[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Kandisa

Any plan to change the rear seats to forward facing ones?

Yes, I need to get suitable seats. Tata Sierra's seats came highly recommended, but not easy to find one.

Originally Posted by GTO

Whoever buys your CJ340 is one lucky dude. You practically built it new aesthetically & mechanically, only to put it on the block eventually!

I drove it around for the photo session this week, and felt very guilty. It really moves on the trail. Yet to develop that connection with the MM550.

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Stick to KMT90, if it is running OK then it is bulletproof.

I replaced the original BA10 with KMT90, obviously I will stick with it. Right now it is very smooth.

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Fit two guard plates below the fuel tank, one below the other and block all holes in them. Tank guards are quite easy to find with the local secondhand parts guy. Remove the fuel tank drain plug and seal it completely by welding. And most important, if the fuel outlet banjo is at the bottom of the tank, replace the tank completely and fit the Thar tank, otherwise you will have to locally fabricate the top outlet in the existing tank. Route all fuel lines inside the C section chassis. Ensure that nothing hangs below the vehicle, nothing means absolutely nothing.

Hmm, this is the tank I have. Vivek has added a metal half pipe on that outlet to protect it.

Originally Posted by Motored Mindset

but what were your personal considerations when dismissing a pre-worshipped Gypsy? This is because your other acquisitions are a petrol GV and a petrol i10 that I'm sure are used for daily running and clock many more miles.

The Gypsy's petrol engine which would through sheer brute power get it out of difficult situations is averse to the 'crawling' ability in a Jeep, but a Thar which was your earlier consideration has very similar characteristics.

I'd like to think myself as a technical offroader. I'd like to think about the technique while approaching every obstacle. So I don't like to brute force, unless that is the only technique that will work. For example, when I drove the Thar in Wayanad OTR, I drove the Thar just like the CJ340. That worked very well. And crawling is my favourite technique, so it had to be a diesel vehicle.

Originally Posted by F150

I could imagine myself going thru the purchase process when reading this report; which is an unique experience only available on TBHP.

Well, I just wrote what happened.

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

Congratulations on the purchase and wish you many happy miles. The Stallion HT looks good.

A few observations -

• Get the rear brake bundy tubes properly routed / clipped.

• Something also looks wrong with your rear left leaf spring, see the bottom plate area. May be the 'U' bolts are different.

• The tail lamp is mounted "ulta" / opposite. Mount it reverse if required.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/4x4-vehicles/1023557d1354823465-hardtop-mm550-family-friendly-offroader-joins-team-bhp-pc040026.jpg

instead of

http://www.team-bhp.com/carpics/mahi...ah-thar-06.jpg

OT-

Originally Posted by arshjeet singh

that's the one. done perfectly. Roplas never looked more appealing.

Sat Sri Akaal praaji, welcome !

Spike

[headers]

Originally Posted by Motored Mindset

The Gypsy's petrol engine which would through sheer brute power get it out of difficult situations is averse to the 'crawling' ability in a Jeep, but a Thar which was your earlier consideration has very similar characteristics.

Not really sir - Some obstacles cannot be done using brute force - We will land in hell!!

IMO. All vehicles have to be modified to some extent to do serious off road. The factory guys do not produce vehicles to that crowd and that is where the THAR has failed.

Where the THAR has succeeded is in bringing back the 540 body / parts bin back to market to delight present 540/550 owners.

A lsd / locker, Lockable cabin to the THAR will at attract many prospective buyers.

Originally Posted by Samurai

Hmm, this is the tank I have. Vivek has added a metal half pipe on that outlet to protect it.

The fuel line is at the bottom - Maybe it needs to be changed like BD suggested!

I have broken this line in the infamous Kelambakkam OTR that you had visited with 8 people on board while coming down

And CONGRATS on your acquisition, I am sure you will be pleased

Personally having owned a CJ3B and a couple of 540s, I could definitely state that the 540 is a more practical offroad machine than the CJ series.

The CJ series on the other hand are more nimble and some abilities of them are unparalleled.

[condor]

DB Sir, / Samurai : will it help to secure these two:



Regarding the rear seat:

Originally Posted by Samurai

Yes, I need to get suitable seats. Tata Sierra's seats came highly recommended, but not easy to find one.

How about getting a comfortable seat, then cut it to size ?
I would suggest to cut from the middle section, so that you can retain the head rest's.

Is this possible ?

EDIT: Will this work: the 2 seater unit ?
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...ml#post2984640

[sriny_blr]

Better Late than Never..
Congrats on your new Aquisition! Family friendly Offroader... wah AC bhi hain !
so that gives us new Thread to follow!
When ever I see a Jimny (here in Kuala Lumpur) reminds me of Offroaders expectation having this little 4W in India.....
Anyway Happy milecrunching to reach far off OTR's !

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Originally Posted by arshjeet singh

that's the one. done perfectly. Roplas never looked more appealing.

Dear Arshjeet - "Jo Bole So Nihaal, Sat Sri Akaal"!

Welcome to TeamBHP, paaji! Previously there were two (me and Pratheesh). Now there are three. I hope everybody learns and benefits, including all of us! Let's make "Jeep Ownership in India" a delightful experience for all TeamBHPians!

