My MM550XD rebuild

4x4 loaded · 19th March 2009, 02:38

great work AK

. Even i am looking for a jeep for the last few months. will be glued to this thread.

Alfa_Kilo · 23rd March 2009, 03:22

All the mechanicals have been overhauled and the chassis is ready to accept the body. The only thing remaining is the exhaust pipe.

PS: Avoid painting the chassis 'chemical sludge' blue.

bigman · 23rd March 2009, 03:28

Looks good, how far are you with the body ?

Any reason why you should not paint chemical blue ? I think a few of us have our chassis painted black. But if you ever get a leak then a blue or green chassis can aid in finding the source.

Also those two tubular pieces on either side are they the side step bars ?

Alfa_Kilo · 23rd March 2009, 03:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigman

Looks good, how far are you with the body ?

Any reason why you should not paint chemical blue ? I think a few of us have our chassis painted black. But if you ever get a leak then a blue or green chassis can aid in finding the source.

Good point.
But it looks like old plastic decaying in the sun at a landfill site.

Alfa_Kilo · 31st March 2009, 00:15

Hi,

I installed the tub today. It must be said that the body is very poorly designed, especially the mounting points. It also has too many moisture traps welcoming rust.

The transmission

vishwaschettri · 31st March 2009, 00:30

Nice nerf bars. What color have you decided on? Hope to see the final product soon.

cheers
vishwas

Alfa_Kilo · 31st March 2009, 00:45

Thanks
The colour is matt off-white. I got the body painted off the chassis so that paint would reach the areas normally covered by joints and panels.

vinod_nookala · 31st March 2009, 12:44

Alfa kilo,
What kind of body beds are you using? Also what are the parts that you have changed in the transfer case?

Alfa_Kilo · 31st March 2009, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

Alfa kilo,
What kind of body beds are you using? Also what are the parts that you have changed in the transfer case?

The military 550 has thicker body mounting bushes compared to the civil version, and these bushes are shared with the pickup. I am using a pickup kit on my vehicle.
The 550 has 15 mountings including one for the grill and two bushes which are not bolted down.

I changed all bearings, oil seals and speedo pinion in the TCase. I also added a transmission handbrake and PTO.

vinod_nookala · 31st March 2009, 13:57

Alfa kilo,
Whats the cable running around your transmission?

bigman · 31st March 2009, 14:22

I know it is only visual but the blue side bars stick out like a sore thumb with the white tub. Do you plan to paint them black or any other colour ?

Brutus · 31st March 2009, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

Alfa kilo,
Whats the cable running around your transmission?

Thats the clutch cable.

Alfa_Kilo · 31st March 2009, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigman

I know it is only visual but the blue side bars stick out like a sore thumb with the white tub. Do you plan to paint them black or any other colour ?

Yeah, I'll get it done black. The blue has turned out to be quite bad.

DHABHAR.BEHRAM · 1st April 2009, 12:08

Dear Vinod - ref your query in post 40 above, the cable is the clutch cable developed for RHD vehicles providing a direct connection to the clutch fork without using the old clutch cross shaft. As the original fork for RHD vehicles was on the right side of the transmission, the clutch cable radius was reducing so LHD fork was used for RHD application and standardized. It was developed for the Armada and deployed across models. However, now everything is obsolete as all vehicles have hydraulic clutch actuation.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Alfa_Kilo · 1st April 2009, 14:26

Somehow I trust the cable links more than hydraulic clutch actuators. I have always had bad experiences with the oil line being torn off and pistons failing.

19th March 2009, 02:38	#31
4x4 loaded BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 138 Thanked: 13 Times	great work AK . Even i am looking for a jeep for the last few months. will be glued to this thread.
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 03:22	#32
Alfa_Kilo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jaipur Posts: 328 Thanked: 13 Times	All the mechanicals have been overhauled and the chassis is ready to accept the body. The only thing remaining is the exhaust pipe. PS: Avoid painting the chassis 'chemical sludge' blue.
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 03:28	#33
bigman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NA Posts: 1,225 Thanked: 94 Times	Looks good, how far are you with the body ? Any reason why you should not paint chemical blue ? I think a few of us have our chassis painted black. But if you ever get a leak then a blue or green chassis can aid in finding the source. Also those two tubular pieces on either side are they the side step bars ? Last edited by bigman : 23rd March 2009 at 03:33.
	() Thanks

31st March 2009, 00:15	#35
Alfa_Kilo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jaipur Posts: 328 Thanked: 13 Times	Hi, I installed the tub today. It must be said that the body is very poorly designed, especially the mounting points. It also has too many moisture traps welcoming rust. The transmission
	() Thanks

31st March 2009, 00:30	#36
vishwaschettri BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Delhi Posts: 344 Thanked: 467 Times	Nice nerf bars. What color have you decided on? Hope to see the final product soon. cheers vishwas
	(1) Thanks

31st March 2009, 00:45	#37
Alfa_Kilo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jaipur Posts: 328 Thanked: 13 Times	Thanks The colour is matt off-white. I got the body painted off the chassis so that paint would reach the areas normally covered by joints and panels.
	() Thanks

31st March 2009, 12:44	#38
vinod_nookala Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,737 Thanked: 431 Times View My Garage	Alfa kilo, What kind of body beds are you using? Also what are the parts that you have changed in the transfer case? Last edited by vinod_nookala : 31st March 2009 at 12:46.
	() Thanks

31st March 2009, 13:57	#40
vinod_nookala Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,737 Thanked: 431 Times View My Garage	Alfa kilo, Whats the cable running around your transmission?
	() Thanks

31st March 2009, 14:22	#41
bigman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NA Posts: 1,225 Thanked: 94 Times	I know it is only visual but the blue side bars stick out like a sore thumb with the white tub. Do you plan to paint them black or any other colour ?
	() Thanks

1st April 2009, 12:08	#44
DHABHAR.BEHRAM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 3,059 Thanked: 5,407 Times	Dear Vinod - ref your query in post 40 above, the cable is the clutch cable developed for RHD vehicles providing a direct connection to the clutch fork without using the old clutch cross shaft. As the original fork for RHD vehicles was on the right side of the transmission, the clutch cable radius was reducing so LHD fork was used for RHD application and standardized. It was developed for the Armada and deployed across models. However, now everything is obsolete as all vehicles have hydraulic clutch actuation. Best regards, Behram Dhabhar
	() Thanks

1st April 2009, 14:26	#45
Alfa_Kilo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jaipur Posts: 328 Thanked: 13 Times	Somehow I trust the cable links more than hydraulic clutch actuators. I have always had bad experiences with the oil line being torn off and pistons failing.
	() Thanks