My Mullet Truck Build

I didnt want to post anything until I had 4 wheels on the ground.

The stars aligned this weekend and I managed to rent a welder and had enough Steel to get that milestone done.

So what is a Mullet Truck? Like the saying goes, Business in the Front and Party in the back!

I picked up a little Toyota Pick up a couple years ago from some less than talented guys who thought they were mechanics in Bakersfield. A 1985 SR5 Extended cab. I got it on the road after redoing EVERYTHING they touched. Its been a good little truck. A little tweeking of the EFI, Header, Fox Mustang muffler and pipe. Got great MPG.

Well now health dictates I am going to be needing an automatic if the dr has his way so I began to think of my options.

I hatched a plan one day when I got a message from a bike builder that recently moved and left a 69 Eldorado sitting next to the shop and needed it moved. It took about 20 seconds to figure out what I was going to do with it.

Im no stranger to the Big Caddy engine. The last project I built was putting a 500 in a Pinto. But this one is going to be different, This time around its going to be the whole drivetrain in the back of the truck.

So I have been collecting some parts for about a year now and got enough to make the rolling chassis.

The big picture plans:

Toyota truck Complete Eldorado Drivetrain Fox/Sn95 Mustang Front suspension with coilovers, 13"Cobra Brakes I stretched the wheelbase 10 inches in the rear. Full Cage Knockoff Bullet Wheels 17X8 in the front, 18X10.5 in the rear

I was going to go with a lower more "Racetruck" build but my major dislike for this state made me rethink the direction of the project so I changed to a more "Burly" build.

This will be a slow build as money and time allow. I would rather spend the money on parts than expensive tools or people to do it so like most of my builds it will be done "Amish Style" as the people who know me call my stuff. So if you are looking for super high quality stuff like a lot of the people here do, this will not be it!

As it was when I picked it up [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/199_zpsj8hdeyzi.jpg.html][/URL]

Got it home, spent a couple months getting things in order and cleaned up. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM01079_zpsvyceqpbl.jpg.html][/URL]

Drove it for a couple years, added a shell because work said I couldn't ride my Motorcycle on the clock anymore so I needed to keep the tools locked up. still managed to have someone on a work site steal them after they broke the back window to get in. I found a set of OG Rikens. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM01870_zpsrslqwbqg.jpg.html] [/URL]

Then I got the message. This showed up. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM02242_zps2qqayfkm.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM02241_zps9de5aprh.jpg.html][/URL]

so my build begins with destruction. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM02244_zpsfptp7knl.jpg.html][/URL]

It only take a couple hours to get the heart from this carcass. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM02245_zpskgssxfg5.jpg.html][/URL]

What I was after [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM02359_zpsrt7cdo1u.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM02360_zps1fugtawc.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM02362_zpsyl6ldbcq.jpg.html][/URL]

The Ex was coming off tour and was going to be home for a few weeks so I had to drag the mess to my apt and stick it in my parking spot. It was pretty much at a holding pattern for now so it was all for the best. I had just lost my job because of the company going into receivership and having been screwed out of a months pay and having all my personal tools taken by the towtruck driver that came and got the work van in the middle of the night.

I have a 2 ton Oriental engine hoist, I figured it would be good enough to lift it but the legs decided that since the gravity is higher here than in a Chinese prison where these types of tools are made, the legs gave up the ghost and bent. I managed to get it loaded and dumped off. Will revisit that POS later. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM02419_zpso28ovuzg.jpg.html][/URL]

Yay! I get to Smog it again. It didnt pass. The EGR was plugged, got that figured out and passed on the retest. Such a pain. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM02611_zpsacfeloch.jpg.html][/URL]

Since I need the truck to build the truck I managed to find another frame, I figured this way I can get as much done as possible then just do a body swap and be ahead of the game a little bit. Ex was on tour so more mess making at the House! [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/CAM02567_zps2z5nbf21.jpg.html][/URL]

So with a few half price days at the local Pick Your Part I managed to piece together the front suspension. A Fox Body crossmember and sheet metal, SN95 arms,spindles and struts. The reason for the newer arms is to gain some track width, Much better balljoints, The newer spindles give me the ability to conver to 5 lug and run a better brake set up. Its going to have the 13" cobra brakes. The newer struts are a bit longer so I will have to see about the travel and where it bumps. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160625_182256_zpspnby7j97.jpg.html][/URL]

Fox arm on the right, SN95 on the left. Much more meat on the newer arm [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160625_092631_zpsuopehedf.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160625_092519_zpsb81ksryg.jpg.html][/URL]

Have to clean off all the front suspension mounting points [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160625_181952_zpswb2ac4e3.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160625_181947_zpscw8yuxjt.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160625_182042_zpsfemxwqxd.jpg.html][/URL]

Gonna take some massaging to get it down to a reasonable ride height. At this time I was still thinking of running it low and wide. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160703_155344_zps5rfbnpgk.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160703_155331_zpssgfxjljl.jpg.html][/URL]

