MM550 Army to Civilian Makeover by JeepCaptain

JeepCaptain · 16th December 2009, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazalaliadil

JeepCaptain,
A very good job done on your 550, colour looks good and tough.
Fenders are needed to complete the look.
Job well done.
Regards,

Fazal Sir,
thanks for your compliments.Makes me more happy and proud to get such feedback from veterans like you.

Yes, fenders are missing and I badly needed a set. I read in some of your earlier post that you have some for sale or you can get fenders made on order. Can you help me with that.

I also notice that the rear fenders you had on your white 550 is different from the ones on your orange and brown jeeps. If you can get me a set, I prefer the ones on your white 550.

Thanks
JC

JeepCaptain · 18th May 2010, 18:39

Dear All,

Just a quick update about my 550. This time let the pic talks. Did you see something new.

Thanks so much to Fazal Sir. Really appreaciate your help in getting these done.

MM550 Army to Civilian Makeover by JeepCaptain-img_6633.jpg

MM550 Army to Civilian Makeover by JeepCaptain-img_6632a.jpg

MM550 Army to Civilian Makeover by JeepCaptain-img_6634.jpg

MM550 Army to Civilian Makeover by JeepCaptain-img_6637.jpg

Regards
Shibu

SPIKE ARRESTOR · 18th May 2010, 19:02

Shibu, forgot to tell you something which I noticed the other day. The pivot is supported onto the chassis with tack welds and rivets. For additional strength/safety, get the whole mounting seam welded. Thought of highlighting this to Fazal Sir but forgot

Spike

Jaggu · 18th May 2010, 19:20

Ah nice Shibu the ol mans special plates is what you are referring to, how are they performing?

joshguy · 18th May 2010, 21:47

hi shibu,

Your jeep looks nice.

it is a NGCS ? how do you find out the difference between NGCS and normal ones?

SirAlec · 19th May 2010, 00:14

This looks like a weak link.

Will you not loose the prop shaft under extreme conditions.??

JeepCaptain · 19th May 2010, 12:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

Shibu, forgot to tell you something which I noticed the other day. The pivot is supported onto the chassis with tack welds and rivets. For additional strength/safety, get the whole mounting seam welded. Thought of highlighting this to Fazal Sir but forgot

Spike

Spike,I am aware about that weak spot. But its not done by me!! How come M&M is supplying this vehicle to Army with such a weak setup. Two rivets and some tack welds??

. I know this is the same way its done for civilian versions of MM & CL series or all the CJ variants. But for Army I expected some reenforcements!!
Please let your Testing or QA/QC department know about this and I hope you have addressed this issue in Thar!! I will ask Fazal Sir if he can get the seam welding done in HYD else I will take care of it when Jeep is back in Kerala.
Thanks for pointing it out.
JC

trammway · 19th May 2010, 14:02

Hi Shibu,

Congratulations, The wheel arch are looking good too. Talking about the suspension plates, how is it feeling to drive with this ? I've already talked about this in elsewhere in the technical discussion and now seeing it in your (my work) jeep, I'm glad. I really need your inputs on how is the ride ?

I'm hoping Fazal sir will also send me one setup for my Classic, don't you Fazal sir?

JeepCaptain · 19th May 2010, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Ah nice Shibu the ol mans special plates is what you are referring to, how are they performing?

Jaggu, I just got the springs replaced and the Jeep is still with Fazal Sir.Test Drive report will follow soon.

BTW - you missed some thing I have got new fender flares aswell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshguy

hi shibu,

Your jeep looks nice.

it is a NGCS ? how do you find out the difference between NGCS and normal ones?

joshguy,Its not NGCS. Its 1999 model and it has the old C section chassis.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirAlec

This looks like a weak link.

Will you not loose the prop shaft under extreme conditions.??

SirAlec, Thats the stock setup. I guess the teeth is long enough to restrict its travel within the yoke under moderate conditions. But I guess not good enough for extreme conditions. For that we may need to go for something like a slip yoke eliminator!

