Blue Mule resto in Malawi

[M5driver]

Time out

Been awhile - time for an update. But first, a small cultural diversion.

Last weekend, I took time off from the mule resto to help with one of my 's projects. We bought a calf for our gardener's village several months ago. The calf was finally old enough to move, so I took a half day from Work Friday. We headed south to Blantyre (to connect up with the Ag Service), then to Thyolo and on to Luchenza Town. We visited the breeder and checked the calf out with the Ag Service man. What a beautiful calf this is - a Frisian, so she should be a good milk cow. Shots all in order, just de-horned, so she was ready to move. We arranged to hire a driver and pickup for the next day. The goal with the cow is for her to be bred at 18 months. If they get a bull, the villagers can do whatever they decide to with the bull - keep it, sell, turn it into meat; the first heifer they get is to go to a neighboring village, so they can do the same. After the first heifer is donated, the village can do whatever they want further offspring, and the milk will be useful for the villagers, to use or sell.

So, a few pix from that trip and a look at the calf...

 

[M5driver]

Transport was a simple affair. Load the calf, lay her down and hobble her, and away we go.

The pickup was perfect for the trip - about 1.5 hours by tarmac and dirt from Luchenza Town to Nazombe, near the Mozambique border, east of the Mulanje Massif. This is a beautiful are with lots of tea plantations.

In one of the photos, you can see a typical traffic maneuver - passing uphill on a curve. It was mid-afternoon on Saturday, so not much traffic, and no drama.

 

[M5driver]

The Goodwill market at the border (really! Goodwill ships bales of clothes here that don't sell in the US. They are sold here cheaply... a good use for it). Into the village area, and unloading...

 

[M5driver]

Done. They had a nice kraal ready for the calf (except the roof - they were jsut starting that work).

 

[M5driver]

Of course, no trip in Malawi is complete without a stop for the traditional travel treat - mice on a stick. Delicate, crispy, crunchy. I passed. Photos were enough for me.

I also love the businesses and signs here - no pretense. And the concept of "stick to knitting" hasn't caught on here. I love the unusual combinations

 

[M5driver]

A couple more, just for fun. And that great African sun near sunset. Altogether a very satisfying weekend.

 

[M5driver]

Meanwhile, back in LLW

I have actually made some progress... Drive shafts are installed... new bolts, of course

 

[M5driver]

More small stuff... battery stand, starter ground, new speedo cable.

 

[M5driver]

Hard fuel lines in - with new stainless clamps.

 

[M5driver]

New belts installed.

 

[M5driver]

Got the radiator in. New OEM pads under the radiator shell - forgot to take pix of those :whoops:

 

[M5driver]

And Friday, got some interesting news from the panel beater. He has a source now for Rhino Liner from S Africa. So... I decided to do Rhino on the bottom. Figure that over the Rust Bullet and other primer should pretty well fix the bottom of the tub, tranny cover, and fenders.

And today, before the company came for lunch, I started the front brakes. Another good weekend

 

[kyot4x4]

Nice rig keep up the good work

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Damn impressive Dan!

Thanks for sharing with us!

Alan

 

[tmarx]

Looking very good Dan !

 

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

My God! that rig is turning out amazing! I love the wire casing running down the frame rail. When I replace my wiring, I am going to run the whole thing inside looms.

 

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

Look closely

The Goodwill market at the border (really! Goodwill ships bales of clothes here that don't sell in the US. They are sold here cheaply... a good use for it). ...

I knew it! look closely at the red smock in front. That's why it didn't sell in the US.

 

[M5driver]

Hmm... must need new glasses. I thought that shirt said "I Love Jesus".

Anyway, a short update - had another set back at the panel beater. I thought they were ready to shoot paint on the tub, but... someone decided one more coat of primer was in order. But something went wrong - the primer or the solvent was not compatible with the stuff that had been applied earlier over the Rust Bullet. The result was the previously applied primer crazed and wrinkled, then let go - no adhesion This was on the rear quarters and rocker panels. So, they had to sand it back... and took off the Rust Bullet, untouched by the primer/solvent problem, in the process.

Fortunately, the apprentice had not managed to waste all the RB. There was a half tin left, and today, after everything had been sanded clean, new RB was applied to the sections where it had been sanded off. It looks good, so maybe... MAYBE... by Friday, the tub will be ready to bring home. They should be able to do some light sanding if needed, then start shooting the blue tomorrow. Fingers crossed (and biting tongue - I could very easily turn the air blue... )

While waiting (and waiting, and waiting...) I've been busy getting the front hubs ready for new rotors and rebuilt calipers. I rebuilt knuckles a while back (2-3 years?) and they are good - no layers of nikumpuckey, holding grease, so I just cleaned rust on them and painted them up with silver bullet, then black bullet. That stuff is shiny!

 

[M5driver]

Disc shields are in pretty good shape. The rust is all surface - no penetration, so I wire wheeled 'em, and gave them the silver, then black bullet treatment.

 

[M5driver]

Same treatment for the hubs. And getting a little fancy.

Need to finish packing bearings, then the hubs will be back on by the weekend with new discs and calipers.