[NIP]

Originally Posted by 53BHP

I agree too. White is safe for any type of alloy. Now hear this. My 4 year old daughter who absolutely adores the Jeep and is waiting for it to be ready wants me to paint it PINK. For now i have told her the police will not allow me to paint it pink.

LOL !

About the alloys - I dont think its that hard to find the correct PCD for the Jeep. In fact, this PCD is very common. I also have another suggestion...I was at Hot Tracks in blr recently (Alloy Dealer) and he had some slightly used HR rims for 15k (5 pieces). Also similar prices for original scorpio alloys changed at his shop. You might want to explore that possibility...I think you can even get the 16" scorpio steel rims dirt cheap this way. I'm sure the PCD is same...gurus please confirm.

[53BHP]

Hey thats a good idea. Am sure there will be alloy dealers here with the same good condition rims

even the 16" scorpio steel rims sound like a good idea. Trevor has offered me an option of good condition 15" rims for around 12k here

thanks for the tip NIP

You lucky boy. Took a peak in your garage. You have the original chain drive engine on your Scorp. Ferdi has one too. Has rebuilt it himself. Boy did he drive the pants off that beast on a trip we went on to his farmhouse!!!

[testdrive]

Originally Posted by NIP

I think you can even get the 16" scorpio steel rims dirt cheap this way. I'm sure the PCD is same....

Scorpio/Safari 16" rims are 160 PCD whereas the Jeep rims are 139 PCD. 4x4addict on the forum has converted his 540 hubs (139pcd) to Bolero4x4 hubs (160pcd). I believe Gypsy rims are available in 139 PCD (but these are 15")

[NIP]

Originally Posted by testdrive

Scorpio/Safari 16" rims are 160 PCD whereas the Jeep rims are 139 PCD. 4x4addict on the forum has converted his 540 hubs (139pcd) to Bolero4x4 hubs (160pcd). I believe Gypsy rims are available in 139 PCD (but these are 15")

Thats a bummer :( Lots of scorpio/ safari rims available otherwise. Strange...I always thought MM540 and scorpio share the same PCD. In fact, I saved my scorpio rims thinking i'd donate them to some jeeper in coorg.

[harjeev]

Why not to simply go for 15" rims and buy tyres with bigger height!!! I believe that in 15" the range of tyres is much more when compared to 16"'s

I would have gone for 15" in my MM550 if I din't wanna change the Army rims

[53BHP]

@Harjeev: Thats what I thought initially. But then on this forum and speaking to people I am getting the impression that the higher sidewall height will make the dynamics worse

I am not very keen to make adaptors and convert to 160pcd

Maybe I could keep the stock rims and fit A/T's and use them only for offroading and then get Gypsy rims with H/T's for city use

[53BHP]

work has progressed at an earnest pace and although i could not visit most of last week, I am happy to announce that stage 1 of this rebuild has almost been completed:

Here are some pics:





















Under body tin work and mechanical work is completely done. Following work has now been completed:

1. Brakes and brake pads
2. Master cylinder and all linkages
3. Cable operated hand brake assembly
4. gear box fluids
5. Tx case fluids
6. Differentials fluids
7. Couplings and joints overhauled
8. 4wd made operational
9. Chassis repair
10. Under body anti corrosion treatment (that you can see in the snaps)
11. All 4 pattas re cambered and set with new bushing kits all round
12. Fuel tank opened and cleaned
13. Steering box replaced
14. Armasound + techsound sandwich insulation that you will see in the next set of pictures (came out quite well)
15. All parts of the electrical loom checked and rectified

[53BHP]

[53BHP]

Here you can see the acoustics and dampener insulation work clearly. Pretty neat job
















Btw the Jeep was cranked and run today for the first time after getting in for work. I should have it home for a few days to run in and check for issues before either going back to fix them or if there are none as Ferdi has done a thorough job then on to stage 2

Stage 2 will comprise upper body mechanical and body work. This will be carried out at Agnelo House (Steiger's place) and Chand's (tin work and painting)

Also have to decide on the tyres:

I have decided for now, on Ferdi's advise, to leave the 16" rims on. The tyres will all be changed. Ferdi's friend has a complete set of brand new OEM Scorpio tyres which he wants to flog as he has replaced them all with Michelins. Dont know how much he wants for them. My other options are:

1. Standard nylons 6.00 x 16 2500/- tyre + tube
2. JK Brute 185/85/R16 3800/- tyres + tube
3. Goodyear 205/80/R16 3700/- tyre + tube
4. Apollo Hawks R/T 215/75/R16 3950/- tyre + tube
5. Bridestone 205/80/R16 4500/- Tubeless

How much should I pay fairly for the OEM Scorpio's? I know for a fact that OEM tyres are never as good as replacement. Has something to do with keeping costs low I guess

MRF has no tyres to sell you for love or for money. Their factory has been closed (although they wont admit it) due to labour unrest and there is nothing available in radials this side of the country. They are agressively advertising Wanderer tyres on TV and in the papers, but you cant buy them even if you want to. Silly

[harjeev]

Hey Rohit!!!
Its great to see the work progressing on your babu at quite a decent pace.

