The Mule / 73’ with a past?

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Shippers were a no-show. I cancelled two errands this afternoon to make sure I would be here. I won’t be doing that again.

Additionally, it’s supposed to rain in the early hours tomorrow. I don’t know if I have a tarp to cover it, but I’ll bet they’ll be glad to charge you for the extra weight if it gets wet. :mad:
 
Well I’m not surprised this was going to turn into a hassle for you, Mark. I apologize for the headache. Question, did they call and make arrangements to pick up today?
 
The phone rings many times every day. Lots of robo calls for any business with a landline, as you know. No one from a shipping company left a message.☹️
 
Good morning, Mark! I called fedex freight and they were not able to make the pickup time yesterday at the end of the day. They have given me a new pickup confirmation of today. Between the original times of 11-5
@65swb45
 
In case anyone’s wondering why I need a hood… the hood latch has been an issue since I purchased this truck. I’ve replaced every item including cable, latch, hood pin and spring and even the plate the latch bolts to. It’s been adjusted numerous times and I was confident the safety latch was snug against the plate it catches on. I finished all my engine repairs and under car work and decided it was time to take it for a drive. Did fine in the shop neighborhood and no issues.
Got out on the main road home and was comfortably doing 60 and abruptly the hood blew up and..well… here ya have it. It blew right past the safety.
The old hood isn’t a total loss but will require some finesse and I’ll just sit to the side. I’ve soda blasted it yesterday after removing the under hood braces.
Not my favorite moment in ownership but I’ll get it sorted out.

Big thanks to Mark Algazy for getting the carb straightened out and running much better and for selling me a hood to get this mishap behind me.

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Good morning, Mark! I called fedex freight and they were not able to make the pickup time yesterday at the end of the day. They have given me a new pickup confirmation of today. Between the original times of 11-5
@65swb45
Although I said I wouldn’t, I am rearranging my schedule AGAIN.😊 I will be in the shop from 1o’clock on. You can inform them.😉
 
That sucks. I know that strap move well. At Pig Party 2019 my hood came up at about 45 mph. The cowl scoop and light bar probably save me from the kind of damage you got.

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👍🏻👍🏻Hood OTW.😊
 
That brace that runs across the core support gets bent out of shape over time. Make sure yours is straight, it’s the pieces the latch mechanism bolts to. When it sags down it can cause your latching issue … sorry to see the damage 😥
I even replaced that piece too!! Mine appeared to be over tightened from the latch and all four bolts were sunken in the plate. I got another nicer one.
I almost feel like 55’s front end sheet metal are like a wet noodle. They wiggle a bit (with all bolts tight and in place while I’m driving around hood less. I see in pics a lot of 55’s the hood appears to be popped and on the safety. Apparently I’m not the only person with this issue.
Maybe some ugly hood latches? I just hate non stock apparel.
 
I vaguely remember you commenting on your front end sheet metal at SNT many moons ago.😉
 
I even replaced that piece too!! Mine appeared to be over tightened from the latch and all four bolts were sunken in the plate. I got another nicer one.
I almost feel like 55’s front end sheet metal are like a wet noodle. They wiggle a bit (with all bolts tight and in place while I’m driving around hood less. I see in pics a lot of 55’s the hood appears to be popped and on the safety. Apparently I’m not the only person with this issue.
Maybe some ugly hood latches? I just hate non stock apparel.
When I first got my pig the hood would pop out anytime you were going over 60, plus or minus depending on bumps. Thankfully it always caught on the safety latch but that was the first issue I addressed. For me it was an alignment issue with the catch plate but it took a couple of tweaks to get it corrected.
 
That sucks. I know that strap move well. At Pig Party 2019 my hood came up at about 45 mph. The cowl scoop and light bar probably save me from the kind of damage you got.

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You weren't the only Pig with hood latch issues at that Pig Party. I was constantly pressing my hood down, and then adjusting the latch pieces

That brace that runs across the core support gets bent out of shape over time. Make sure yours is straight, it’s the pieces the latch mechanism bolts to. When it sags down it can cause your latching issue … sorry to see the damage 😥

I even replaced that piece too!! Mine appeared to be over tightened from the latch and all four bolts were sunken in the plate. I got another nicer one.
I almost feel like 55’s front end sheet metal are like a wet noodle. They wiggle a bit (with all bolts tight and in place while I’m driving around hood less. I see in pics a lot of 55’s the hood appears to be popped and on the safety. Apparently I’m not the only person with this issue.
Maybe some ugly hood latches? I just hate non stock apparel.

When I first got my pig the hood would pop out anytime you were going over 60, plus or minus depending on bumps. Thankfully it always caught on the safety latch but that was the first issue I addressed. For me it was an alignment issue with the catch plate but it took a couple of tweaks to get it corrected.

It took me a couple of weeks to get my latch dialed in!
 
After soda blast for the coating removal I dusted it off with abrasive for profile (adhesion) then shipped it back to my buddy for prime.

The hood I bought from @65swb45 is due to be delivered Monday. Kinda a race now which direction is easier.

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i think @Blastservices should be
ascended and anointed to a FJ55 stand alone forum here , MODERATOR ............


this is all been a huge inspiration to me mechanically and artistically as well this entire thread proceeds step by step , i have also learned alot too , thanks Todd ! :)
 

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