My MM550XD rebuild

Alfa_Kilo · 1st February 2009, 23:56

Hi!

I have started a workshop specializing in off-road vehicles in Jaipur. I was earlier working with Tata Motors in Pune, but the jeep bug got the better of me and I have ended up as a grease monkey.

My first project is an ex-army MM550XD which will end up as my daily driver and off-roader.
I bought a '99 550 from delhi and got it trucked down to Jaipur. I will overhauling all the mechanical bits myself.
The vehicle will receive the following upgrades:

33" tyres
The final drive ratio will be changed to 5.875
A shackle lift
Softer rear suspension
The anti-roll bar will be removed
Differential guards
Rock sliders
A roll cage for the driver and co-driver
The fuel tank will be lifted
Snorkel air intake
Water resistant electricals
HID headlamps

The doors have been removed as I found them to be quite a nuisance on my 540. The B pillar will be chopped. Detachable fabric doors will serve as protection from the elements.

I will eventually install a PTO winch and replace the rear LSD with a differential lock.
The vehicle will be capable of fording 1500mm of water.

The jeep is using tyres from my old 540 right now.

Blue Thunder · 2nd February 2009, 09:46

Wow, congrats, Alfa_Kilo . Please do keep us updated continuously on the progress...will be following this thread closely !

Kandisa · 2nd February 2009, 11:21

Thats a great initiative. Will keep a keen eye on your mods to build an off-roader cum daily driver which a 550 is very capable of being.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfa_Kilo

.....
Softer rear suspension
The anti-roll bar will be removed
Differential guards
Rock sliders
A roll cage for the driver and co-driver
The fuel tank will be lifted
....
The doors have been removed as I found them to be quite a nuisance on my 540. The B pillar will be chopped. Detachable fabric doors will serve as protection from the elements....

So you want to remove the B-pillar altogether and install a full-fledged roll cage? The fabric doors will be the half-doors?
What plans do you have to make the rear suspension softer? And pardon my ignorance, i have not seen any differential guards before. It will be a customized fabrication i guess.
Best of luck for your workshop. Hope it will really cater to the needs.

-best regards,

shreyasma · 2nd February 2009, 11:30

Super Mate. All the very best with the project.
Please keep posting pics about the progress

randeep04 · 2nd February 2009, 12:22

Congrats Alfa_Kilo, Do keep us posted on the progress of your 550 and also other vehicles that you work on in your garage.

Cheers !!!!!!!

svsantosh · 2nd February 2009, 12:33

Wow, another Jeep build. Since you said you own the business I think there is a thread to declare your business interests regd cars/tbhp. Check with any MOD about the declaration part...

All the best on thi Jeep. Could you post some cost details? How much did you pay for this Jeep?

harjeev · 2nd February 2009, 12:42

Good to see your rebuild thread at last.
It was nice to meet you at Mayapuri.
Pl also share the cost that you would be incurring in course of your rebuild.

Ricky_3007 · 2nd February 2009, 19:37

Wow Thats Great Alfa Kilo,

All the best to you for your rebuild. I am also rebulding 99 model 550XD .

BTW How much did you pay for this 550? Pls share if you can.

Are 550s still available in Mayapuri? That too in good condition?

Tarkesh

Alfa_Kilo · 2nd February 2009, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kandisa

So you want to remove the B-pillar altogether and install a full-fledged roll cage? The fabric doors will be the half-doors?
What plans do you have to make the rear suspension softer? And pardon my ignorance, i have not seen any differential guards before. It will be a customized fabrication i guess.
Best of luck for your workshop. Hope it will really cater to the needs.

-best regards,

I am removing the B pillar (thus the door too) because it creates a very wide blind spot which I find quite a nuisance in the city. I will install full fabric doors which will be used only during rains, dust storms etc.

The Army 550s have 11 rear leaves, which make the suspension too stiff and reduce axle articulation. I have removed one leaf.

The rollcage and diff guards are a custom fabrication. I will post more pics as things move on.

I bought the jeep for 75k, and plan to spend another ~225-250k for the rebuild.

I can barely wait to go offroading now.

Nitin · 2nd February 2009, 22:06

Very nice! Good luck with the project.
Any estimates on when the work will be done? 6-10 months?

harjeev · 2nd February 2009, 22:58

Hey Alfa
Just noticed your signature "A 4x4 is born..."
Have you written it as you are building your 4x4 or actually there was this series on discovery with the same name, in which this guy builds and amazing off-roader from a Land Rover.

Pl share what all expenses entails in the 225k that you have shortlisted. Just a basic idea

maddy42 · 2nd February 2009, 23:04

Wow Alfa_kilo been time since i saw you around. Kudos to your initiative dude. Speaking to you last year itself told me loads about your interest man.

Best of luck on your endevour man. Will keep an eye out to how things are getting along

Parm · 2nd February 2009, 23:59

well there goes my idea of opening an off-road 4x4 workshop!

here is a photo of a diff guard. sorry about the small size of the photo.

hope guys can make out how its been made and fitted!

i will be watching this thread very closely to see the final avatar of your jeep!

