The Mule Rides Again

[tacotruck]

No fun pictures, just wrapping up cleaning off under coat. Scope of work is now defined as inner/outer rockers both sides, tail pan, patching floor pan anywhere its needed (including any supports on the cab/body that are needed), and fuel system. Anything else will wait to next year. Should be starting to measure for making cuts soon.

That is more work then I will ever do again in this lifetime. Have at it.

It's quite a bit but after seeing some of the junk cars other people have resuscitated for clicks on Youtube this one I think pretty simple in comparison. Finding the motivation to do it comes and goes when your daily is 20 years old but I think it's really gonna be worth it in the end. County fair is in mid September and wouldn't mind setting it out there on display or driving it in the parade for the local sportsman club, as it has done in the past.

Out of curiosity, what does the rear interior of the cab look like? (The vertical section behind the doors where the gun rack is) I am experiencing an explosion of rust in this area, I have not found a patch panel if there is one.

Bad. One of the mounts would probably fall through if I put something in it... The shape is reasonably simple though so I should be able to make something even if it won't look quite factory on the outside. The floor supports is iffy on the driver's side but will need replaced passenger for me but those are the same as a crew cab pickup, I think.

 

[WWRD99]

Out of curiosity, what does the rear interior of the cab look like? (The vertical section behind the doors where the gun rack is) I am experiencing an explosion of rust in this area, I have not found a patch panel if there is one.

They make a rear floor pan that starts at the middle or so of the front seats and goes up to the rear seat foot well. They are not a perfect fit by any means so you gotta be good at fab and have some steel to use to finish the floor support. Classic 2 current Fabrication part number SKU: 893-445-1 is one side...I like these because it is a thick steel and stamped here not china.

 

[cucvrus]

I keep thinking about this and I would think it is time to do a body divorce from the frame and do it right. I lifted that body off washed and painted everything. That was 18 years ago. I am guilty of being the one that drove that vehicle thru all the bad weather and salt. It seems like we have not had any real snow since I sold that CUCV. When I bought it with 17K miles on it I was surprised at how nice the body was. Issues did arise after I was driving it a few years and I did fix a lot of rust in the roof and left quarter panel. I used a truck bedside to patch the left rear quarter panel. That was 2015 and time is not kind to any vehicles that are driven year-round. Good Luck. I don't know your work area situation and if you have the equipment or shelter to work on things over a long period of time, but I wish you luck. Take Care and Be Safe. Getting the cab mount bolts out will be the real challenge.

 

[tacotruck]

Slow progress... starting to cut a little bit. Watched some videos on how to get the tail pan out, very slowly making progress. Cut here, cut there. Need to get under it and drill some spot welds for the sides of the floor, body mount bolts will be battle. Fuel tank and associated parts on the way, remaining panels I need will be ordered shortly.

I can work for awhile up top but the moment I get underneath, I find my patience goes very quickly when it's 90F and raining rust.

Wish I had more to contribute in other threads here. As mentioned previously this vehicle is a new experience. My oldest prior to this was a 1991 Toyota but the design/engineering on that car was literally 2 decades ahead of this despite the fact that body style of Camry debuted in 87.

Some pictures of various adventures for July 4th in the mean time.

West Virginia eastern pan handle, about 6 hours round trip and 300 some miles. Easy drive honestly, you cruise in the right lane with the semis doing the speed limit or just over and don't get too caught in a rush.



Prior snow adventures, it isn't all from cucvsrus driving it around.





Out in no man's land





From patriotic holidays of years past. Always try to drive it on Memorial Day/4th/Veterans day, first year I'll miss those marks.

 

[CARC686]

Gnarly side tread. Driven them in anything mucky?

 

[cucvrus]

I still can’t believe the Chevrolet hood ornament is missing and a big hole or 3 holes is better than the emblem. I sanded and painted it perfect. Same as the Bosch driving lights, HMMWV horn and LED headlamps. That was in the Memorial Day parade several years and at the Chevrolet dealer parked on the rock pile out front. That was when it was a short bed pickup truck. Everywhere I went with it I drew a crowd of well-wishers and complements. I drove it all summer with no roof and one winter. I painted the floor with CARC 686 Tan and maintained it like a new truck. No regrets for selling it I knew time was not on my side because I had a long run with it and knew the evil rust rats were eating it. I heard them on quite nights when the moon was full and seen lots of rust and puddles on the barn floor. True story one time I was in the barn just working on a chain saw and I heard something fall and roll on the floor. I looked and the right front floor mount must have ghosted the truck and give in to rust. I went under with an impact and sprayed and hammered till the bolt came out. It was rusted almost in half. I put a new lower mount washer and a grade 8 1/2” bolt in place. Go look I am sure it is still there. I did have all the mounts off and lifted the truck s few inches and coated the entire frame and under body. Good Luck and Have a Great Day. I was happy with my M1009 Mule creation and drove it everywhere with no radio or A/C and kept a poncho handy for rainy days. I was in some real down pours and snowstorms. Snow on the dash. I always loved the rusty gauges in the cluster and that everything works perfect. It ran great and had great power and some swore it was a small block 350 engine.