[sagar iswalkar]

Hey Santosh, Snorkel looks way awesome! Nice touch. Also its good to see you retained those original Grand decals. Its rare to see those on an armada these days.

[svsantosh]

In a recent OTR got this damage in a rare obstacle, not the one you encounter every OTR. Even 540's struggled here. Got it fixed the next day with a different design, hope it survives another OTR.

[svsantosh]

Thanks to Pratheesh here I got 2 of the 201N's (1st in list) for my AG for a softer ride. I hope they improve the bumps a bit. Costed 1030Rs each from saradha auto, opp urvashi theater, blore.

Also delivered AG to a expert AC mechanic for a B-Pillar Roof AC Blower for middle bench and back seaters, hope it is worth it!!

Results in a few days!

[svsantosh]

Unicla Superior EVAPORATOR COIL Cum Roof mount blower
Part# - SUVC07UQ5878B
Beige color (my choice of Grey to match the interiors was not in stock with the local stockist)







From google, looks like it costs about $70, 3500INR, may be after shipping, national distributor, state level stockist - landing cost to shop owner will be max 7000Rs. WOW!! Good profit margin (even after including plumbing, R134a, etc etc)...

http://intl2008.en.alibaba.com/produ...REY_COLOR.html

[svsantosh]

Unit fit to the roof, position Ok. This was a challenge in any MM LWB type jeep since the driver head is usually right next to the B-Pillar may be behind and not much space for the unit between B and C pillar, hope this serves as a reference. (search TAGs - commander, marshal, armada, bolero roof mount ac).

This can be even done MM THAR (5x0 type body) B-Pillar (just a plumbing work T-joint from compressor and condensor and no major modifications) needed. I personally know a hardtop Thar owner who may be reading this getting ideas. Worth 15K job for people who travel inside a insulated Thar and need cooling for rear people. Unit has a seperate electrical circuit and gas solenoid so wont run unless you switch it on.





--------

Originally Posted by svsantosh

From google, looks like it costs about $70, 3500INR, may be after shipping, national distributor, state level stockist - landing cost to shop owner will be max 7000Rs

I asked Murali (prop) and he was generous enough to reveal he would net around 3.5-4.0K INR from this job as labour (owners profit). So approx 8K for kit, 1K for solenoid valve (non KIT item), 1.5K for Gas refilling, 0.5 for misc switch, wiring, panel work to conceal sides of unit...

[svsantosh]

AG is back with the roof mount AC Blower-Cum-Evaporator job.

Net bill 15K (includes unit, 2 hoses, T Joint from firewall, refilling of R134a coolant gas, solenoid under dash, 2 switches for unit and solenoid, GI Sheet metal custom fabrication for cover sides of unit) - for standard/regular customer cars like innova, tavera, safari and sumo - the manufacturer makes side plastic claddings that are just a screw on, but looks like this may be the 1st time or a very rare time a MM LWB went thru this mod, hence the juggad/custom sheet metal job. I need to paint it or vinyl sticker to cover it.

Perf - It is damn good and full paisa vasool. Switch on both the dash and roof blowers on full blast for 2 minutes and the entire cabin becomes chill, then on switch off/lower speeds- roof unit and use as per ones choice.

[svsantosh]

Got the bolero gas filled '201N' ending part# 8.24" shocks fit on rear. 2063Rs for both from saradha autos, immediate difference in ride comfort, may be the old ones were worn out beyond life. The old ones are supposedly AG front shock part#s as per Spike's database. Thanks a ton mate...

Also made a few personal-choice mods. AG dash didnt give much of ad-hoc storage space such as mini cola bottles, kids feeding bottles, walkietalkie, anything handy...

During my last visit to Janns (famed by samurai and the JCB worklamps) i noticed this antique bus-seat-rear newspaper cum water bottle holder - got it got 150Rs and knew it will help me a lot.

Also felt the need for brighter stop lamps and indicators and picked up the LED ones for 60Rs each any color (red, orange). The stock ones' bulbs gave up on me more than once thanks to antique wiring and non std replacement bulbs so got the LED ones as backup. I know from a 1st hand experience if you cannot spot the car before you in night on NH's - scary exp!!

[svsantosh]

Someone asked me how the plumbing looks for the roof mounted AC blower - thought i will post it here for everyone to see. Its a plumbing job for the ac system at 2 places, low pressure and high pressure side, thats all.




Update - after 27 months of service in AG, the battery died yesterday morning, volt was too low and whirred a slow death after 3 attempts!! Electrician drained out old fluid and topped up with new acid+distwater mix and charged it over night and gave it back, need to check for a few weeks before I take a call for a new battery.