Dear Sharath - fuel tank and fuel lines as in the photograph will not work in any OTR. Please correct exactly as I have mentioned. Brake bundy tube condition indicates that the previous owner has not taken care. Please correct.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[IronWolf]

I have been quite silent after I sadly sold my 540 tincan.

This thread revived me back into the forum.

Samurai-San, the passion you have for jeeps just comes out even more on page1 of this thread.

To switch from BA10 to a KMT90
To keep a Roplas and not have a 'G' series registered vehicle look
To transform the std 550 to a Samurai signature vehicle .... It looks like your 340 grew up into a 550

Respect!

I loved the offroad capability, which could only be bettered by the better XD3P. I am sure you will slowly fall more in love with the 550's offroad capability than the 340s.(?) Time will tell

My only questions :
Would a MM550 XD NGCS be much more expensive that the deal you got on this civilian 550?
Also, you running the Geolanders with Tubes ? Or is Vivek running the old GV tires with tubes on another vehicle?

[yamaniac]

Congrats on the Buy Samurai... The jeep looks awesome indeed!

So sorry to see the 340 go! One of the most popular jeep on the t-bhp forums! Wish I had the cash to buy it right now, wouldn't have even give it a second thought! Would have loved to add it in the stable. I have learnt so much from your cj 340. Well I guess all good things really do come to an end. But don't worry, you will still live your dreams with your new acquisition.

I am hooked on to this thread. Wish you all the best and 1000's of beautiful miles ahead.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Congrats Samurai,

The 550 is a joy to drive after the 340 especially for long runs.

Your decision makes me feel vindicated regarding selling my 340 for a 550.

Even i'm interested in the ironman shocks if they do drastically improve ride quality.

[Kandisa]

Originally Posted by Tejas@perioimpl

...Even i'm interested in the ironman shocks if they do drastically improve ride quality.

Dont know how 'drastic' will be the improvement, but by and large people say there is a good difference in the ride quality especially in the rear. Add me to the list of interested folks. If there is a group buy sort of thing i would take a pair.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by condor

Regarding the rear seat:
How about getting a comfortable seat, then cut it to size ?
I would suggest to cut from the middle section, so that you can retain the head rest's.

Seat is one thing I want to do very well, so I will be checking many options.

Originally Posted by sriny_blr

When ever I see a Jimny (here in Kuala Lumpur) reminds me of Offroaders expectation having this little 4W in India.....

Jimny, that word gives me heartburn. Maruti is such as passionless company, they can't do anything out of the box.

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Dear Sharath - fuel tank and fuel lines as in the photograph will not work in any OTR. Please correct exactly as I have mentioned. Brake bundy tube condition indicates that the previous owner has not taken care. Please correct.

Ok, that got added to my list. I have long list of things to do before the next monsoon.

Originally Posted by IronWolf

To transform the std 550 to a Samurai signature vehicle .... It looks like your 340 grew up into a 550

Thanks, but I have a long way to go. This is the first cut.

Originally Posted by IronWolf

Would a MM550 XD NGCS be much more expensive that the deal you got on this civilian 550?

Yes, they are lot expensive and very hard to get.

Originally Posted by IronWolf

Also, you running the Geolanders with Tubes ? Or is Vivek running the old GV tires with tubes on another vehicle?

No, the CJ340 now runs Michelin LTX AT2 on tubes and steel rims. The MM550 gets the Geolandar AT-S on alloys, tubeless of course.

Originally Posted by yamaniac

I have learnt so much from your cj 340. Well I guess all good things really do come to an end.

Even I learned a lot with CJ340. I call it my automobile university.

Originally Posted by Tejas@perioimpl

Even i'm interested in the ironman shocks if they do drastically improve ride quality.

Originally Posted by Kandisa

Dont know how 'drastic' will be the improvement, but by and large people say there is a good difference in the ride quality especially in the rear. Add me to the list of interested folks. If there is a group buy sort of thing i would take a pair.

From what I found out from first-hand users, there is a huge improvement, no more boat kind of handling. It costs 25k for 4 shocks.

[Driving_Nomad]

Congratulations Samurai on the acquisition!! The Jeep looks fantastic and I presume there's way to go yet in modifying it to your taste??
Is that paint color Rocky-Beige (of the Thar)?

I rejected the relocation opportunity in my previous organisation and have taken up an assignment in Bangalore itself!! Team-BHP is blocked in my new office and somehow this thread escaped from popping up on my mobile app!

Did you buy it from a seller in Hulimavu? If yes, does he have other restored 550 Army examples?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Driving_Nomad

Did you buy it from a seller in Hulimavu? If yes, does he have other restored 550 Army examples?

He does, but they all came to his workshop pre-sold. Pre-sold, that's a nice way of saying it, I suppose.

The Army NGCS is so much in demand, the un-restored wrecks gets re-sold immediately after the auction. And they are lot expensive than civilian version.

[blueblooded]

Dear Sharath ,congrats on your new aquisition a thoroughbred MM550 ,a dream machine for all jeep enthusiasts .As many have commented you need to be commended for the your gumption and passion .
praveen singh

[deetjohn]

Congrats Samurai on the MM550. I am very glad. I will get to read a new Jeep story. Whoever gets your CJ will be a lucky one indeed.

What's that with the Hardtop above the front door and windscreen?