Blue Mule resto in Malawi

[M5driver]

Can't have too many pix, right?

Here are more of the panels and parts under Rust Bullet. The tub and fenders are getting body filler over the welds now; I hope to have photos of them in another day or two. That will finally finish the RB part of the painting.

 

[M5driver]

Still more panels...

 

[M5driver]

Some random bits...

 

[M5driver]

Even the smallest bits got the silver bullet treatment.

 

[M5driver]

First color

That was Friday.

These parts got their first coat of color today! The black parts, including frame rails and axles will get 3 coats; then smaller parts will be polished out and may get a 4th coat.

Still slow going, tho. I really don't expect to be able to bolt up the chassis until next week at the earliest, based on the current pace of painting. BUT, we're not going backward (not much anyway - a couple pieces will have to be redone, but they are small )

 

[tmarx]

Is there anything that didn't get the RB treatment ?

Looking very good Dan !

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

Why do I have a feeling that your gonna be handed a little box of at the end with a few "extra" parts in it?

 

[lulo]

Excellent JOB!!!

 

[M5driver]

Is there anything that didn't get the RB treatment ?

Looking very good Dan !

The glass. Rubber bits. Upholstery. Transfer case (aluminum).

Probably a few other things as well...

 

[M5driver]

Why do I have a feeling that your gonna be handed a little box of at the end with a few "extra" parts in it?

I hope not!

Actually, I have a list of every part they have, and I check the parts against that list every time I visit. So far, so good (and it helped recover a couple parts that had gone missing earlier). :whoops:

I think we'll be good when the last delivery is made

 

[tlc_4play]

Dan

You must slow down with the RB - you're giving Theo too many ideas.

 

[M5driver]

OK. I really like that RB, but I'm trying to cut back now

Just a few pix tonight of more parts getting first coat of black

 

[M5driver]

And the first batch of black parts to polish.

That rear sill is looking good, too. You would never know it was rusted through and nasty.

 

[M5driver]

Oops! More RB. The tub will get two more coats after the body work is done.

This is my welder/body man. He's really very good. He understands what I'm trying to do with this, and wants the 40 to be "better than new" when we're done.

 

[M5driver]

Tub update

Hard to believe we've gone from rot to clean again (top photo is with the tub upside down)

Here's the right corner of the tub before and now

 

[M5driver]

Still some work to do, but this is starting to look like it should

 

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

That thing will last for 100 years when you get done with it. All of the bare metal has been encapsulated. It is looking great!

 

[M5driver]

That thing will last for 100 years when you get done with it. All of the bare metal has been encapsulated. It is looking great!

That's the goal

This kind of build up should only need to be done once per cruiser

 

[tmarx]

Looks great, Dan !

 

[Fast Eddy]

Speaking of violence, when the former president, Muluzi - accused by current president Bingu of plotting to overthrow Bingu - arrived in country yesterday, he was arrested at the airport and hauled away to Blantyre. His political supporters (he wants to run for office again next year) had organized a rally to greet him there and along the M1 highway. The police broke up the rally with clubs and pangas (machetes), fired into the crowds with rifles and killed 3 people, while wounding scores of others. They tear gassed everyone at the airport, and arrested hundreds. Made for an interesting day. Meanwhile, Malawians who were in S Africa, most illegally, are fleeing the violence there, and returning to Malawi by the busload. Many have been beaten, and a few killed in those disturbances. All told, things here are still generally quiet, but it could get interesting.

Sort of like the old Chinese curse - may you live in interesting time.

I read on wikipedia that Malawi is politically stable and safe. Maybe you should edit that some...

Malawi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How's your bid going? Are they going to draft you to Iraq?