MM550 Army to Civilian Makeover by JeepCaptain-slip_yoke_eliminator_kit.jpg

Pic courtesy 4wheelffroad.com

Spike or DB Sir can confirm this.

SPIKE ARRESTOR · 19th May 2010, 18:30

@Sir Alec, Shibu the slip provided by the slip joint/sliding joint when measured in Kerb weight condition must be somewhere close to = (max slip)/2, this means if you have a maximum slip of 100 mm, when measured in Kerb weight condition it must come close to 50 mm so as to accommodate change in propeller shaft lengths (due to wheel travel in jounce and rebound condition). A mean value ensures, the slip accommodates both ends of the spectrum. The above pic looks scary, and seems on the verge of conking off.

Spike

P.S. If you observe closely the Transfer case drop on the RHS, it is facing upwards making the driveline angle too steep. Higher operating angles will lead to the following:-
1. Noise and vibrations.
2. UJ kit failure.

JeepCaptain · 20th May 2010, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepCaptain

SirAlec, Thats the stock setup. I guess the teeth is long enough to restrict its travel within the yoke under moderate conditions. But I guess not good enough for extreme conditions. For that we may need to go for something like a slip yoke eliminator!

Pic courtesy 4wheelffroad.com

Spike or DB Sir can confirm this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

@Sir Alec, Shibu the slip provided by the slip joint/sliding joint when measured in Kerb weight condition must be somewhere close to = (max slip)/2, this means if you have a maximum slip of 100 mm, when measured in Kerb weight condition it must come close to 50 mm so as to accommodate change in propeller shaft lengths (due to wheel travel in jounce and rebound condition). A mean value ensures, the slip accommodates both ends of the spectrum. The above pic looks scary, and seems on the verge of conking off.

Spike

P.S. If you observe closely the Transfer case drop on the RHS, it is facing upwards making the driveline angle too steep. Higher operating angles will lead to the following:-
1. Noise and vibrations.
2. UJ kit failure.

MM550 Army to Civilian Makeover by JeepCaptain-slip_yoke_eliminator_kit-copy.jpg

SPIKE, thanks for the info.
Are you talking about the image above? or my 550's drive shaft? I think I should have clarified earlier.

If you are talking about the pic. Thats a Slip yoke eliminator fitted in Jeeps which does extreme offroading. It looks scary. But its does a great job by virtually eliminating yoke slipping and drive shaft snappings.

Read Below for

What is a Slip Yoke Eliminator and Why Do You Need It?

I'm going to get one soon on my YJ.

JC

SPIKE ARRESTOR · 20th May 2010, 12:51

How does it eliminate failure and what about the other end with the fixed yoke?

Spike

SirAlec · 20th May 2010, 13:31

I was worried because this has already happened to Naren (Desert King) in Pushkar, Rajasthan.

Will confirm with him.

JeepCaptain · 25th May 2010, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

How does it eliminate failure and what about the other end with the fixed yoke?

Spike

Spike,please check that URL I posted. I guess It explains the role of a Slip yoke eliminiator.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirAlec

I was worried because this has already happened to Naren (Desert King) in Pushkar, Rajasthan.
Will confirm with him.

SirAlec,Thanks for your concern. I know Naren(desert King)and his Jeep very well. Hope it was not bad and no damages to the vehicle.!! Was that a propeller shaft snap or something else? The 550 is with Fazal Sir in HYD. I need to check with the the status of the driveshaft.

JeepCaptain · 30th September 2010, 21:23

Friends,
its been long time since I updated this thread.Reason being the Jeep was running fine without any issues and I was just doing regular maintenance.

But two weeks back in the wake of MGE Wayanad. I did some upgrades.

These are the upgrades.

Swapped the Army wheels and JK Sand cum Highway tyres with Yokohoma Geolandar A/T tyres 32 x 10.5 R15 mounted on 8J Alloy wheels with negative offset.
Installed Rugged Ridge 10500 lbs Winch
Replaced faulty free wheeling hubs with brand new lamda ones.

