Grand Vitara gets custom made skid plates

narayan · 16th March 2008, 18:41

wow ..Great install

the first few pictures also shows clearly the uniqueness of the GV CHASSIS - which marries a monocoque and ladder frames inbuilt in the monocoque.. ( i wonder whether this is only used in GV or in any other "soft roader " also )..

Samurai - does the ride become very noisy over pebbled roads ? with those pebbles banging against the sheets (im sure that must be music to your ears ) but still is it too annoying or within limits ?

hondadude · 16th March 2008, 19:42

Amazing narration of the complete install. You will indeed prove to the naysayers that GV is a true off-roader

theMAG · 16th March 2008, 22:00

Samurai,

Any problems of resonance vibrations with the metal plates??

IronWolf · 17th March 2008, 00:42

Congrads Samurai. You said you never did any modifications? This job looks like you have about 10 years of experience doing Skid plates.

Most impressed with the U-shaped steel bracket to mount the rear skid plates. Looks like a part from a parts catalog.

I feel like I know nothing about cars when I read such posts :(

Brilliant job, Sam.

hellstar · 17th March 2008, 08:06

Amazing example of ingenuity , way to go Samurai !

Congrats on you all terrain ready GV ! Happy Off roading

vikram_d · 17th March 2008, 09:10

In my opinion you should have used SS checkered plates for this as they are much stronger and also will not corrode. The down side of them is they weigh 3 times as much.

PS: Just found out that aluminium checkered plate is also available. This plate 2.5 times stronger than a normal plate with about 10% more weight.

Samurai · 17th March 2008, 09:25

Thanks guys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by narayan

Samurai - does the ride become very noisy over pebbled roads ? with those pebbles banging against the sheets (im sure that must be music to your ears ) but still is it too annoying or within limits ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by theMAG

Any problems of resonance vibrations with the metal plates??

I haven't driven it around in various road and off-road conditions yet. You'll have to wait for this data.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronWolf

Congrads Samurai. You said you never did any modifications? This job looks like you have about 10 years of experience doing Skid plates.

But, I didn't do the work, it was those couple gentlemen from the local M.A.S.S.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d

PS: Just found out that aluminium checkered plate is also available. This plate 2.5 times stronger than a normal plate with about 10% more weight.

We had so much trouble bending this sheet, how are we supposed to bend a sheet 2.5 times stronger? As I mentioned before, we needed a good compromise between strength and flexibility. The sheet should be flexible enough to let the chassis twist as required.

esteem_lover · 17th March 2008, 09:30

Nicely done samurai. Also great to know that your local maruti garage has taken so much interest in this project, makes it a first of its kind. I guess it is time to bring the GV to kelambakkam.

hydrashok · 17th March 2008, 09:43

Congrats, Samurai! Now you've got an off-roader you can drive anywhere and back!

You're lucky to have such dedicated (and interested) folks at your A.S.S..

And thanks for that great pictorial. Now I too know what skidplates are, and what they are for

All the best with stage 2

vikram_d · 17th March 2008, 09:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

We had so much trouble bending this sheet, how are we supposed to bend a sheet 2.5 times stronger? As I mentioned before, we needed a good compromise between strength and flexibility. The sheet should be flexible enough to let the chassis twist as required.

It will be easy to bend if you heat the sheet using a blow torch. Makes life a lot easier.

Prithvi · 17th March 2008, 09:55

Congrats to you on the excellent job. My hats off to the guys at Maruthi for doing this for you. They really need to be appreciated for going out of their way to do this. Maybe other GV owners can get their cars done at the same place and Maruthi charge them a small premium for doing a fantastic job.

blueraven316 · 17th March 2008, 10:00

WOW!! looks like a neat job and a good upgrade for the underbelly.
Happy offroading !

razor4077 · 17th March 2008, 10:10

Very nice job Samurai. I must say it was very nice of the MUL folks to help like they did. I wish the A.S.S's I deal with (pun intended?

) were half as accommodating and professional.

Happy off-roading! Now you can drive with impunity like those Jeeps!

