I have one and was considering doing a restoration on it, but looking a prices for the motor parts I’m not sure if it’s worth it as I really don’t have an personal connection to the pickup other than buying it for a chore truck, I was wondering if anyone has worked on a 345 lately and if roughly 5000 would buy the parts and get the machine work done?

I don't have any answers for you, but I do know that would be a very cool truck if you do it!
I saw a very nice restored one in Fort Dodge last year and people were just drawn to it. The owner stood there and answered a lot of questions and got a lot of compliments.

It would be neat I was considering putting a wooden dash in it so I could use my CNC more but the prices got a little scary, that and there’s not a gas station every 10 miles for me to get anywhere.

Just bringing this back up if someone happens to know something.

I'm not much help but it would be a great, though expensive, project. It would depend on the condition of the truck now and where you want to restore it to.
One thing you might consider is attending the Red Power Roundup. This year it will be at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Spencer, IA. I think it runs three days and there is usually a whole building or area devoted to International Harvester truck of all sizes. Lots of people there to talk to and reference books, too. Check it out.
Good luck.

I'd call a machine shop and ask them about parts, some might be hard to come by and thus increase price.
Myself, unless the body and the rest of the truck is in really decent shape I'd pass.
If its rough, needs lots of work I'd part it out.

Easily,


You should only need cooked out and a new bore ($50 a hole) and a valve job that I don't know what they charge because I do my own heads.

And then the rebuild kit with pistons.

Does the engine NEED to be rebuilt, or are you looking at a rebuild just as part of a restoration? If it doesn't need a rebuild, just get it running and drive it and have fun with it. It doesn't need to be perfect to be fun.

Yes. Parts are still available for the 345 engines. A little pricey but not terrible. If the body is decent and interior is OK the rest shouldn't be hard to do or terribly expensive.

This place might be able to help you. They specialize the scout but may have some parts you need. Scout parts They have a bone yard that is amazing.

There was one sitting on an acreage here, I'm not sure if it is still there

That was the first pickup I learned to drive with a stick. Dad had a cattle rack on it and we would haul a cow or calves once in a while on the box. I remember getting up in there and sitting on a steer while in the back of the IH pickup.

This sure brings up a lot of memories. There are olds ones setting around here and there throughout the west and high plains.

Thank you for the replies the body is in pretty good shape the interior is shot and I thought about making a wood one. The pickup ran about 3 years ago when I quit driving it as the fuel tank rusted out and I didn’t take the time to fix it I see they have poly tank now which I would use. The reason for rebuilding is the restoration what I’ve read is if you used new pistons and head gaskets you need to deck the block as it lowers the compression because the gasket is thicker and the pistons are shorter, the last engine I rebuilt was a year ago and was a four cylinder John Deere diesel with wet sleeves and haven’t done a gas in a long time so I wasn’t sure.