[R32_GTR]

Hi Guys,

A family friend has a Mahindra classic that is rotting away to glory.... (figuratively speaking)

I would highly appreciate it if you guys could point me in the right direction for carrying out the following requirements...

1. Engine replacement - preferably a scorpio or bolero motor, costs, place to get it etc..
2. Drivetrain is intact but i am guessing that it would require some work with the new motor and tranny..
3. some decent resto work on the interiors with some new / used seats..
4. Timeslines - how early can i start work on this with my minimal involvement. (Got another project going on and its far from complete :()

Can the jeep gurus help here with costs and jeep specialist's contact details...

Is there a one shop stop for doing a decent job at a reasonable price?


I'll post some pics of the jeep soon..and can put up the pictorial posts here..

Appreciate all the help that i can get...Don't mind someone else taking this up as a project in Mumbai!!! Unless parting with it is going to be a problem..

Thanks heaps..

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by R32_GTR

1. Engine replacement - preferably a scorpio or bolero motor, costs, place to get it etc..
2. Drivetrain is intact but i am guessing that it would require some work with the new motor and tranny..
3. some decent resto work on the interiors with some new / used seats..
4. Timeslines - how early can i start work on this with my minimal involvement. (Got another project going on and its far from complete :()

1. The 2112 cc engine is a good one. Easy to work on and has enough power. If you dont mind spending upwards of 1 lakh for engine and transmission we can try and get hold of a used XD3P engine. GTO here has done such a replacement. But if you dont do it, will save a lot of cash.

2. Again drivetrain is easy to work upon.

3. Again can be done. There are lot of options available.

4. I can do the project for you but that will involve taking the Jeep to Goa. My good friend has a small garage where we rebulid a VW Bay Window recently. Its not a professional garage as he has stopped doing any work for money. More as a hobby. My Classic is presently maintained by the same guy.

Is it for sale? If yes, do let me know. Even if it is not i wouldnt mind trying to get it back to shape.

The catch: Timelines may be strecthed as i have a job in Bangalore and go down only for a couple of weekends every month to Goa.

Also i am no guru, but have driven a Classic and maintained it as well for 5 years now. We had totally stripped and build it back twice. Once to learn and second time to make some changes.

Do let me know.

[Sabareesh]

Hi R32,

Is the vehicle in running condition ??
Why do you want to change the engine ??

I am in process of restoring my JEEP (Mahindra CJ500 D). I would suggest to leave the engine as it is if its working fine. Do not spend unnecessarily on the engine transplant. Instead spend on the mechanicals and get the vehicle running.

Once you have used it for some months, go for the Body / Seat work etc. Please do post the pics so that the veterans here can guage the work and guide you accordingly.

Regarding Engine transplant, GTO recently plonked in Bolero's 2.5 Liter engine in his Classic. His thread would be a bible for you.

Here it is :- http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-of...back-road.html

Apart from this, you can also refer couple of more threads on JEEP Restoration & Care

My JEEP's on-going restoration - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-of...-4x4-jeep.html

V-16's on-going restoration - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-of...-now-what.html

How to live with a CJ340 or similar JEEP by Samurai - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-of...ilar-jeep.html


Since you are from Mumbai, you can contact Milestone located in Parel. I believe GTO's vehicle was also taken care by them.

[suren181]

The following link is of GTO's Classic. I am sure you should be able to get loads of info from there and from the contributors in that thread. Why not try there?

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-of...back-road.html

[Kandisa]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

4. I can do the project for you but that will involve taking the Jeep to Goa. My good friend has a small garage where we rebulid a VW Bay Window recently. Its not a professional garage as he has stopped doing any work for money. More as a hobby. My Classic is presently maintained by the same guy.

Is it for sale? If yes, do let me know. Even if it is not i wouldnt mind trying to get it back to shape.

.

There you are. What else can one expect. Man its really hard to believe how far the jeepers will go to help others just for the sake of jeeps. Hats off to people like you. Very soon there will be a post from GTO also, I am sure.

[GTO]

R32_GTR, is the Jeep in Mumbai? If so, drop me a PM. Would love to have a look in person and make my recommendations. Anything to get another Classic back on the road. If your friend wants to check my Jeep out, simply drop a PM. It typically spends three weekdays in the Churchgate area so you guys could drop by any part of the day.

You mention that this Classic is rotting away to glory. Is it in running condition or has it been standing still for a coupla months / years? Here is what I suggest to making her a true “Classic” again:

Body:
Cheap Option : Tinwork on most parts and replacement only where necessary. Probably around 30,000 including a paint job.

