Blue Mule resto in Malawi

[M5driver]

The shop foreman and I had a little chat , and he got the crew refocused. MAYBE by Monday afternoon, there will be sufficient progress to start the test application to the frame.

Here is a sample of what these guys can do with stripper, scrapers, and sandpaper. Not bad

 

[M5driver]

So, what have we learned so far?

1. Africa time. It's not like time as we know it.
2. Tomorrow does not mean "tomorrow" - it just means "not today".
3. My vision is not their vision - and it's hard to get that vision across.
4. Patience. We'll get there.
and finally
5. Laugh. It helps.

Thanks for checking in.

 

[M5driver]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Work continues on the small parts clean up and painting. This Rust Bullet is good stuff - just make sure you don't end up wearing it

The vacuum booster

 

[M5driver]

and my makeshift wire wheel/grinder...

 

[M5driver]

Some large parts - these things clean up really well.

 

[M5driver]

Small parts. Lots and lots of small parts. These are just a small sample.

 

[M5driver]

The TREs are new (Three 5 brand) but they come bare. I decided a little preventive Rust Bullet black is in order.

 

[M5driver]

Brake, fuel, and vapor lines.... These cleaned up nice. Good thing, since I can't ship the stainless lines I intend to install someday (hafta get the Mule back to the States again for that). After getting the protective coating of mud and crud off, there was very little corrosion evident. But to stop it from getting worse or starting up, I figure a good coating of RB silver can't hurt. Sure takes a long time, tho OTOH, it will probably be 2-3 weeks still before the chassis comes back, so I have the time

 

[tmarx]

Looking good.

 

[lostmarbles]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...Work continues on the small parts clean up and painting. This Rust Bullet is good stuff - just make sure you don't end up wearing it ..The vacuum booster

Heck! Your booster is MASSIVE compared to mine Dan. (The manual refers to mine as a "single-type 7 1/2" AISIN"). I wonder why that is.

I think models like yours (aimed at the USA market?) must have got the luxury of what the manual calls "the tandem type 7 1/2" AISIN"!

I'm puzzled how it fits in because the end of my brake mastercylinder almost touches the air cleaner bowl even with my short booster!

 

[M5driver]

Heck! Your booster is MASSIVE compared to mine Dan. (The manual refers to mine as a "single-type 7 1/2" AISIN"). I wonder why that is.

I think models like yours (aimed at the USA market?) must have got the luxury of what the manual calls "the tandem type 7 1/2" AISIN"!

I'm puzzled how it fits in because the end of my brake mastercylinder almost touches the air cleaner bowl even with my short booster!

Tom,

Yours is RHD, diesel (3B?), so that big air can sits right in front of your brake master. Mine is LHD, petrol, so my flat air cleaner sits on top of the engine, and feeds the carb on the manifold. Plenty of room there for that big booster. I think you can see how it fits in one of the early pix in this thread.

 

[lostmarbles]

Tom,

Yours is RHD, diesel (3B?), so that big air can sits right in front of your brake master. Mine is LHD, petrol, so my flat air cleaner sits on top of the engine, and feeds the carb on the manifold. Plenty of room there for that big booster. I think you can see how it fits in one of the early pix in this thread.

Thanks Dan.

Because your smurf-blue cruiser looks so much like mine from the outside, I guess I automatically assume that under-the-hood will be the same.

Judging from the big size-difference (booster), your brakes must need a lot less pedal pressure than mine. It would be interesting to drive them one-after-the-other to compare.

I know ------ You'll just have to get posted to Wellington NZ after your stint over there. (We do have an American Embassy downtown.)



PS. Mine's only the B engine (couple of engine-models before the 3B) but very similar.

 

[M5driver]

Thanks Dan.

Because your smurf-blue cruiser looks so much like mine from the outside, I guess I automatically assume that under-the-hood will be the same.

Judging from the big size-difference (booster), your brakes must need a lot less pedal pressure than mine. It would be interesting to drive them one-after-the-other to compare.

I know ------ You'll just have to get posted to Wellington NZ after your stint over there. (We do have an American Embassy downtown.)



PS. Mine's only the B engine (couple of engine-models before the 3B) but very similar.

That would be an interesting comparison. All I can tell you right now is with the engine off, you practically have to stand up to operate the brakes

Getting posted to Wellington... I have bid before, but haven't been successful. Now, the cushy posts like this are going to folks coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan. They deserve it. Next chance I get, I'll be bidding on NZ and OZ, tho.

 

[lostmarbles]

....Getting posted to Wellington... I have bid before, but haven't been successful. Now, the cushy posts like this are going to folks coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan. They deserve it. Next chance I get, I'll be bidding on NZ and OZ, tho.