Su-47 · 17th March 2008, 11:04

Congrats Samurai.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d

It will be easy to bend if you heat the sheet using a blow torch. Makes life a lot easier.

That sounds like a good tip. Thanks!

viper · 17th March 2008, 11:05

Hi Samurai,

Excellent narration and pics. Very nicely executed job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d

In my opinion you should have used SS checkered plates for this as they are much stronger and also will not corrode. The down side of them is they weigh 3 times as much.

PS: Just found out that aluminium checkered plate is also available. This plate 2.5 times stronger than a normal plate with about 10% more weight.

I second that but anyways its already done. You will now have to see how the skid plates take on abuse from rocks as mud is a different ground. All the best to you.

Viper

16th March 2008, 18:41	#16
narayan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,114 Thanked: 2,372 Times View My Garage	wow ..Great install the first few pictures also shows clearly the uniqueness of the GV CHASSIS - which marries a monocoque and ladder frames inbuilt in the monocoque.. ( i wonder whether this is only used in GV or in any other "soft roader " also ).. Samurai - does the ride become very noisy over pebbled roads ? with those pebbles banging against the sheets (im sure that must be music to your ears ) but still is it too annoying or within limits ?
	() Thanks

16th March 2008, 19:42	#17
hondadude Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,044 Thanked: 69 Times	Amazing narration of the complete install. You will indeed prove to the naysayers that GV is a true off-roader
	() Thanks

16th March 2008, 22:00	#18
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	Samurai, Any problems of resonance vibrations with the metal plates??
	() Thanks

17th March 2008, 00:42	#19
IronWolf Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Benga-loo-ru Posts: 1,569 Thanked: 45 Times View My Garage	Congrads Samurai. You said you never did any modifications? This job looks like you have about 10 years of experience doing Skid plates. Most impressed with the U-shaped steel bracket to mount the rear skid plates. Looks like a part from a parts catalog. I feel like I know nothing about cars when I read such posts :( Brilliant job, Sam.
	() Thanks

17th March 2008, 08:06	#20
hellstar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,072 Thanked: 44 Times	Amazing example of ingenuity , way to go Samurai ! Congrats on you all terrain ready GV ! Happy Off roading
	() Thanks

17th March 2008, 09:10	#21
vikram_d Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,427 Thanked: 1,185 Times	In my opinion you should have used SS checkered plates for this as they are much stronger and also will not corrode. The down side of them is they weigh 3 times as much. PS: Just found out that aluminium checkered plate is also available. This plate 2.5 times stronger than a normal plate with about 10% more weight. Last edited by vikram_d : 17th March 2008 at 09:12.
	() Thanks

17th March 2008, 09:30	#23
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	Nicely done samurai. Also great to know that your local maruti garage has taken so much interest in this project, makes it a first of its kind. I guess it is time to bring the GV to kelambakkam.
	() Thanks

17th March 2008, 09:43	#24
hydrashok Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In my Office Posts: 2,528 Thanked: 17 Times View My Garage	Congrats, Samurai! Now you've got an off-roader you can drive anywhere and back! You're lucky to have such dedicated (and interested) folks at your A.S.S.. And thanks for that great pictorial. Now I too know what skidplates are, and what they are for All the best with stage 2
	() Thanks

17th March 2008, 09:55	#26
Prithvi BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 302 Thanked: 25 Times	Congrats to you on the excellent job. My hats off to the guys at Maruthi for doing this for you. They really need to be appreciated for going out of their way to do this. Maybe other GV owners can get their cars done at the same place and Maruthi charge them a small premium for doing a fantastic job.
	() Thanks

17th March 2008, 10:00	#27
blueraven316 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,110 Thanked: 19 Times View My Garage	WOW!! looks like a neat job and a good upgrade for the underbelly. Happy offroading !
	() Thanks

17th March 2008, 10:10	#28
razor4077 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,882 Thanked: 298 Times View My Garage	Very nice job Samurai. I must say it was very nice of the MUL folks to help like they did. I wish the A.S.S's I deal with (pun intended? ) were half as accommodating and professional. Happy off-roading! Now you can drive with impunity like those Jeeps!
	() Thanks