The Old Mule - 64 BBW

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

All ready to leave in the early morning. Got a 5+ hour drive to north LA for a truck meet tomorrow. Get to check out how the 3.08s feel on the highway. What little cleaning was obliterated by pouring rain all day. Worst of it should be gone by the time I leave in the morning. Sunny and great is the forecast for tomorrow in north LA.

Safe travels Bill.

I do look forward to my truck doing what it is meant to do....... Running that it.

Trust we will be seeing a road trip report on here.

[rustbucket66]

Very nice truck.

[Palf70Step]

Ok Rian and krew.....

Mule ran great yesterday and today. 700+ mile round trip, no issues except I got lucky. Turns out I never put the short alternator belt on, so I have been driving about 1000 miles with a pretty loose belt. The lord kept the dummy and the mule safe though, so today I go and find a proper length belt.

Left at 0-dark-hundred yesterday (4:45AM). By my calculations the speedometer is readin about 12-15 MPH slow. I have the new driven gear for it, just "fix'n to change it" one of these day.
Not much to see in the dark, but no issues thru the first petrol and java stop.

[Palf70Step]

After the second pit stop for fluid download and java replenishment, we were off again.

I am not as good as some of you driving and picture taken, but here is a few shots along the way. The dome is a real good Catfish place just south of Jackson (Florence) Mississippi. The Cross/Barn place is a good eats place just a couple miles north of the dome. The halfway poin is about the Mississsippi River at Vicksburg, MS

[62stepside longbox]

Looks like a heck of a good time bill

[Palf70Step]

Crossing the river into Louisiana. Fluid break in LA at the I20 welcome center.

Normally south LA is the swamp, but the area around Monroe/West Monroe still super high water from all the flooding couple weeks ago. I wonder if they have gators this far north? Joking aside, it was a mess and just amazing to see so much water that still has not drained yet. I have never seen water up by the interstate in this part of the state.

[Palf70Step]

Now the fun

TRUCKS

The green 68 is original paint, only big change to it from the original truck is going from the 250-6, 3 OTT to a 454 T400.

Blue 72 is another big block, 496

The 35 is a small block, but it screams!

[Palf70Step]

Black 57( I think) is one nice ride.

The black 75 is all original loaded Silverado.

The black 72 is another built big block. Super clean.

[Palf70Step]

Couple more

darkhorse370 - white 63 SWB
62 short step 's LWB 65
Our host's bagged stepper

HuggerCST's 70.

[Palf70Step]

Ls power squarebody

some random shots.

[Palf70Step]

We had a couple foreigners also

440 Dodge truck runs low 11s

69 Chevelle built 396 BB

[Palf70Step]

After hanging out all day, we ended up a Cruise In at the local Sonic. It was a good way to end the day. The Mule and I rested, then did the 5.5 hour drive back this morning.

Now I will quit rambling and go get me a proper size alternator belt.

[Palf70Step]

Besides fixing/replacing the VERY loose alternator belt that some how managed to last about 1000 miles before the airhead remembered to change it, I decided to make me some backup/reverse lights without cutting up the body for factory ones.. I found these LEDs and a switch on line. The lights are REAL bright. I figured I would run them manually rather than worry about a switch on the tranny. It can be such a pain in the mornings/evenings backing the Mule down my long dark driveway. So on to the fix.

I started by opening up the hole from the choke cable to fit the switch,
then cutting the holes for the LEDs.

I decided to go on the sides of the license plate that hopefully they will be effective, but not jump out at you. Once all the holes were drilled I mounted the LEDs, then wired and mounted the switch. It is a push button with a light when the power is on. I am using a switched hot so I don't accidentally leave them on and drain the battery.

[Palf70Step]

Ran all the wires, ground were run, then everything was tested and secured. Wallah I now have backup lights. They are bright as heck, so I think they should work well. I plan on driving the Mule to work tomorrow so I will see what kind of illumination they provide. Ended up the day just cruising her.

[LostMy65]

I really like that green longbed with the brushguard.
.
Nice discreet backup lights idea.

[smbrouss70]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

I really like that green longbed with the brushguard.

He wanted to cut the bed down to a short bed, but luckily we talked him out of it to preserve the patina. That brush guard is a couple of SOLID bars, you wouldn't want to get in a head-on collision with that truck!

[LostMy65]

Glad you guys talked him out of it.
It's superb just how it sits.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

I really like that green longbed with the brushguard.
.
Nice discreet backup lights idea.

That was my choice too.


Thanks for posting Bill. Great report and photos.

[Palf70Step]

Tested the lights this morning and they work pretty good. It would have been better if they were more to the outer edge of the truck, but they do light it up enough that I can see clearly when backing up.

[roOstersan]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Ls power squarebody some random shots.

Does the brown square have a mid 60s dash cut into it? That's fantastic!

Great job on all the mods... This gives much needed motivation. I cannot wait to have my truck (and my dads) on the road again!

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by roOstersan

Does the brown square have a mid 60s dash cut into it? That's fantastic!

Great job on all the mods... This gives much needed motivation. I cannot wait to have my truck (and my dads) on the road again!

Yes, I believe he took the dash froma 66 and welded it onto the squarebody dash.

[RDrancher]

Just enjoyed reading your thread from the beginning. Nice truck!

[clemdaddy]

great report on a fun trip... you guys took some nice road shots. I also like the truck with the smash-hit grill guard but the mule was the favorite. big fun and zero problems... doesn't get better.

[Paul Y]

I always enjoy roadtrip stories, Mule seems to be fairly sorted now.

Might have to borrow the reverse light idea...

P.

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by Paul Y

I always enjoy roadtrip stories, Mule seems to be fairly sorted now.

Might have to borrow the reverse light idea...

P.

Yes the Mule is doing well, and yes I wish to return to all you folks what I got from this board, so all my ideas are free for grab.