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#1 |
Resident Lurker
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Forney, TX
Posts: 205
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The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
I originally planned to wait until I had made much more progress on this truck since I'm only able to work on it a few hours a week. But I've came here several times asking questions and I figured it's only fair that I introduce y'all to 'Mulo Podrido'. Besides, I know how short this board's attention span is if one doesn't update their build thread often enough.
![]() The Premise: Turn a lightly abused, completely original, zero-option, '72 Chevy Short Step into a fun, cheap, weekend cruiser that looks just as cool in the Home Depot parking lot picking up landscaping supplies on a Saturday morning as it does at the local drive-in on a Friday night. And do it as cheaply as possible. The Plan: V8 in place of the I6. Automatic in place of the "stick on a steering column". Power steering and brakes replace the manual stuff. Static 5.5"/6 drop. Aftermarket tilt column. And toss the stock 15" steelies for 20"s. All for less than $6 grand. The Patient: ![]() The Operating Room: ![]() The Instruments: ![]() And finally, because after all, I'm in Texas, a Ranch Style tool tray! ![]()
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The Rotten Mule: '72 Chevy Short Step Project- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417252 "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."- H.L. Mencken Last edited by Boyd; 08-18-2010 at 09:38 PM. Reason: added pic |
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#2 |
Resident Lurker
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Forney, TX
Posts: 205
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
The Bad Organ:
I would have kept it, but it was tired and needed new rings and possibly a valve job. ![]() The New Organ: I bought this off of a fellow board member who recently did an LS swap. Basically, I got everything I needed to go from a 6cyl/man to a V8/auto for $1k. Not a bad deal. ![]() Prepping for Surgery: ![]() Surgery Begins: ![]() Bad Organ Removed: ![]()
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The Rotten Mule: '72 Chevy Short Step Project- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417252 "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."- H.L. Mencken |
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#3 |
Resident Lurker
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Forney, TX
Posts: 205
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
With the engine out, I removed the manual trans cross member.
![]() I originally thought I was going to have to raise the cab to get to the top rivets, but I ended up removing the cross member support pieces first, then grinding and chiseling out the top cross member rivets from underneath.
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The Rotten Mule: '72 Chevy Short Step Project- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417252 "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."- H.L. Mencken |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: CASA GRANDE AZ
Posts: 4,276
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Looks like a solid project i really like the look of the ps in your avatar
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70 SWB STEPSIDE 70 BLAZER 09 challenger |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: a t w a t e r cali 95301
Posts: 10,713
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
lets see som ore progress im not convinced
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#6 |
Resident Lurker
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Forney, TX
Posts: 205
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Here you go!
With the engine and trans out, I began scraping all of the caked on grease from the engine cross member, frame, and a-arms. The guy I bought the truck from purchased it at an estate sale from the original family a few months prior to me buying it. The old man who originally owned it must have greased this thing once a month...there was grease caked everywhere ! That's a good thing though. Here's a shot of what came off of just the engine cross member, there were equally large piles of old grease from each side of the front suspension. ![]() Began removing front suspension components ![]() ![]() The truck had a brake job done on it not too long before I bought it, so I elected to leave the rotors and calipers alone to help keep costs down. I did, however, replace both upper and lower ball joints. Here's me cranking down on the ball joint press I rented from AutoZone. ![]() ![]() ![]() CPP 2.5" dropped spindle installed ![]()
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The Rotten Mule: '72 Chevy Short Step Project- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417252 "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."- H.L. Mencken Last edited by Boyd; 12-29-2010 at 06:26 PM. |
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#7 | |
Resident Lurker
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Forney, TX
Posts: 205
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Quote:
![]() The wheels in the pic would most likely cost me more than my total budget of $6k so I'll actually be running a set of Boss 338s in 20x8.5f/10r. ![]()
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The Rotten Mule: '72 Chevy Short Step Project- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417252 "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."- H.L. Mencken Last edited by Boyd; 12-29-2010 at 06:04 PM. |
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#8 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Brandon FL
Posts: 258
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Lookin good man... Love the garage.
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: a t w a t e r cali 95301
Posts: 10,713
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
man that garage shpuld be in GOTM ( garage of the month)
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Arizona
Posts: 638
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
looks like a lot of fun
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72 Cheyenne shorty "CheyLow" 72 3/4 long 4X4 69 SWB "Prospector" 68 C/10 shorty - "Picacho" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=428379 sold to "93redsled" ![]() ![]() |
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#11 |
Sofa King Crazy!!
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 3,090
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Cool Project, keep operating!!!
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You found the Tater. ![]() My Blazer Build (New) - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=654650 My 67 Build - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=335650 67 Chevy LWB big window a/c AKA TOTALLED BY A JACKASS. ![]() 1972 2wd Blazer "Porterbuilt and Sloshed" ![]() |
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#12 |
Resident Lurker
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Forney, TX
Posts: 205
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Thanks! The truck was actually on hold while I finished the garage. It was my "had to have" when we built last year.