The current one is a Amaron Flo 80AH with 24+24 (extended discount warranty), so under this scheme I get a 45% (approx as of today) discount on a new amaron battery if I decide to go for it, i was quoted Rs.3400 for a Rs.5750 Amaron Hiway 80AH 2 year battery, I decided to wait and wait for a month, the disc % may change a bit.

The way to check if the fluid is weak is do a specific gravity check and in my case clearly the fluid was in red - dead zone. Blue is good, yellow is overcharged do to rectifier fault inside alternator leading to no-auto cut off at 14.2V and going upto 16~V and would cause the battery to bulge in its sides and leading to acid fumes.

The alternator is perfectly fine and charging at 14V while running.

[svsantosh]

After the recent battery down story above ^ I and Mohang_J started researching about alternators and rating, etc etc.

Mohan ended up with this DIY - got a 1500Rs used Indica Petrol (Lsi) 90AH LucasTVS alt. He serviced it all by himself and this is his current setup (notice no vacuum pump).



So I started researching along with Mohan about the current ALT rating setup in my AG and was shocked to learn it was a LucasTVS 55AH only!! No wonder when I put the 2nd ac (coupled with all lights) the battery went dead!



So mohan helped me to this shop called M.Y.Electricals just outside Bommanahalli (Bangy) just before Shell petrol bunk (On service road) and I landed up talking to 'Latheef' owner and a sensible man.



I was offered Rs10,600, Rs8600 lucastvs options for bolero, scorpio - I ended up with this 90Ah MICO BOSCH Alt sold for a Chevy Tavera. Bill warranty - landing cost was 5,000Rs ONLY and I paid 400 for removal refitting of old/new alt, this included 1 long bolt (the old bolt wouldnt fit) - This bolt is the ONLY change in this mod process, rest including clamp, belt all same!



I had to salvage 1 oil pipe (banjo) from old alt since in tavera the hose comes with it seems.



The new alt





Removing old...



Final setup...





Hope this helps wannabe jeepers needing a 90AH alt (or similar) for bigger electrical needs...

[sreejeshmp]

SVS,

What is the diameter of that Snorkel Pipe ? I too planning to make one like this.


- Sreejesh

[svsantosh]

Sree. roughly 2.25Inches, I will check and confirm.

[svsantosh]

Had a pretty terrible day, unwanted issue but not unexpected on a used car!

After finishing up fitting a inclinometer at my local electricians shop (it had a wire for backlight, I got it connected to dash light so it would glow in the night!)



I was walking back to AG and went saw a Pool of oil on the road right below the steering box!! thankfully it was a big leak and not a outright drain situation. Drove it to my mech place and after 2 hours end-to-end got back home. Pretty quick time to remove the MRCBT box, dismantle, take the sample oil seal, find it in local shop, put it back and refill with oil and finish road test!









Oil Seal RANE - 290Rs

Castrol DEX-II (?) Auto transmission/pwr str Oil (1.5Liters) - 420Rs
(system holds 1.2, rest at home).

Labor - 250Rs

Whew, close call!!

[Jerrycan]

Originally Posted by svsantosh

After the recent battery down story above ^ I and Mohang_J started researching about alternators and rating, etc etc.

I was offered Rs10,600, Rs8600 lucastvs options for bolero, scorpio - I ended up with this 90Ah MICO BOSCH Alt sold for a Chevy Tavera. Bill warranty - landing cost was 5,000Rs ONLY and I paid 400 for removal refitting of old/new alt, this included 1 long bolt (the old bolt wouldnt fit) - This bolt is the ONLY change in this mod process, rest including clamp, belt all same!

After Going through this post and PM's to svsanthosh, I got a 90 AH Bosch Alternator, an after market spare for MDi 3200 engine for Rs 3950.00. inclusive of all taxes. Its a direct fit.



The Part No is F 002 G10 516, a 14 V 90 Ampere unit.
You should ask for Bolero DI alternator or by the part no. A similar but lower capacity (75 AH) alternator for XD3P engines (Bolero/Armada/550) costs 8xxx.
Regards

[svsantosh]

Some updates...

A few weeks my friend and his gang took the AG on a 1500Km round trip to munnar, kumarakom, etc. This gave me confidence to plan my easter weekend to ooty tonight with family.

Changed the squeaky front brake pads to new ones

Got a cheap chinese Temp gauge and volt meter
(Volt meter in OE gauge is weak and I am not interested to find a replacement!)

Got a CB Radio cobra brand from USA

[dhanushs]

Originally Posted by svsantosh

Got a cheap chinese Temp gauge and volt meter

Santosh, where did you get these two. Can you please share the cost and source?