Expensive Option (Recommended) : The climate in Mumbai takes its toll on older cars; rust return is inevitable. A CJ3B tub + body parts barely costs 25 – 45 grand (depending where you get it from). If you want to get her back to new, I suggest getting rid of the old body altogether. We can have a brand new one fitted, with prograde anti-rust treatment prior to painting. Fit & finish will be as good as new (if not better).

Engine
Cheap Option (Recommended): Rebuild your existing 2.1 diesel. The XDP is an awesome engine for offroading and has decent enough pep for the city. It runs out of breath on the highway, yes, but Classics aren’t built for high speed cruising. An engine rebuild would cost you in the region of 40,000 and would last for atleast another 75,000 - 100,000 kms.

Expensive Option : A new engine. Don’t go anywhere near a Scorpio engine for the Classic; it is too heavy, the chassis will need to be substantially modified and there will be a ton of mating issues. Gaurav has successfully fitted a Scorpio mill in his CJ340 (look up his report thread) but he insists that his Jeep is only a test-bed. I can tell you that such an install will spend a majority of the year in the garage itself. The other brand new engine option is the 2.5 XD3P (Bolero motor) that I have installed in my Jeep : Fantastic engine, 90% similar to the 2.1 XDP (is an evolution of the same). However, the main reason I opted in on the 2.5 XD3P is that I had already disposed off my 2.1 two years back.

Mechanicals:

Service the gearbox, 4x4 tranny and diffs. Suspension & brake overhaul is relatively cheap too. If your Classic is using its original (and 10 year old) wiring harness, I suggest replacing it with a brand new one for 5,000 bucks.

Interiors:

Refurb’ing the seats would probably cost you about 6,000. Not much else in the interiors to attend to!

Timelines - how early can I start work on this with my minimal involvement. (Got another project going on and it’s far from complete :()

You could start as early as next week itself. Plan on anywhere between a 45 day job (with existing engine) to 90 days (new engine + body etc.).

Is there a one shop stop for doing a decent job at a reasonable price?

Milestone (Mahindra Authorized) : That’s where my Jeep has been maintained since a decade. Outstanding quality of work. Expensive, but well worth it if you want a pro-grade job.

I would suggest to leave the engine as it is if it’s working fine. Do not spend unnecessarily on the engine transplant. Instead spend on the mechanicals and get the vehicle running.

Absolutely! That’s why I recommended the cheaper option wherein you rebuild your current 2.1 (if required). Stock is stock. Period. The temptation for more power can get overwhelming at times, but remember that the CJ3B is NOT built for speed. Focus instead on reliability, torque, robustness and offroadability….all of which you will get with rebuilding your 2.1.

[R32_GTR]

Thanks a ton guys..

The jeep is in Bombay and I will be going to see it this evening..Will get some pics..

It is in running condition but the motor is very sick..extremely noisy apparently.

• How much will a new / used XD3P (motor+tranny)cost? how much to get it in place? Will the 4X4 will be active with this conversion?
• Breaks and suspension will be overhauled and/or replaced if need be..
• Paint job and some replica recaros in black will follow once mechanicals are completed.
• Wheels and tires will also be considered.

P.S. Budget is in and around Rs100,000

Cheers.

[R32_GTR]

Im not quite sure if this is a proper Mahindra classic...took a pic of the vin/chassis plate also, just so u guys can know which workhorse this is...

Notes:

Noisy!!

Drives well - Clutch pedal is too hard, steering wheel is heavy, squeaky noises all around, 4WD still works fine

Plenty of rust - surface, under carraige, enginebay..all over..

The owner wants to start work ASAP and is willing to spend as much as required to get her back in shape..He still drives her daily to work and back...a good 16Kms daily!!

[GTO - Touring]

Originally Posted by R32_GTR

Notes:

Noisy!!

Drives well - Clutch pedal is too hard, steering wheel is heavy, squeaky noises all around, 4WD still works fine

Just like any other normal Jeep Yup, it's a Classic alright and seems to be in better shape than I originally thought. How many kms has the engine run in total? 1 lac rupees odd sounds like a decent budget to get her back in tip-top shape.

The first thing we'd need to do is get rid of those god-awful custom seats! Yuck.

You want to drop by in the second half of the coming week? Drop a PM and we'll take it from there.

[amit V8]

R32_GTR, the way you described the jeep is way different than what i see. its good, but looks bad with those alloys, seats.
btw is there any mod done to the axles, because the tyres look protruded inwards. service the motor, or else this thing will be history soon.
what i think is an overhaul of the motor & a new silencer pipe will reduce the noise. also check the pinions of the steering, if they are ok then its the non power steering thats creating the problem to you. but jeeps are always more enjoyable without a PS.