I'm already thinking hard Dan.... (should you land the NZ position)

To get decent 4x4 action in paid time (which is the ULTIMATE "lifestyle-job") here, you'll have to be just a bit more innovative than perhaps you're used to in Malawi. (Cos there's no big boghole directly outside your embassy gate). But even so, you won't have too far to travel.
I know.

When you get here, tell the boss you need to take the embassy 4x4 into the Akatarawas (and down the Odlin's track too) to check out possible new locations for your embassy satelite dish. Surely it can't be getting good reception within the compound where it sits now! (Even it is - We'll be able to reverse that.) And tell them you've found the perfect guide (MEEZIES of course) to alternative sites high up in the mountains (where reception is bound to be better). Oh. And perhaps you should use your own vehicle rather that the "company one" because it is more "capable" off-road.

Then we just bowl up to the embassy fuel bowsers, fuel up, and we're away. I'm sure I can take leave from my job for an important task like this. Besides, only last night I performed "diplomatic" duties. I drove the English Cricket Team (with some of their wifes and children) from the Museum Hotel downtown to the Brittish High Commission out in "the burbs".--- And back again too. But it was just in a darn Scania bus which would even get bogged on a wet lawn. (Actually I was worried about leaving deep tyre-marks in the manicured lawn I drove onto inside the High Commisioner's abode!)

Of course it could take a lot of searching to find the right site for that dish.

 

[pbgbottle]

hey! lostmarbles (Tom) i have to say i sure enjoy all your contributions to the thread's on mud .they always makes for enjoyable reading.



Jake

P.S. my LHD 78 BJ40 also has the monster brake booster.

 

[M5driver]

I'm already thinking hard Dan.... (should you land the NZ position)

To get decent 4x4 action in paid time (which is the ULTIMATE "lifestyle-job") here, you'll have to be just a bit more innovative than perhaps you're used to in Malawi. (Cos there's no big boghole directly outside your embassy gate). But even so, you won't have too far to travel.

I'll have to get you some photos


(snip)

Of course it could take a lot of searching to find the right site for that dish.

I like how you think, Tom.

BTW, the weather is cooperative today, and I finally had time to look in again on the mule. I finished going over the changes needed in refitting our ambulance at the panel beater, so took a little time to check the Blue Mule's chassis - it was ready, so we got our first bit of Rust Bullet sprayed this morning!!!!

Turns out the real problem is these guys were afraid of it - it's an unknown to them, so they were reluctant to try it and take a chance of messing up. Figured since I was there, I'd sort of guide them (and take the fall for any problems). This stuff is NICE!

Photos this evening.

 

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

This has to be the very best thread I've read on this entire site! It is an education in cultural relations and gives an insight into the technical abilities of countries outside the United States. I am utterly amazed at how beautiful your body panels turned out after the hand sanding!. I don't think soda blasting could produce results like that. I am envious of your job and diverse life style. I have traveled to obscure parts of the world (Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Spain, Italy,France, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, All over Canada & Mexico) I really enjoy soaking up the culture and experiencing what that country has to offer. Not marching into town waving the US flag and assuming that the US is better than everyone (the "ugly American" approach). Thanks so much for sharing your restoration story with us. I will have my 15 year-old son read this, I think he will be fascinated by it as I was. Keep up the good work and keep us posted. Please take some pictures of the area (mountains, town, attractions etc. ) I vote this the best resto thread ever.
Thanks

 

[M5driver]

This has to be the very best thread I've read on this entire site! It is an education in cultural relations and gives an insight into the technical abilities of countries outside the United States. I am utterly amazed at how beautiful your body panels turned out after the hand sanding!. I don't think soda blasting could produce results like that. I am envious of your job and diverse life style. I have traveled to obscure parts of the world (Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Spain, Italy,France, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, All over Canada & Mexico) I really enjoy soaking up the culture and experiencing what that country has to offer. Not marching into town waving the US flag and assuming that the US is better than everyone (the "ugly American" approach). Thanks so much for sharing your restoration story with us. I will have my 15 year-old son read this, I think he will be fascinated by it as I was. Keep up the good work and keep us posted. Please take some pictures of the area (mountains, town, attractions etc. ) I vote this the best resto thread ever.
Thanks

Wow! Thanks!! If folks would like a few more cultural photos (town, countryside, villages, etc.) I would be glad to post a few up from time to time.

From one Colorado boy to another (native) - Thanks again.

Dan

 

[M5driver]

Spraying Rust Bullet

As promised above, photos from today.

The chassis has been scraped and sanded as clean as they can get it - very good job, by the way - so the crew set if up to prime.

 

[M5driver]

After carefully, actually a little gingerly, thinning the RB to the right consistency to spray, the festivities began. I got the entire crew of sanders out to see the first coat go on. Most of them can't believe this truck is 30+ years old

This is Mussa, the shooter who will shoot the entire project. Their is another Mussa - the crew boss for the sanders. Can't really see him in the background, but he is just beaming at how this primer is going on.