So out comes my trusty 4" cutoff wheel and I go to town measuring with my bad diabetic eyes and a fat magic marker and I get it chopped up enough to drop the frame down into the crossmember. Roughed in. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160710_085015_zpsziuvhkl3.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160710_085029_zpsl4bpdu2i.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160710_085058_zpsupawq37q.jpg.html][/URL]

Someone sent me the photochop picture on the top, It was going to be pretty much what I had in mind. But then I decided to go a little extreme and raise it up and put some tires that would be a little more suited to 4 seasons. The middle picture is how it sits now with the stock wheel base and the bottom it the wheelbase stretched out. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160713_145408_zpssf8mfcds.jpg.html][/URL]

Possible future trailer for someone? [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160716_114026_zpsmvwu89dg.jpg.html][/URL]

Starting to think about marrying the two. If anyone wants to know where the $$ goes in a build its the Steel plated Gold bars they call Tube. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160716_114054_zpsbywhe4lb.jpg.html][/URL]

Apt says to get that trash out of my parking spot [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160723_145245_zpsuzmjkm2d.jpg.html][/URL]

I figured I had a week to get it rolling before the Ex comes off tour, Easy Peasy. Then as always Mother Nature happens and the hills behind me catch on fire and its a fast mover. I end up spend the next 4 days moving a bunch of animals around, now granted I sold all of these critters because I didnt want to have to deal with them anymore but the new people were too scared to handle them in a stressful situation so I get thrown back into gator wrestling and having to deal with 150 venomous reptiles, and a camel and ostrich. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160723_171527_zpskfgverzp.jpg.html][/URL]

So now with only 3 days to get it done I suck it up and get started with a pile of ratchet straps, my little grinder and a 90amp Fluxcore Squirt gun from HF I go to town. Get the wheelbase figured out, make sure its all in the middle. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160724_164741_zpsqx2epxxu.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160728_174928_zpsuuckzxim.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160724_164656_zpsedd4ffm1.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160724_164722_zps4pfsisnd.jpg.html][/URL]

Now I remember from the Pinto project that my 14" chop saw was POS when it came to cutting anything that resembled a proper fit, I have ordered a RAGE3 saw but it is not going to be here until next week but I need this done now so out comes my little grinder and a section of angle for a guide. I gotta get this right the first time since they have a hard time producing this steel coated gold tube judging by the price. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160727_180709_zpsiqrieqdy.jpg.html][/URL]

This little house has pretty suspect wiring and only circuits so running anything more than soldering iron is taxing on the panel, But I throw caution to the 110 degree wind and plug in the little welder, Shake the rice from the handle and went ahead and tacked it all up. I thought that someday I may want to service the drivetrain so I went ahead and made it a slip fit onto the frame. The I.D. was 4.5X2.5 so I made some "bushings" out of some 6X3X.250 tube. I will bolt it together with some 5/8 grade 8 bolts. There will be a bunch of more swingset holding it together so I am not too worried about the concept. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160728_183415_zpsd1ifj782.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160728_175035_zpsitdcwtbe.jpg.html][/URL]

I got it all tacked up Friday night in preparation for the welder that was being dropped off on Saturday morning. He showed up at 7 and I was done by 9. I did just enough to get it down on its wheels. I cut a deal with the Bands accountant to rent her garage and a deal was struck and timing was good since I had to get it out of the driveway since the Ex comes home today. [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160730_192500_zpszp21vxpk.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160730_192450_zpshjfcsuxr.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160730_192500_zpszp21vxpk.jpg.html][/URL]

With the front suspension bolted on [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160730_190633_zpsot7gouxy.jpg.html][/URL]

Officially on its wheels! First milestone for the Mullet Truck [URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/BanditMan1200/media/truck/20160731_094151_zpsfg3vkqud.jpg.html][/URL]

This should be fun!

Building a mullet truck at the ex wife's house while wrestling an ostrich.

You, good sir, win the berkeleying internet.

The only way to improve on the story is to find another Eldo for the front of the truck for a nice even 1000C.I. and all wheel drive.

this is the thing dreams are made of

When I lived in Detroit there was an old guy that had a twin Eldo set up in a Chevelle, I never saw it run, it just sat in his garage.

You never know about doing the same with the truck, Im not dead yet!

Wall-e wrote: The only way to improve on the story is to find another Eldo for the front of the truck for a nice even 1000C.I. and all wheel drive.

LOL Dude, this is even crazier than I had imagined. I didn't realize those v8's were set longitudinally.

I love the Caddy big blocks. I have a 70 472 sitting on my front porch for an unknown future project. Don't the RV guys have a limited slip for the 425 trans now? Love the truck.

Subscribed.

Stampie wrote: I love the Caddy big blocks. I have a 70 472 sitting on my front porch for an unknown future project. Don't the RV guys have a limited slip for the 425 trans now? Love the truck.

This is the 3rd project I have used the big Caddy, The first was a International Harvester Traveler, the second was a Pinto.

