[Iswear]

One more 'Yeti on board'?

Nice story though. I liked that Singapore pic, with the vehicles all strictly following the lane rules. Pretty pic!

[svsantosh]

oh boy, the story is getting murkier - the CJ2A went off and so did the 800, a stint @ singapore and on your return you find a 'crying condition' jeep eh? Let see if that turns out to be 'THE' Classic...
(Psst - what kind of novels do you read, Great 'suspense' writing skills)

[trammway]

Originally Posted by Iswear

Nice story though. I liked that Singapore pic, with the vehicles all strictly following the lane rules. Pretty pic!

This is the longest road in Singapore, the total length of this road is 42.8kms from west to east of Singapore.

This road is well known as PIE (Pan Island Expressway), I was staying in the central Singapore place called "Toa Payoh" just infront of the PIE. I took the picture from my apartment corridor at 11th floor.

[jraj]

Amazing writing skills trammway.
Really enjoying this thread,though I have already EXPLORE(R)ed the entire story from your blog

[vaspro]

Originally Posted by jraj

Amazing writing skills trammway.
Really enjoying this thread,though I have already EXPLORE(R)ed the entire story from your blog

Hey man you have taken away the suspense now everybody will search for the blog and read all story

@Siva, I came across your blog many months ago and infact bookmarked as my reference to learn about Jeeps. However i would like to read the story on this forum, hence urge you to continue.

Cheers!
-Vaspro

[trammway]

Originally Posted by vaspro

@Siva, I came across your blog many months ago and infact bookmarked as my reference to learn about Jeeps. However i would like to read the story on this forum, hence urge you to continue.

Vaspro, Thanks for that message. Actually even someone read my blog they wont get to see what was my mind set during the making of mahindra classic project.

Here the way I present is a mix of tech and person's mindset behind the project. so keep reading.. I bet you wont' regret.

[bdn317]

Originally Posted by GTO

Pics taken last night . Are you looking for any information in particular from the manual?

hi GTO.. not looking for anything particular as such.. but trying to get hold of the manual and the parts catalogue. I think for a vehicle like classic, the parts of which are difficult to source, its better all the classic owners have a copy of the parts catalogue with them. Am just interested to get hold of a manual as well since i couldnt buy a 1st hand classic
can you please somehow help me get hold of a parts catalogue from mahindra and a xerox copy of your classics manual? Let me know if thats possible, will never forget your favour!!

thanks in advance

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by bdn317

but trying to get hold of the manual and the parts catalogue. I think for a vehicle like classic, the parts of which are difficult to source, its better all the classic owners have a copy of the parts catalogue with them.

Have you tried Karnataka Agencies? I am generally able to almost all OE parts through them.

[Baburajs]

Hi Sharath,

Do you have the parts catalogue and manual for CJ340. If you have i may need a copy. yes its off topic . Please forgive

[bdn317]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Have you tried Karnataka Agencies? I am generally able to almost all OE parts through them.

hi samurai, will be contacting you in person within a few days time. Right now busy with my exams. and speaking about Karnataka agencies, they are able to provide only those parts (mainly engine parts) which are common for other jeeps that are presently available like the cl-550 and the major. but if you go asking for some parts which are exclusively for a MM Classic, they say its out of stock and its difficult to source them. i was in search of a lot of parts for my classic as its being mistaken for a cl-340. i cant do much about it as most of the fancy body parts of the classic are not available now. but still my search is on. (i was searching for the side step as one of the side step was broken. recently found a single side step when i had been to vijayawada). I even requested for a parts catalogue here in mangalore. first i was told, it will be in my hands for 350 bucks within a week. its been over 6 months now. No signs of it yet. meanwhile, i had been to vijayawada (A.P.). There i met the service manager of M&M. He had an unopened brand new parts catalogue. he said its easily available for 350 bucks. but since i returned to mangalore the very night, i couldnt ask him to get one for me.

[Samurai]

NO, I don't have a parts catalogue with me. Ok, let's not go off-topic on Siva's thread.

[Cyrus43]

Parts catalogues of older generation vehicles are may be difficult to get. There are parts catalogues in Kandivli though.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[trammway]

After coming back to Chennai from Bangalore before my trip to Japan and Singapore, I also started an online community for Photographers in Chennai. It was a Yahoo group’s online forum to discuss about photography; I called it as “Chennai Photography Club”. Why did I mention it here in Jeeping exercise? Just because I wanted to remind myself that I came for searching a jeep only to fulfill my desire to carry a ladder along with my photography equipment for above eye level shooting. But interest in automobile now changed me fully as to a level where I forgot my photography (I went all the way to start a club for photography once upon a time, and it is now one of the most talked forum for Chennaities.) and sold all the stuff which was bought for above 1.5L investment to raise fund for my future off-road vehicle.

Did I say what happened to the wreck I had seen in the financiers yard ? Oh yeah, after about three to four rounds of visits, I had an instinct saying this is my jeep. This was the Jeep I was looking for some time now. But that is just instinct, impractical; I knew how much of dependency I had on the mechanic’s words and the money it may require for restoring the Jeep.

Again this Jeep is not a special Jeep, when I was thinking this phrase I felt someone asked me “Is it a special Jeep?” I need to confirm with some serious Jeepers about if this jeep is special, but how? Hmm no camera to shoot, but I had my camera mobile, instant pics have been clicked in the entire possible angle.

When I was shooting the front portion of the jeep only I got a impression that this jeep could be a “Mahindra Classic”. Though from far and sides and the top, grill or the rear didn’t say but the face of the Jeep did say it is a Classic as the chromed bull bar was illuminating over the sun rays.

