3 With Custom Off-Road Hardware

The Red Rocket shows what a highly customized 1976 International Scout II can become when its vintage shape is paired with modern power and purpose-built off-road hardware. Built over a year by Steadfast Restorations and Nefarious Kustoms, it uses a Corvette-sourced LS3 rated at 485 horsepower at the flywheel, a six-speed automatic and a carefully reworked chassis. It’s also the first Scout in a planned limited run, with each build set to have its own character.

A body assembled from multiple Scouts

The project began with a search across central Texas for donor vehicles. Cameron Chin, owner of Nefarious Kustoms, says parts from about two and a half Scouts went into the finished vehicle. The team selected usable pieces from several donors, including the firewall, transmission tunnel, grille and tailgate.

Rather than build around a complete factory tub, the shop fabricated a custom body tub to fit those retained components. That decision called for more work, but gave the builders a chance to shape the structure around the project instead of adapting the entire design to one donor body. Nearly every exterior body panel is new, while the surviving Scout parts help keep the result recognizable.

LS3 power and low-range gearing

A modified, Corvette-sourced GM LS3 supplies the power. Novak Conversions modified the engine, which runs a Chevrolet Performance engine controller kit and custom tuning. Shorty headers feed a single 2.5-inch exhaust system with a Borla ATAK muffler. An aluminum radiator and two SPAL 13-inch fans handle engine cooling. After dyno testing, the LS3 was reported to make 485 horsepower at the flywheel.

The transmission is a new 6L80E six-speed automatic, operated by a Lokar Electronic Sport Mode Shifter. An Advance Adapters Atlas 2 transfer case sends power onward, with 3.8:1 low-range gearing and twin-stick cable shifters. That combination gives the build a broad spread of gearing: six forward ratios for road use and a dedicated low range for slower, more controlled off-road driving.

Reworked axles, brakes and suspension

The Scout’s Dana 44 axles came from donor vehicles and were rebuilt and upgraded. The front axle was cut and turned, then fitted with knuckles and inner C components from Parts Mike. Wilwood calipers provide front braking, and G2 Axle & Gear manual locking hubs sit at the axle ends. At the rear, the Dana 44 was converted to disc brakes using Cadillac Eldorado application calipers. Hydroboost assists the braking system. Both axles use 3.55:1 gears and receive power through Tom Wood’s driveshafts.

The suspension keeps leaf springs at the rear, though the original springs have given way to Rough Country units with a four-inch lift. Offset perches position the rear wheels in their wheel wells, while Radflo remote-reservoir shocks provide 10 inches of travel from 2.5-inch-diameter bodies.

Up front, the factory arrangement has been replaced by radius arms and coilovers. The fabricated arms use 0.250-inch-wall tubing, with 1.5-inch-diameter upper arms and two-inch-diameter lowers. FK spherical rod ends connect the components, and brackets from TMR Customs and RuffStuff Specialties anchor the setup. Radflo 2.5-inch coilovers also provide 10 inches of travel. The wheels are nine-inch-wide Raceline Rogue models, wrapped in 35×12.50R17 Kenda Klever M/T2 tires.

Classic exterior, extensively updated cabin

On the outside, the build mixes its refreshed panels with a black steel hardtop, IH Parts America bumpers and an Engo winch rated for 10,000 pounds. The rear bumper carries a swing-away spare tire mount. Graphics by B.L. Vinyl nod to the Scout Rallye package, giving the customized body a period-flavored finish.

The cabin gets a similarly broad rethink. A custom dashboard centers on a 12-inch Holley display for vehicle data. A Restomod Air Haymaker system supplies heating and air conditioning through integrated vents, and an IH Parts America conversion adds power windows.

Custom seats, based on units from Tom’s Offroad, were stitched by Ian’s Auto Interiors. A Bluetooth-equipped Kicker stereo and Focal speakers cover audio. Removable basketweave flooring, an Alcantara headliner and a six-point roll cage round out the interior. The custom center console adds USB ports and a wireless phone charger.

First build in a planned Scout series

Named S1: Red Rocket, the project was led at Nefarious Kustoms by builder Michael Sahl. Steadfast Restorations plans a limited run of Scouts, with each vehicle receiving a distinct look. The company also intends to apply its approach to vehicles from other brands, though further details aren’t given.

The Red Rocket’s appeal rests on the balance between familiar Scout styling and the scale of the engineering beneath it. Its 485-hp LS3, six-speed automatic, Atlas low range, rebuilt Dana 44 axles and 35-inch tires set a clear off-road direction, while the updated cabin adds everyday conveniences. The custom tub and suspension show how far the team was willing to go to make those parts work together. Future builds will reveal how much of that formula carries over to the rest of the planned Scout series.