There are a few driveline shops around that carry limited slips and a bunch of gear choices. The first couple years of the Eldo and Toro has 3:23 gears, This one has 3:07 since its from a 70. This truck will be pretty light compared to the Eldo so I'm not too worried about stepping up to a shorter gear even tho I will be running 33 inch tires.

Is the Ex named Amy by any chance?

Seriously, the build is off the charts, but the undercurrent of the "Ex" backstory keeps dominating my attention. I thought it was a military "tour" until you mentioned the manager and her willingness to store the car. Something is just not right there?!

Is there some YouTube music video I can watch?

I'm in!

Awesome...this build is going to be fun to watch!

NOHOME wrote: Is the Ex named Amy by any chance? Seriously, the build is off the charts, but the undercurrent of the "Ex" backstory keeps dominating my attention. I thought it was a military "tour" until you mentioned the manager and her willingness to store the car. Something is just not right there?! Is there some YouTube music video I can watch?

Nope Her name is Mary, Shes a lighting tech for concerts, This time she was out with Stevie Wonder

Things have been slow on the project the past couple months. I have been gathering parts when I can find them cheap. I got the rear hubs and rotors cleaned up and drilled for the Mustang wheels.

I figured out how I was going to lock the steering. I mounted the hiem joint in the same spot the original inner tie rod was connected. I drilled the knuckle to take a 5/8 bolt

I will turn another upright for the knuckle, it will be the same size as the arm so its a little more spread out at the base.

I also noticed when I was cleaning all the mud off it that at one time it had a little crash repair done. The drivers side had the upgraded upper control arm and 4 bolt balljoint. The passenger side still had the whimpier 3 bolt balljoint and the thinner upper control arm so I found the newer parts for the passenger side. With the upgrade the wheel bearings are doubled to help spread the weight across the whole hub and not just right up against the flange. Im pretty sure the GMC motorhome guys benefited from this the most.

I have more parts on the shelf that I need to bolt up, Im hoping for a quiet Christmas day so I can get a bit more done.

Nice!

FYI your last pic isn't showing up.

MulletTruck, you are a goddamn champion.

This build is not only awesome idea-wise, but the fact that you have a self-imposed time limit of building this beast before the "Ex" comes back from being on tour with Stevie Wonder (not to mention having to save a zoo's worth of strange and wonderful animals from impending fiery doom) is the kind of thing that should be on TV, or hell, in an IMAX theater. Pure gearhead entertainment. A lot of us wouldn't have the stones to do this, but you do.

You rule.

A '70? Rated 400 hp and 550 torque (gross). That sucker had the highest rated torque of any American engine for years. It has some decent compression so you might suffer on Kali gas.

Yeah, I see 93 octane and a can of booster in the back seat.

Im going to pull the heads and go through them and do hardened seats while Im at it.

Im thinking of a wide body like this if I cant find a couple sets of dualie fenders I like.

Got a call this morning, my rear tires should be in delivered today.

Mmmm yes do vented box flares like those! Such an awesome project hiding under such an unassuming thread title!

Didnt get much done this weekend as I thought I would. The bearings and seals were scheduled to be delivered on Friday but they didnt show up. The rear tires got here this morning.

Got the hubs mocked up enough to mount the wheels. front track width to the outside of the wheels is 70 inches, the rear is 81 inches.

Threw on a left over block hugger header from another project, Might run it this way with an elbow to the front.

Had a chance to do a little work on the project the past couple weekends.

The tires came in so I stretched them onto the Mustang wheels. This is when I wish I had a tire machine. I was hoping for a warm day to heat the tires to make it easier to get spooned on but no dice. Got it done none the less. Only destroyed three of my motorcycle tire levers.

Now tat the tires are on I can make sure there is room in front and set up the rear suspension.

The fronts are 30X10/17 mounted on 17X8 Mustang Knock Offs. Rears are 33X12.5/18 on 18X10.5 wheels

Plenty of room in the front.

Now the spring situation. The Eldo had long torsion bars that would have stuck out a couple feet from the bumper so I have to figure something else.

I decided to go with twin coilovers on each side. I will push off the lower control arm since its the beefier of the two and I dont think they had supporting the car off the upper balljoint. This is what I came up with.

And with the upper mounts

I know I will add a brace to the back side of the upright and tie them into the rails that will make their way back there when I build the cage.

It feels good to have it on the ground again, Im tired of looking at the ass end of it so I turned it around and will sort out some stuff on the front suspension before pulling the engine and trans/rear diff.

I bring the front down to ride height to match the rear, As it sits now the truck is sitting at 12 inches from the floor to the bottom of the frame and the chassis is sitting at 9 inches at the crossmember just in front of the wheels, I will lower the front to match, I might have to raise the back so it sits at 10 inches front to back, all in all I am happy with the truck being a little lower than it sits now.

In reply to MulletTruck:

That's turning out amazing!

Well this is significantly more radical than I anticipated!