Blue Mule resto in Malawi

[M5driver]

Brakes done, new little rubber plugs in the back plates and got the steering gear put together. I'll re-do some of that when the new drag link front end and the relay rod ends arrive from Cruiser Dan. The tie rod I got from Chris had ends, but the relay rod didn't.

 

[M5driver]

Got the rebuilt carb installed...

And discovered I'm missing the return spring for the linkage. I've got a few boxes to check, I was sure I put it with the linkage or the carb, but nothing...

I may have to check a couple of shops if I don't find this. Probably another of those hard-to-find items here.

 

[M5driver]

Did a dry fit of the air cleaner, so I could get the smog hoses figured out. These are original hoses. I cleaned them with a local lacquer thinner that'll strip yer hide - it did a good job on the hoses. Then I coated them with silicone spray I had shipped from my previous assignment in Bulgaria.

 

[M5driver]

Pushed the chassis outside into the sunshine today. Decided I needed to clean dust off it, and do some cleaning in the garage, too.

Still no tub today, but it was my fault this time. I thought I had made an arrangement to have it delivered this afternoon between 2-3 p.m. But the foreman, with whom I made the arrangement, decided he needed to call before coming. Today, I left my cell phone in the house, so I missed his call. We'll try again in the morning

 

[M5driver]

So, I spent the day cleaning up parts, sorting stuff, cleaning paint and Rust Bullet out of threads, and assembled the bib for dry fitting. That will come off tomorrow and be set aside until I have the fenders in place.

It was a real temptation to install the bezel upside down

 

[FF LC FREAK]

That thing is looking great. This is my favorite post to keep updated on. It may be frustrating to you that this is taking so long, but for the rest of us it is a good thing. Its kind of like a good book, you just don't want it to end!

 

[Teebag]

Dan, very close now...

 

[tlc_4play]

Dan

Its taking shape now.

What you say, when we are both finished, you drive down and I'll drive up (hopefully with some of the other ZA 40 series owners) and we'll meet somewhere in Southern Africa - Maybe Vic Falls or Chobe and compare.

 

[M5driver]

Dan, very close now...

Dan

Its taking shape now.

Oh, I wish that was true!

Still no tub. Turns out the REAL delay is that the S African majority owner of the panel beater (who is also the MD for both Malawi operations - Blantyre and Lilongwe) is in town again, so the GM here is in a tizzy. He has decided he won't release the remaining parts until I pay the bill in full (I've already paid approx $2,000 in progress payments). BUT, he hasn't prepared the bill yet. So when the guys were about to leave the yard yesterday with the parts, he stopped them. The foreman called me and said Mario needed to talk to me about the bill before they could deliver. So, I cleaned up a bit and went down to the PB to talk to Mario - no problem... I'm good for the money, just need the bill. And time to get the money, since I am limited on how much I can exchange - dollars to Malawi kwacha - in one day, and the exchange cashier is only open from 0800-1030.

Soooo... I went to talk to Mario, and he left me sitting. Refused to see me or talk to me. He sent his minions to talk to me in the waiting area 4 times, but refused to talk to me about the bill or my need to get this done. This week was the only time I can get off from work for at least another month AND we have a long weekend coming up, so I thought I would have another 4 days to work on getting this thing bolted back together and ready to start up. Instead, I am reduced to puttering around looking for things I can do without the tub while I wait for Mario to call me today.

Can YOU spell !@#$%&*()! frustrated???

Sigh!

 

[M5driver]

Dan

What you say, when we are both finished, you drive down and I'll drive up (hopefully with some of the other ZA 40 series owners) and we'll meet somewhere in Southern Africa - Maybe Vic Falls or Chobe and compare.

Keith, this is a great idea. I'd love to get to Chobe before we are outta here. Not sure it can happen, tho. I first have to have the 40 done and running and trouble free before setting out. Chobe or Vic Falls is 2-3 l-o-o-ong days drive from here, especially at 80-100 kmh, LHD in RHD countries. Not sure I will be able to get enough time off from work in the time I have left, especially if the current slow down is not resolved today so I can have the rest of the truck to work on over this long weekend (US holiday).

I'll keep this in mind and if it looks possible, we'll set a date.

 

[M5driver]

That thing is looking great. This is my favorite post to keep updated on. It may be frustrating to you that this is taking so long, but for the rest of us it is a good thing. Its kind of like a good book, you just don't want it to end!

Thanks for the kind words But I really want the build to end soon, so the can begin. And the keeps asking how long until she can driver HER 40 again...

Stay tuned - it's not over till it's over.


Dan

 

[M5driver]

What to do till the tub comes back

Got back to the panel beaters yesterday. I was able to get by the exchange in the morning to get some money. We are limited on how much we can exchange in a day, so I got the max and headed over to see what could be done.

Mario still refused to see me, but sent the bookkeeper with the final bill. It's really not bad, considering how much work was done. Anyway, I was able to pay about half of the remaining bill, and asked again if the stuff could be delivered so I would have the weekend to work on it. I was told this would be arranged. As I left, the forman told me he would get the tub and other parts delivered before noon.

I went home, skeptical that I would see the stuff until I finish paying the bill (next week - the exchanges are not open at the weekend ! and neither is the panel beater). So, time to find more small stuff to work on...

 

[M5driver]

And...

 

[M5driver]

In the garage.... noon - no tub, no call. Take a break and enjoy the good weather.

One o'clock, still nothing. Back in the garage, rummaging through parts. Suddenly, my pocket starts beeping and buzzing and I jump about 3 feet straight up. Forgot I had that cell phone in my pocket. It's the foreman, Victor, from the panel beater informing me that the truck with my parts "just cleared the gate" and should arrive in about 20 minutes. Lilongwe is small - 5 minute commute to work; a traffic jam is more than 5 cars at an intersection. We just got traffic lights this year - about half a dozen in the whole town... city... capital... nope - it's just a town (They call the traffic signals "robots" in this part of the world.)

Sure enough - about 20 minutes later, the truck with all the remaining parts arrives

Gonna be a good weekend

 

[M5driver]

Did a little work this morning on the bottom of the tub.

 

[M5driver]

Then I called for some muscle. Two of our guards, our gardener, and Joe - a friend from work. Plus the dual Dobermans - Bud and Travis.

First job - turn the tub over...

 

[M5driver]

Roll it over...

 

[M5driver]

Upright and ready to move to the chassis...

 

[M5driver]

Now, to shift it to the chassis. Pretty easy move...

 

[M5driver]

Align (I'm underneath here), inspect, and bolt it up...