Resurrection: A CJ3B STORY This Monday night I had a new addition to my workshop. It is a Mahindra CJ3B, which has been bought by a fellow Jeeper and friend Naveen. I would like to mention about Harjeev here. Who has played a crucial role by helping Naveen find the Jeep he always wanted to own, restore and cherish for a long time to come.
So first of all I would like to Congratulate Naveen for finally being able to realize his dream. Secondly I thank him for entrusting my team the task of restoring the beast back to life. I have started this thread to document the restoration process of this Jeep. I would try to post regular updates on the work being done on the Jeep.
As people have been asking me about contrast between by T-Bhp handle and Machines I work on. I would like to mention here that I sure was fascinated by diesel powered 4x4s and SUVs. As I have owned a 4x4 Tata Safari for over 7 years, I was amazed to see such an underpowered vehicle performing well on inclines etc due to the sheer Torque of the diesel motor. I have been so eagerly awaiting for the 2.2 L AVL designed DICOR motor, this is when I came across T-Bhp while looking for clues online about a probable launch date. As my trusted work horse has started to give problem due to old age (it was a 1998 TCIC Model). I started following the Safari thread on the T-Bhp and joined the forum under the handle Diesel Maniac.
In summer of 2007 TOI was running an article named `Tribal Instincts’ every Sunday. There was an article about `Jeep Thrills’ in the 1st July 2007 edition of the news paper. I went through the article and I was hooked. I went online searched for the printed web address of the community and joined it right away. I got in touch with Sarvinder Bhaji, who was one of the moderators for NI. He invited me for an OTR. After attending the OTR, I knew no matter what I have to own a 4x4 Jeep. My first choice because of the obvious reason was an Army disposal 540 (till then I didn’t even new that Mahindra had moved on to 550). After a visit to Mayapuri I became acquainted with the 550. So I was hell bent to pick up a 550 and restore it and drive it around for my trips and OTRs. Since budget was a constraint I kept looking a cheaper option in the market.
In between all this I met Mandeep (He goes by the handle `Renegade‘ on the forum, I cannot thank you enough for everything you did for me). He suggested me to look at other options. He advised me to go for a petrol powered option for my first Jeep. “It would be a little cheaper than a diesel jeep and a lot cheaper to restore in comparison to the diesel one”, he said.
I still remember the day when I first went to see the 3B with him. Although the head of the engine was already been taken apart as somebody before me had bought the vehicle on Mandeep’s advice but later developed a cold feet and changed his decision to go ahead. I saw the Jeep, and it was in decent condition being an Ex-Air Force Vehicle. I bought it from the existing owner and got the engine piston ring job and basic mechanicals done from the guy, at whose workshop the Jeep was parked. It was after a long wait of 3 Months the Jeep was handed over to me. I simply fell in Love with this Jeep. It was a great combination of power, torque, agility and looks. Above all it was silent. Over the time participating in various OTR in the NCR region I have been amazed to see this machine perform so effortlessly. So here is how a diesel maniac was hooked to petrol jeeps.
Albeit reading about the efforts of other Jeepers about restoring or building a custom diesel off-roaders based on 550 platform has got me thinking about revisiting the realms of diesel power once more…..
Here are a few pictures of Naveen’s Jeep. I clicked these before commencing work on the Jeep. |