[ManMachine]

First of all I would like to SALUTE all the Jeep Gurus, who has restored their Jeep. After looking at all the restoration threads, it can be seen how much pain, money, time and finally FUN it takes for restoring their vehicles.

After watching all these threads. I got stuck on the ‘JEEP WAVE’. I started to look into classifieds and forums. After searching for one month, there was a final barrier CJ3B or MM550. Then I talked to Mr.Arka and finally zeroed to MM550.

After all What are MAN and MACHINE made for ?
My answer would be EACHOTHER.

How It Happened :

I talked to Mr.Srinivasan who is dealing with Army vehicle; he had around 5 Nos. of MM550. 1999 – 2001 Models. I did not like any of his 2000, 2001 Models Class III. My eyes caught the 1999 Model Class II, since it had a clean body with very few rusting and shocked to see the engine missing. But Mr. Srinivasan gave me options that he has 5 XD3P Engines ranging from 2004 to 2007. Mhd. Ali was happy about 2004 and 2007 engines. 2004 XD3P looked clean but not yet decided.

From here I plan to restore it slowly and gradually, and maybe modify it to my preference bit by bit from there on. I also would like to keep the jeep as original and simple as possible.One thing that scares me is that this all restoration process look very scary and I have no background for either the mechanics or the vehicles. Though I have been driving for the past 15 years but all my maintenance etc have been carried out in authorized workshops. But I am counting on the help, guidance and information from the experts and members of Team Bhp, to guide me on my path to acquiring the vehicle of my dream.

Let me upload some pictures of the Beauty.

[aks_karthik]

Great to hear and prepare myself to ride this 4x4.
Congrats too

[Maverick79]

Congrats ManMachine!
Pls share the cost details for getting these body and engine independently. Eagerly waiting for further developments in this thread.
Wish you good luck and have a great 'restoring/ rebuilding' time.

[DeClutch 4X4]

@ Nice Buy pal. happy to see jeepers club growing in size. I was awestruck to see the engine missing in one of the pictures until i read your experience summary. I will be really greatful to you, if you can help me source a XD3P power house for my rig through your contact Mr.Srinivasan you are referring to. Yelp me pal - YELP PLEASE

[lugnut]

Good stuff!

Without the engine it must've been a steal to pick ?

Some gratuitous advice :
With the XD3P - make sure you get the Delphi Fuel Injector Pump to get the most from the engine (I forget the exact model - search around in the forum for it)
If possible grab a compression tester (or grab a mech with that device) when you pick the engine - that should give you a fair idea of how good the engine is / how much work is required -
Focus on getting the mechanical stuff rebuilt solid first - and it usually takes one iteration after build 0 to get things sorted.


All the best !

[ManMachine]

Originally Posted by aks_karthik

Great to hear and prepare myself to ride this 4x4.
Congrats too

Hey ! Karthik any time dude and thanks

Originally Posted by Maverick79

Congrats ManMachine!
Pls share the cost details for getting these body and engine independently. Eagerly waiting for further developments in this thread.
Wish you good luck and have a great 'restoring/ rebuilding' time.

I did not buy the engine and jeep separately. Since the jeep dealer had engines also ranging from 2004 to 2007 (I am not sure). I asked him to close the deal for 1.6L with the engine.

Originally Posted by DeClutch 4X4

@ Nice Buy pal. happy to see jeepers club growing in size. I was awestruck to see the engine missing in one of the pictures until i read your experience summary. I will be really greatful to you, if you can help me source a XD3P power house for my rig through your contact Mr.Srinivasan you are referring to. Yelp me pal - YELP PLEASE

Anytime Declutch. I think he has 5 engines XD3P and also a DCM Toyota engine

Originally Posted by lugnut

Good stuff!

Without the engine it must've been a steal to pick ?

Some gratuitous advice :
With the XD3P - make sure you get the Delphi Fuel Injector Pump to get the most from the engine (I forget the exact model - search around in the forum for it)
If possible grab a compression tester (or grab a mech with that device) when you pick the engine - that should give you a fair idea of how good the engine is / how much work is required -
Focus on getting the mechanical stuff rebuilt solid first - and it usually takes one iteration after build 0 to get things sorted.