Until then I didn’t even realize that the jeep I saw had spokes wheels. My hands anutomatically dialed that number in my mobile. Other side of the phone I heard a very welcoming warm tone, “Hi Sivakumar, How are you today?” It was none other than our own UBS. I should say he is a Jeep encyclopedia, and he gave me couple of information to identify the Classic. I searched the internet painfully through WAP connection to find little more info about finding Classic.

The collection of what UBS said and my Internet findings to identify a Mahindra Classic is:

Indentifying Mahindra Classic

1. Original classics are CL340 DP 4WD (Not CJ340)
2. Chassis number of CL340 DP/4WD starts with CL340DPCLS4....
3. Produced between year 1996 and 2000 (The first batch of CL340 DP/4WD (M&M Classic) rolled out in Q3 1996 and the last batch of CL340 DP/4WD was in Q2 2000, could be used in conjunction with the RC book)
4. Suspended pedals for gas, break and clutch (Other jeeps will have floor mounted system)
5. Front wheel got Disc break (I bet no other jeeps got prior to this)
6. 1996 to 1997 models came with spokes wheels (Wire wheels) and then Alloy 96-99 Models came with spoke wheels, the alloy wheels were an option from 97-98.
7. Chrome plated 2 piece Front bull bar(actually the bull bar and cover to the bumper are 2 pieces not like the replicas)
8. Filmsy dash board with colorful indicator lights
9. Little wider track than CJ340s
10. Single lever 4WD operations with KMT-90 gearbox (Old jeeps got shafts for 4WD options plus one for normal gears)
11. Rear seat setup came with forward facing seats like Willys MB or CJ2A
12. A nicely designed roll over bar with a little bend towards the sky on the center of the middle pipe.
13. Seat belts on the rollover bar
14. Idling speed switch on the dash board
15. Right to left wiper arms
16. Plastic Rear spacers are bit wider than the MM540 type spacers (one on the read mudguard)
17. Front rear spacers with a carving for small side indicator (the smallest side indicator than in any jeep)
18. Originally availed Red, Black, White and Dark Metallic Green colors
19. Mesh on the grill without a whole for bonnet knob (available for MM540)
20. Front tow hook on the right side
21. Side view mirrors (OVRM) setup from front of windshield with 4 screw mount each side, inside of the 4 wholes in windshield protected with a rectangle metal plate for extra support. (Not seen in any other CJ3B variants)
22. Extra Plastics for the location between fascia and the bumper with Mahindra written on it and neat plastic cover for the windshield joints.
23. Company fitted bucket seats
24. Ignition key on the steering column with steering lock
25. Lamda free wheeling hubs as seen in the Maruti Gypsy
26. Center mounted spare wheel brackets on the tail gate (all other Mahindra models to have it on one side of the door)
27. Three screw sun wiser attachment on the windshield like MM540
28. Servo assisted break operations (booster break)
29. The Emergency break or the Parking break on center of body tub between passenger and driver seats.
30. The air filter inside the engine compartment was fitted on the left side (passenger side) firewall, as to give space for the servo booster of break assembly in the right side (driver side), hence the air filter intake tube in Classic runs over the engine from left to right.
31. And of course a prominent logo on the sides of bonnet saying “CLASSIC" and 4x4 on both the sides of rear of body tub

On detail investigation,I came to the conclusion that Jeep was a sleeping warrior THE “MAHINDRA CLASSIC”. cheers:

I asked the price of the jeep to the consultant, He said the previous owner has to pay 1.65L to Escorts when they seized the vehicle, however now the rate is fixed for 1.3L and no negotiations. I asked him why that too for a Jeep in this condition, but he didn’t say a word to change the prices. It was actually printed sheet he carried for showing the price.
My next call was to a mechanic in Pudupet, who was also taking care of my previous CJ2A in the later term. He fixed an appointment for a day to visit with me to check the Jeep’s condition. By this time I had enough information to check if the Jeep is a classic. I made my mind to procure this jeep and paid the full cash the consultant asked.

Also I made a pact that I will not reveal the information of this finding until I make the Jeep on road, if anyone asks about it also I would make stories to describe.

The next day I took the Mechanic to the place to evaluate the work estimation, the mechanic whom I could totally depend on said after seeing the Jeep that I need to bring the Jeep to his Garage to get the evaluation done. I was okay with it, asked him to help me start the Jeep so I could drive it all the way to his garage.

Looking at the Jeep’s body condition and flattened tyres, He knew it is going to take good amount of physical work to make the jeep started. So he refused to touch the jeep until it comes to his garage. His advice is to tow the Jeep (Towing charge Rs.1,500) for working on the Jeep. I felt it was bit high, as he himself a mechanic who can just try checking the preliminary items before conclusion, but he didn’t do any of it other than just looking from outside. He left the place with Rs.500 as inspection charges, I demanded him for drop at my house from that place. The day was closed without any outcome.

So the next day I visited the yard again, and with the watch man’s help I called on the of road side lorry mechanic for getting the tyres corrected and carrying some diesel in a can, he also helped me cleaning the engine bay and cleared the diesel from the diesel tank. Then we poured the fresh diesel and pumped the fuel intake to reach the diesel pump level.

He was mechanic who spoke a fluent Chennai tamil ;-) After the very first crank with the help of external battery, the Jeep started.

I asked the mechanic I can drive to my home in that condition, I heard him saying this.

to be continued…

[Kandisa]

I am gluedcheers:.Must say this is going on a typical suspense thriller type mode. Carry on man.
-Best regards,

[GTO - Touring]

Trammway you got all of us glued! This CLassic is an absolute diamond in the rough. Didn't you have a Mahindra Classic Blog (in a black background)? I do recollect seeing exactly the same Classic.