Originally Posted by 53BHP

Btw the Jeep was cranked and run today for the first time after getting in for work. I should have it home for a few days to run in and check for issues before either going back to fix them or if there are none as Ferdi has done a thorough job then on to stage 2

Getting the jeep home and then running it for a couple of days to a week is a good idea as that will really help you to know your vehicle better and whatever is wrong can be addressed immediately.

Also have to decide on the tyres:

I have decided for now, on Ferdi's advise, to leave the 16" rims on. The tyres will all be changed. Ferdi's friend has a complete set of brand new OEM Scorpio tyres which he wants to flog as he has replaced them all with Michelins. Dont know how much he wants for them. My other options are:

1. Standard nylons 6.00 x 16 2500/- tyre + tube 28"
2. JK Brute 185/85/R16 3800/- tyres + tube 28.38"
3. Goodyear 205/80/R16 3700/- tyre + tube 28.91"
4. Apollo Hawks R/T 215/75/R16 3950/- tyre + tube 28.69"
5. Bridestone 205/80/R16 4500/- Tubeless 28.91"

I have written the height of the tyres in inches in bold
(I have done the above calculations based on that 1 inch equals 25.4mm) if wrong please correct me
I have Apollo Bullets in my MM550. I took the decision on buying these tyres as

• they are 31" in height. So this naturally gives me a 1"-1.5" or 25.4- 38mm of more ground clearance than the 28 or 29" tyres.
• Another very compelling reason was that only Bullets give an original army look which was also a factor in buying these tyres

However during my search I came across a tyre specification 235/ 85/ R16's but was unsuccessful in finding these tyres at any of the shops in Delhi. I think Yoko had this but I doubt that they brought them to India. If you are able to find these specifications then these will give you a height of 31.72" and the ground clearance is almost 35-40mm more than the other tyres.

[53BHP]

Hey Harjeev: How do the Apollo Bullets perform on the road? Fazal said I should only go for them if I am doing maximum off roading. And hw much did you pay for them?

[harjeev]

Originally Posted by 53BHP

Hey Harjeev: How do the Apollo Bullets perform on the road? Fazal said I should only go for them if I am doing maximum off roading. And hw much did you pay for them?

Hey Rohit
I paid approx 4.6k a tyre but now I think prices have gone up a little as Tarkesh was scouting for these tyres and I think he was quoted about 4.8 k or 5k a tyre tube!!!
With regards to the performance I am pretty happy but I have used the vehicle only for about 2k kms and mostly off-roading.
On road I used them for a trip to Delhi to Corbett and back about 700 kms round trip and they were ok.

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear all - please check technical suitability of any tyre that you buy with the wheel rim that you intend to use it on. Also please check the suitability of the wheel rim mounting mechanism on the vehicle. If not done properly, safety will get affected and vehicle dynamics will go for a complete toss. Please refer to the ITTAC manual for details.

Please do not spend money to spoil your car. If in doubt, please PM me for clarification.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[harjeev]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Dear all - please check technical suitability of any tyre that you buy with the wheel rim that you intend to use it on. Also please check the suitability of the wheel rim mounting mechanism on the vehicle. If not done properly, safety will get affected and vehicle dynamics will go for a complete toss. Please refer to the ITTAC manual for details.

Please do not spend money to spoil your car. If in doubt, please PM me for clarification.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Dear Behram sir

Could you please shed some light on the number of kilometers the MRF Sandgrips or Apollo Bullets are known to to run for in in the Army vehicles!!!
There is a lot of confusion whether they run for 20k or 40k kms.
Best Regards
Harjeev

[kavesh55]

Originally Posted by 53BHP

Stage 2 will comprise upper body mechanical and body work. This will be carried out at Agnelo House (Steiger's place) and Chand's (tin work and painting)

Dear 53 bhp, why did put the body back on the chassis, if u have to get the body work done. i guess it could have been transported and worked upon independently. More like the Overhaulin way. nothing woud have been left out in that case.