All the best !

I cant say it was a steal. But it was sortof ok. 1.6L with the engine. And thanks for the pointing me about the engine. I have asked with Delphi Fuel Injector Pump only.

[ManMachine]

Day 1

Opened the front part of the MM550. As of now the following work has to be carried out.

(1) Left and Right side Knuckle Arm Kingpin bearing - 4 Nos has to be replaced.
(2) Wheel Bearing - Some of Balls Damaged - 3 Nos has to be replaced.
(3) Brake Pads has to be replaced.
(4) Front Disk Brake - some rubbing has to be done - 2 Nos.
(5) kingpin Knuckle pad (kit) to be replaced - 2 nos.
(6) Self motor Dynamo - Serviced.
(7) Alternator - Serviced.
(8) Free wheel Hub to be replaced - 2 Nos.
(9)Top gear bearing,Main shaft bearing, Top gear needle Bearing, Synchronization cone-3 Nos.,Second gear needle,Third gear needle, Counter gear bearing -2nos.,Gear box yolk bearing and complete gearbox seal has to be worked upon.

The (9) part has to be worked upon since, we extracted 5 l of water and 1.5l of oil from the gearbox.

Pictures to follow

[ManMachine]

Here are pictures of all the work carried out on day one

[jeepster]

congrats.

body line is good.

so it should be very straight forward job with some repairs, overhauling & some painting.

thanks for the pics & detailed information, will help people like me who are in the restoration of jeeps as well.

BTW registration cost will be added to 1.7L right?
hows the registering process of an ex-army jeeps there, easy or hard?

rgds,
Nikhil

[ManMachine]

Originally Posted by jeepster

congrats.

body line is good.

so it should be very straight forward job with some repairs, overhauling & some painting.

thanks for the pics & detailed information, will help people like me who are in the restoration of jeeps as well.

BTW registration cost will be added to 1.7L right?
hows the registering process of an ex-army jeeps there, easy or hard?

rgds,
Nikhil

Hi Nikhil ! I paid 1.6L including Registration. We have people who are good at it as well as bad. The person who is going to register my vehicle has a clean paper work on registration since he has good contacts in RTO.

[ManMachine]

Day 2

(1) Leaf Spring - 2 Nos Re-cambered.
(2) In a leaf spring 2 Bushes are involved , one on each end. Eye Pin Bush(Brass) and Silent Block Bush(Metal) (Please correct me if i am wrong) have been replaced.
(3) The whole Eye Pin has to be replaced.(Pictures to follow)
(4) Counter gear - Since water went inside few rusting are there - to be worked upon.
(5) Main shaft - few rusting are visible - Again has to be worked upon.
(6) Needle Bearing - Has to be replaced.
(7) Left and Right Axle Grease packing completed.
(8) Brake Disk - Work completed.

All Pictures to follow.

[ManMachine]

Check the pictures for the previous post

[ManMachine]

Day 3

Front Side Mechanical s apart from engine all work completed. Rear side mechanical s work started.

(1) Gear Box Work completed.
(2) Brake Lining - To be replaced on both rear ends.
(3) Brake Cylinder - To be replaced on both rear ends.
(4) Brake Drum - facing has to be done on lathe on both rear drums.

[ManMachine]

Pictures of work completed and started on day 3

[ManMachine]

Day 5

Finally decided upon xd3p 2007 Engine as the compression was better than the other engines. But it was with Tvs Lucas Fuel Pump, But i saw a Delphi fuel pump in his shop, so i requested him to give that delphi fuel pump. I took both the pump for testing, both the pump failed miserably. I was informed that both the pump has to be repaired and it will cost about Rs.8000/- Then i decided upon the Delphi Fuel Pump.

And i was really happy, when i saw Delphi Fuel injector nozzle in the engine as informed by Mechanic Ali, that these delphi Fuel injection nozzle are rare ones. I am totally unaware of all these points. Jeep Gurus please throw light on these Nozzles ???