The Old Mule - 64 BBW

[Palf70Step]

After some paint and cleanup I got turnaround to putting some insulation and sound deadening in the old Mule. I liked how the Peel n Seal stuff worked in my old 84, so I used it again. The first roll did not have a foil backing (it was wider roll, but the second batch had the foil. Did 2 layers throughout most of it, triple under the seats and on the floor boards.



Started working on a covering to hide the gas tank, but no pics for that yet (gotta make sure it looks OK first).

Can't wait to get her rolling again.

[smbrouss70]

[Palf70Step]

Got some time to work on the ole girl tonight. I made a myself a tank cover out of a large sheet of cardboard covered with some cheapo carpeting/speaker box material. I also got the new seats situated. They are extremely comfortable, even without the lumbar support function (I still have to wire that in).

I was going to use a Blazer center console, but it is way too long and tall to clear the new shift/shifter position. So looks like I'll be working on fabricating something to fit between the seats and clear the new shifter position.

[clemdaddy]

i need to figure out a console and gas tank cover for a truck with buckets. anxious to see what you do to the mule.

good work on de flo

[Palf70Step]

Vacation is over and it is good to be back home and working on the truck again. Got a little bit done today, after all the yard work was done.

I used some cardboard and some cheap carpet (speaker box material) to make a tank cover.

Also, since none of my consoles will clear the new shifter location, I made a console from wood and covered it in the same material I used for a tank cover. I am not quite done with the console. The glue is still drying and I still need to attach the cup holder

Carpet is in and got the driver's seat bolted into place as well as the driver side seat belt.

[TJ's Chevy]

Looks good!

[Palf70Step]

After many months (March), the mule is rolling again on its own power.

I finished mounting the seats and my homemade console. Console came out OK for function. If/when I ever got to an automatic I'll get something nicer.

Went to go start the thing and, nothing! Check and it appears I had a bad HEI module. Luckily I had another one and after swapping it out, the mule fired to life.

The new shifter works great. Very smooth, no jamming, and lordy is it a short throw. It's going to take some time getting use to that throw, but I really like it.

Gonna have to give the ole girl a bath so she can cruise properly. I want to redo the HEI module as I had almost no dielectric grease when I installed it, but that is the next story. Time to rest in the A/C.

[Palf70Step]

Finished the interior work (for now). I got the new kick panels with speakers in and hooked up. They were not exactly a bolt/slip in. Had to do quite a bit of trimming with the dremel. I don't know if it was the panels or all the floor patching and extra floor matting that made me have to trim them to fit. Probably a combination of things. They are in now and wired up. They sound good with the duals I put in the stock speaker location.

Also changed out the radio antenna for one that actually works.

Drove the old mule around a while today and it felt GREAT. Gave it a good bath and got it back in its house just before the rain came thru. I order some more lug nuts as a few are getting a bit worn and the one was cross threaded. I was able to fix the threads on the lug, but the nut was shot.

Wish the A/C fairy would do it's magic to the truck. Man it was HOT (and humid) today

[clemdaddy]

nice looking truck. really like the interior, you did a great job. this summer's heat is making me think about AC. more comfortable drive time, ya know. going to work in the morning isn't bad but that drive back at 5 in the afternoon… brutal.

oh well, a few more months and we'll be worrying about the defroster.

[Palf70Step]

Gave the Mule a workout yesterday. 3 hrs drive to Louisiana for a truck gathering. First time I got to get in a group to one of our meets so, it felt good to be in a small line of classics, and I got to lead

It was good food with good folks and I made the trek back home. A few bugs have creeped there way in that had me sweating a little bit on the drive back (intermittent loose of switched 12V....not good for your HEI), but the mule got me home before the rains let loose.

[Ta2Don]

Congrats on the trek yesterday...

Perused your thread since last I checked in… and I must say I really like the way the Mule has turned out...