[R32_GTR]

GTO,

The owner picked her up as if for 25k, some 4 years back from a guy who worked at M&M.. (The not so tasteful mods - most cosmetic were carried out by the previous owner) - Except for the New Zealand flag on the hood ornament. The seats are awful and it felt like riding a horse without a saddle..I'd be ****ting bricks if i corner this thing at over 20kmph...would slide off the vehicle all together with no door and all..

AmitV8,

This is my first experience with a jeep of this kind...and it does feel like a lot to live with..As compared to a modern day SUV..this is in bad shape and I am assuming that the owner wants her to behave like a modern day SUV..

Power is not the issue - She's got 70,000 on the clock..It is reliability and smoothness that he seeks, the oomph factor is sought by moi!! So she requires a new heart ASAP.

Rust is another issue..I guess a new body seems like a great idea with aluminum floor pans all around..I am not sure if the collapsible windscreen can be replaced with a new one as there is serious rust / cracks on the "A" pillar..(if it makes sense in a jeep)

Wheels and tires will be changed for sure..currently shes on 215/75 15"..MRF's with a lot of thread left on them.

Air-con is something that he would like to have...if not a fan/blower would do..

He is keen on keeping her forever and so does not mind spending what is required..I might get to use her while he is away

Work can start early next week...moolah ready, uncle ready, i'm ready..The jeep is begging for it already!!

Cheers..

[Spitfire]

First strip the body completely. I am thinking there is a lot of rust hiding in there. Rust is a big killer especially if you are on the coastline. Get the body treated for rust.

Try and get a good set of alloys. I run wired wheels but it gets really difficult to clean them after a round of mud plugging. For the tyres dont go above 235. The engine makes very little power, once you hit 80kmph it wont go beyond that. Tyre noise is an issue too since you have no doors or windows.

This jeep along with the CJ340 its direct brother are very tough jeeps. You or your friend will always want to drive this even though you might have a luxury car in your garage.

Note: Whatever you may do to his Jeep it will never be anywhere close to a modern day SUV. If some garage tells you they can, run away.

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by R32_GTR

..... Wheels and tires will be changed for sure..currently shes on 215/75 15"..MRF's with a lot of thread left on them.

........ Work can start early next week...moolah ready, uncle ready, i'm ready..The jeep is begging for it already!!

Looks like a great project in the making. Nothing like restoring a 4x4 and I think we have some 3-4 jeep projects already underway at T-BHP.

and hey, if you eventually buy new set of wheels for the Classic, I am ready to take the existing set of 5 wheels (alloys). I think that they are the same size as that for a Gypsy and are of a design similar to the OE one that comes with Samurai's the world over.

Originally Posted by Spitfire

... Note: Whatever you may do to his Jeep it will never be anywhere close to a modern day SUV. If some garage tells you they can, run away.

Very true. Be careful with this aspect.

[R32_GTR]

I have been reading up on all the links posted below..and a lot of these terms including model (series numbers) seem like low flying planes!!!

but i am slowly getting there...

I work monday to friday and only get weekends off where i devote sometime to my own project...among other things... now this!!

• Where can I find a motor/tranny - the XD3P to be precise..
• Will I have to go to M&M for the new body shell?
• I have my sources for all the cosmetics, although need some recommendations for a new removable soft-top.

GTO, I dont mind meeting up this weekend if you are free...

Cheers..

[GTO - Touring]

Originally Posted by R32_GTR

The owner picked her up as if for 25k, some 4 years back from a guy who worked at M&M..

Highway robbery! Thats a deal if I ever saw one.

This is my first experience with a jeep of this kind...and it does feel like a lot to live with..

Certainly difficult to live with. But once she gets in your blood, you won't be able to live without her.

It is reliability and smoothness that he seeks, the oomph factor is sought by moi!! So she requires a new heart ASAP.

Where can I find a motor/tranny - the XD3P to be precise..

The XD3P is based on the 2.1 and you will NOT find it to be any more refined (not much atleast). The sound and behaviour are near identical. My suggestion : don't keep refinement as a top priority because you will never get it in such an old Jeep. If the engine has run a genuine 70K, I'd suggest retaining it. Rebuild only if necessary and if the compression test asks for one.

Rust is another issue..I guess a new body seems like a great idea with aluminum floor pans all around..

After having a look at the pictures, I don't think a new body is required. As Spitfire suggested, stripping & tinwork seems to be the way to go.

I am not sure if the collapsible windscreen can be replaced with a new one as there is serious rust / cracks on the "A" pillar..(if it makes sense in a jeep)

Yup, windscreen frame readily available with M&M.

Air-con is something that he would like to have...if not a fan/blower would do..

He can check out the air-con in my Jeep.

GTO, I dont mind meeting up this weekend if you are free...

Sounds good. Come by churchgate on saturday.