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The Rotten Mule: '72 Chevy Short Step Project- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417252 "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."- H.L. Mencken |
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#13 |
Resident Lurker
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Forney, TX
Posts: 205
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Got the blazer tank installed (and ran into a problem - more on that later).
![]() To get the fuel from the blazer tank to the fuel pump, I used 2 pieces of steel brake line from AutoZone. One 4' piece and one 6' piece. I used a compression union to mate the two pieces and used short rubber line to connect to the pump and sender. I used a piece of rubber fuel line to cushion the steel line to keep it off the c-notch (pics of the notch later). ![]() For clamps, I used 1/2" rubber lined conduit clamps. ![]() I cut a small piece of rubber fuel line and inserted it into each clamp to make up the difference in sizes between the clamp and the steel line. I used factory holes in the frame, and some hardware I bought from Lowe's. ![]()
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The Rotten Mule: '72 Chevy Short Step Project- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417252 "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."- H.L. Mencken Last edited by Boyd; 12-29-2010 at 06:13 PM. Reason: added pics |
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#14 |
Resident Lurker
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Forney, TX
Posts: 205
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Oh, and that problem I ran into with the blazer tank?
The filler neck is directly under the bed support brace. ![]() I ended up redrilling the mounting holes in the frame and pulled the tank back towards the rear bumper by about 3". ![]() For the blazer tank users out there. What did you use for a filler? I want to mount my filler just under the bed floor and use a billet fuel door from a Dodge Ram to cover the cap, but there's only about 3" (at the most) from the top of the frame to just below the bed floor.
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The Rotten Mule: '72 Chevy Short Step Project- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417252 "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."- H.L. Mencken Last edited by Boyd; 12-29-2010 at 06:18 PM. |
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#15 |
dazed and confused
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: marion nc
Posts: 1,649
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
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members met: redbaron69, billsbowtie,nc67 |
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#16 |
1969 Short, Fleet, and Beat
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Long Beach, Ca.
Posts: 867
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Wow!
Kinda the same deal as my build. Just chopped the manual trans mount today! Subscribing. Last edited by huero; 08-22-2010 at 12:22 AM. |
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#17 |
Man of Mini-Talents
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 4,295
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Fun project! I really like how fastidious you are. I let the junk fly, the rev up tbe leaf blower.
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Steve Project - Ruth 66 Skylark Project - Lola 60 Biscayne Project - Iron Ox 54 GMC 100 Project - Darth 69 Camaro |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: shingle springs, ca
Posts: 57
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
looks good.. got to love the steep sides...
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#19 |
PROJECT 7DEUCE
![]() Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: GRANTS PASS OR
Posts: 21,591
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Love the stepper project can we get some more pics of the whole shop really diggin that corragated metal along the bottom.
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GO BIG GREEN ![]() MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P.. |
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#20 | |
Resident Lurker
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Forney, TX
Posts: 205
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Quote:
![]() I started in the corner where my compressor is. Here's a before: ![]() And after: ![]() Back wall (for reference, the truck is to the left in this picture) ![]() Garage fridge ![]() Close up of workbench ![]() Left Wall ![]() The shallow cabinet in the middle of the wall hides the electrical panel, sprinkler control unit, and the uverse box. ![]() Right Wall (I built some cabinets out of scrap material that I scavenged from the contruction going on in the neighborhood, I'll eventually paint them red.) ![]() The bottom cabinets hold pool items on the left side and car cleaning/misc on the right. ![]()
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The Rotten Mule: '72 Chevy Short Step Project- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417252 "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."- H.L. Mencken Last edited by Boyd; 12-29-2010 at 07:04 PM. |
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#21 |
Resident Lurker
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Forney, TX
Posts: 205
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
And just to keep this thread on point, I've made a little progress on the truck. (sorry for the blurry pic)
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The Rotten Mule: '72 Chevy Short Step Project- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417252 "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."- H.L. Mencken |
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#22 |
VA72C10
![]() Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Midlothian, VA
Posts: 25,269
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
nice project. will be following along!
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Looking for a 67-72 swb or blazer project in or around VA. ![]() |
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: longview,wa
Posts: 1,094
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Cool shop dude. cool truck too!
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#24 |
Grandpa in the rustmobile...
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Spokane WA/Viola TN
Posts: 11,422
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
sweet garage and nice truck
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John Goose-1968 C10 355,9.32-1CR, Vortec Heads ,262 voodoo, 3.73:1 3OTT (HS ride/beater/farm truck) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=317684 Grams 53-1953 Chevrolet Belair http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post4327784 1969 Chevy C10 Shortbed 4.5/6?" Frame off resto http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=548136 1999 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 |
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Thomasville, NC
Posts: 1,877
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Re: The Rotten Mule (AKA: 'Mulo Podrido')
Sweet truck & garage
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