Some of the styling cues that I really dig are the Front License plate, the shifter and the classic Foot gas pedal...

now I gotta find me a B&S piston...

[C@rnut001]

Your truck is looking great. Keep driving it and having fun! Thanks for sharing the pictures of your meet you went to.

[dwcardfan]

ROAD TRIP!!!! I am so ready. Looks like a big time.

[TJ's Chevy]

The ol Mule is looking good! Road trips I look forward to!

[kingsolver72]

I just read this thread. Super nice truck Bill! I'm really digging the 60-66 trucks.

[Palf70Step]

Been wondering for a while why the truck runs cool when in town, but on the interstate or high speed it would get overly hot. While at a meet, so folks pointed out the air seals are missing or not working to keep the air from going around the radiator. Since mine is not a stock radiator it doesn't fit the stock side seals and the front was missing altogether. Truthfully I didn't even know there was stuff supposed to be there.

The second picture shows what it should be like on the right.

So time to fab

[62 short step]

Both of those pics look familiar! Get it fixed Bill!

[Palf70Step]

So I started out with some 3/4" C-channel Cut it to 16.5" bolted it to line up with the sides of the new radiator, then added some new factor rubber. Turns out my measurements were off a hair because I didn't count for the thickness of the rubber. So, I went back after I got everything in place and notched the aluminum so it will sit flat against the side panel. I then made an upper bracket out of some angle stock I had. Bent it to the right angle, then got some heavy duty rubber mattering cut to make my flapper for the front upper piece. Had to go RoadKill and zip-tie the rubber into place. I then took the factor rubber piece and used it to seal the fan shroud at the top.

[Palf70Step]

Frontal view. Hopefully this wil help with the cooling issue.

Next is all the oil leaks, so I got started with the stuff to pull the intake manifold off. Didn't get far when I got called for some computer work. Hopefully by next weekend I'll have everything torn off cleaned and ready to go back together.

[TJ's Chevy]

Good info on the air seals. Will have to look into it when I get to that point. Ah....oil leaks create better fuel mileage!!!! Makes things Slicker!

[mjh1965]

How I missed this build I don't no , but I have just read through it . I love the stance on the truck . I also think the white makes it look clean .
With my line of work I often have to modify seats , and you install looks really good , including the gas tank cover making the install looking finished .
As for the steering colum swap , I will be putting a tilt one in , and doing away with the chest stabbing inner shaft .
It will be nice to see if the radiator mod fixes the cooling problem , as myself and Rian will both be fitting after market ally radiators into our trucks
Keep up the good work and I will keep watching

[Palf70Step]

Well made a little progress yesterday. I got the top end mostly together last weekend, then got hurt so things have been very slow. I sure hate injuries, can't even grip the wrench well, but getting better and hopefully so is the mule. I've got the new distributor to put in, couple wires to hook-up, add the fluids and fire her up again. Hopefully by Friday or Saturday when I get a second pair of hands to help out.

Went from the top picture to the lower too. She is far less oily under the hood, just not show truck material.

[Ta2Don]

Lookin' Good!!! and I also need to look into the air seal idea since my radiator in not stock...

[mjh1965]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Lookin' Good!!! and I also need to look into the air seal idea since my radiator in not stock...

Me too ,the great thing about this forum is everybody shares information

[Palf70Step]

The Mule is trotting again.

EdB helped me get the new distributor in this morning. She runs great (way smoother than before) and so far no leaks from anywhere yet. Cruising she seems to run between 180 and 190, both in town and on the highway (@75 with 3.73 gears) so looks like the seals helped a good bit. My arm still aching, so no power shifting. I may put my piston shift Knob back on again, but for now until my arm finishes this slow healing (being old stinks at times) I keep a standard one. It was so much fun so I just kept driving around with her, so I didn't get much else done with her today. I am going to tidy up the engine some more tomorrow and check on a few other things, but looks like I will be ready from 8 days of Cruising the Coast.