Ricky_3007 · 3rd February 2009, 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parm

well there goes my idea of opening an off-road 4x4 workshop!

here is a photo of a diff guard. sorry about the small size of the photo.

hope guys can make out how its been made and fitted!

i will be watching this thread very closely to see the final avatar of your jeep!

Hi Parm,

Is diff guard easily available here in India? How much it costs?

Tarkesh

harjeev · 3rd February 2009, 18:16

I think that this would have to be fabricated as the the differential and would not be coming in standard sizes. But should be easy to fabricate

1st February 2009, 23:56	#1
Alfa_Kilo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jaipur Posts: 328 Thanked: 13 Times	My MM550XD rebuild Hi! I have started a workshop specializing in off-road vehicles in Jaipur. I was earlier working with Tata Motors in Pune, but the jeep bug got the better of me and I have ended up as a grease monkey. My first project is an ex-army MM550XD which will end up as my daily driver and off-roader. I bought a '99 550 from delhi and got it trucked down to Jaipur. I will overhauling all the mechanical bits myself. The vehicle will receive the following upgrades: 33" tyres The final drive ratio will be changed to 5.875 A shackle lift Softer rear suspension The anti-roll bar will be removed Differential guards Rock sliders A roll cage for the driver and co-driver The fuel tank will be lifted Snorkel air intake Water resistant electricals HID headlamps The doors have been removed as I found them to be quite a nuisance on my 540. The B pillar will be chopped. Detachable fabric doors will serve as protection from the elements. I will eventually install a PTO winch and replace the rear LSD with a differential lock. The vehicle will be capable of fording 1500mm of water. The jeep is using tyres from my old 540 right now. Attached Thumbnails
	(2) Thanks

2nd February 2009, 09:46	#2
Blue Thunder Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Right here . Posts: 1,657 Thanked: 386 Times View My Garage	Wow, congrats, Alfa_Kilo . Please do keep us updated continuously on the progress...will be following this thread closely ! Last edited by Blue Thunder : 2nd February 2009 at 09:48.
	() Thanks

2nd February 2009, 11:30	#4
shreyasma BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bang! Posts: 652 Thanked: 6 Times	Super Mate. All the very best with the project. Please keep posting pics about the progress
	() Thanks

2nd February 2009, 12:22	#5
randeep04 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 629 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	Congrats Alfa_Kilo, Do keep us posted on the progress of your 550 and also other vehicles that you work on in your garage. Cheers !!!!!!!
	() Thanks

2nd February 2009, 12:33	#6
svsantosh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubai Posts: 4,005 Thanked: 6,346 Times View My Garage	Wow, another Jeep build. Since you said you own the business I think there is a thread to declare your business interests regd cars/tbhp. Check with any MOD about the declaration part... All the best on thi Jeep. Could you post some cost details? How much did you pay for this Jeep?
	() Thanks

2nd February 2009, 12:42	#7
harjeev Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,899 Thanked: 292 Times View My Garage	Good to see your rebuild thread at last. It was nice to meet you at Mayapuri. Pl also share the cost that you would be incurring in course of your rebuild.
	() Thanks

2nd February 2009, 19:37	#8
Ricky_3007 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 381 Thanked: 23 Times	Wow Thats Great Alfa Kilo, All the best to you for your rebuild. I am also rebulding 99 model 550XD . BTW How much did you pay for this 550? Pls share if you can. Are 550s still available in Mayapuri? That too in good condition? Tarkesh
	() Thanks

2nd February 2009, 22:06	#10
Nitin Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,294 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	Very nice! Good luck with the project. Any estimates on when the work will be done? 6-10 months?
	() Thanks

2nd February 2009, 22:58	#11
harjeev Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,899 Thanked: 292 Times View My Garage	Hey Alfa Just noticed your signature "A 4x4 is born..." Have you written it as you are building your 4x4 or actually there was this series on discovery with the same name, in which this guy builds and amazing off-roader from a Land Rover. Pl share what all expenses entails in the 225k that you have shortlisted. Just a basic idea
	() Thanks

2nd February 2009, 23:04	#12
maddy42 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Coorg Posts: 2,131 Thanked: 1,328 Times View My Garage	Wow Alfa_kilo been time since i saw you around. Kudos to your initiative dude. Speaking to you last year itself told me loads about your interest man. Best of luck on your endevour man. Will keep an eye out to how things are getting along
	() Thanks

2nd February 2009, 23:59	#13
Parm Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: in a Toyota! Posts: 2,753 Thanked: 890 Times	well there goes my idea of opening an off-road 4x4 workshop! here is a photo of a diff guard. sorry about the small size of the photo. hope guys can make out how its been made and fitted! i will be watching this thread very closely to see the final avatar of your jeep! Attached Thumbnails Last edited by khan_sultan : 3rd February 2009 at 09:10. Reason: Consecutive posts
	() Thanks

3rd February 2009, 18:16	#15
harjeev Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,899 Thanked: 292 Times View My Garage	I think that this would have to be fabricated as the the differential and would not be coming in standard sizes. But should be easy to fabricate
	() Thanks