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-   -   Gypsy on Steroids -- The SPoA Project. EDIT: Stage-2 Started now.. (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-technical/54879-gypsy-steroids-spoa-project-edit-stage-2-started-now.html)

Friends,

Wish me luck, as this weekend begins the SPoA (Spring Perched over Axles) Project.

Just few simple requirements:

• Increase height so that wheels can travel more while articulating

• Increased height to go a bit extreme on pure off-roading. Till now we have been doing just simple jungle trail stuff.

• Have more flex

• Look 'as mean as possible' &

• Be as 'mean as possible' on the trails.

A special Zuk that has inspired me for this project is:


Read about this Zuk here: Suzuki Samurai Offroad Photo Gallery

Hopefully, my Gypsy, which looks like this currently will be in good shape in 1-2 weeks.


Will keep this thread updated as the project goes on



Cheers,

I wish you all the luck...this is going to be a tricky one.

All the very best Khan sir. :thumbs up Needs a good amount of engineering.
So no recce this weekend :D

Best Of Luck Khan, wishing you success in this Project and the only thing is Shoes will not be matching after the project is completed :D

Isn't that Zuki a SWB? Remember seeing Sidekicks like that in the US.
Best of luck with your project. Looking forward to the end result.

Cheers

here's wishing you all the luck khan !

Thanks guys. Much appreciated & needed :)

True. While earlier mods were 'getting parts' from outside and then just putting them here, this project is different from earlier ones as EVERYTHING will be custom fabricated & then installed.

Even with the earlier projects I had my share of spending endless nights of research & then time at workshops, this one will be many times over involved.

The good thing is that we know what all is involved and what all has to be done but still this will be very tricky as we don't have measurements for ANYTHING as yet. All the measurements for the parts to be fabricated will be done ONLY after the project starts and dismantling of the axles is done.

This is what all has to be fabricated/procured

• Custom leaf spring perches/mounts. And it is not as simple as getting one fabricated and then replicating it 4 times. The size of driver's side/passenger side front perches would be different.

• Extended brake lines. Have to either search for a vehicle whose couplers are same as Gypsy but longer in length. Else, will have to get custom fabricated at SP road.

• U Bolts. If the stock one's don't work, then need longer U bolts. Easy to find.

• Propeller shaft spacers. With the lift, the shaft will become short. So would need custom spacers -- both for front/rear

• Steering: The MOST COMPLEX of all things. Options include a z-link, cross-over, OTT . Will decide when we reach that stage.

Other things that could possibly be required

• Longer dampers/shocks

• Custom mounts for long dampers/shocks

And loads of patience, cutting chai & smoke + being ready for the 'unexpected'

There's a SPoA gypsy parked next to my house. Absolutely amazing. The owner has also maintained it very well and it has a ton of offroading accessories.

The same owner also has a Pajero heavily modified for offroading. Both front and rear bumpers in the pajero have been removed to improve approach/departure angle.

Let me try to take pics and see if I can talk to the owner.

All the best for your project Shahnawaz. Will watch this thread closely.

Wow. Would like to see it in person and check out how it has been done.

Meanwhile, if possible, get me pictures of the following:

• Front part -- where the steering stabilizer/tie rod & drag link is there. from multiple angles. Especially where they are mounted at the wheels section

• Front brake lines for disc brakes.

• front/rear propeller shafts

where do the spacers go? on the flange that connects the shaft to the diff?

• You also need to look into the tilt angle of the prop which is going to be larger than before. Higher angles can result in premature failure.
• Since you travel is the same as before, longer damper is unnecessary. Maybe easier to move the lower mount up or the upper mount down.

Ah.. nice. I was thinking what happened to Khan saab, happy already with the crawler and tyres....

I was thinking of an SPoA conversion for the classic too but the amount of work required and my apprehensions about the garage's capability made me think otherwise.

Dinar another member here knows about a CL340 which has a SPoA and was used quite frequently in the mining areas of Goa.

Best of Luck for your project.

Best of luck, khan_sultan !

@ Khan - I think "extreme power's" gypsy also has the same setup. Saw it recently in delhi. I think it was here for the chandigarh OTR. Looks absolutely fab. Try contacting him. It's always better to take someone's opinion who has done it before rather than re-inventing the wheel.
Best of luck for your project. I will be closely following it, am in love with your gypsy.

cheers
vishwas

Hello bhai,
A friend of ours Zak has done similar modifications in Bangalore,call me let's try and meet him.Might prove helpful in your modification.
Cheers
Jammy

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