All Terrain Tyres

MM550 Army to Civilian Makeover by JeepCaptain-mm550-tyre.jpg

10500 bls ( 4.7 ton) Winch

MM550 Army to Civilian Makeover by JeepCaptain-mm550-winch.jpg

New Freewheeling Hub

MM550 Army to Civilian Makeover by JeepCaptain-mm550-fwh.jpg

Now some pics taken during MGE Waynad.

18th May 2010, 18:39	#107
JeepCaptain BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Dubai / Gods Own Country -Kerala Posts: 864 Thanked: 492 Times View My Garage	Quick update!! Dear All, Just a quick update about my 550. This time let the pic talks. Did you see something new. Thanks so much to Fazal Sir. Really appreaciate your help in getting these done. Regards Shibu
	() Thanks

18th May 2010, 19:02	#108
SPIKE ARRESTOR Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 2,854 Thanked: 1,532 Times	Shibu, forgot to tell you something which I noticed the other day. The pivot is supported onto the chassis with tack welds and rivets. For additional strength/safety, get the whole mounting seam welded. Thought of highlighting this to Fazal Sir but forgot Spike
	() Thanks

18th May 2010, 19:20	#109
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,902 Times	Ah nice Shibu the ol mans special plates is what you are referring to, how are they performing?
	() Thanks

18th May 2010, 21:47	#110
joshguy BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,379 Thanked: 109 Times	hi shibu, Your jeep looks nice. it is a NGCS ? how do you find out the difference between NGCS and normal ones?
	() Thanks

19th May 2010, 00:14	#111
SirAlec Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: zxc Posts: 3,393 Thanked: 726 Times	This looks like a weak link. Will you not loose the prop shaft under extreme conditions.??
	() Thanks

19th May 2010, 14:02	#113
trammway Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bridgewater USA Posts: 1,150 Thanked: 475 Times View My Garage	Hi Shibu, Congratulations, The wheel arch are looking good too. Talking about the suspension plates, how is it feeling to drive with this ? I've already talked about this in elsewhere in the technical discussion and now seeing it in your (my work) jeep, I'm glad. I really need your inputs on how is the ride ? I'm hoping Fazal sir will also send me one setup for my Classic, don't you Fazal sir?
	() Thanks

19th May 2010, 18:30	#115
SPIKE ARRESTOR Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 2,854 Thanked: 1,532 Times	Propeller shaft slip @Sir Alec, Shibu the slip provided by the slip joint/sliding joint when measured in Kerb weight condition must be somewhere close to = (max slip)/2, this means if you have a maximum slip of 100 mm, when measured in Kerb weight condition it must come close to 50 mm so as to accommodate change in propeller shaft lengths (due to wheel travel in jounce and rebound condition). A mean value ensures, the slip accommodates both ends of the spectrum. The above pic looks scary, and seems on the verge of conking off. Spike P.S. If you observe closely the Transfer case drop on the RHS, it is facing upwards making the driveline angle too steep. Higher operating angles will lead to the following:- 1. Noise and vibrations. 2. UJ kit failure.
	() Thanks

20th May 2010, 12:51	#117
SPIKE ARRESTOR Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 2,854 Thanked: 1,532 Times	How does it eliminate failure and what about the other end with the fixed yoke? Spike
	() Thanks

20th May 2010, 13:31	#118
SirAlec Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: zxc Posts: 3,393 Thanked: 726 Times	I was worried because this has already happened to Naren (Desert King) in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Will confirm with him.
	() Thanks

30th September 2010, 21:23	#120
JeepCaptain BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Dubai / Gods Own Country -Kerala Posts: 864 Thanked: 492 Times View My Garage	Some updates Friends, its been long time since I updated this thread.Reason being the Jeep was running fine without any issues and I was just doing regular maintenance. But two weeks back in the wake of MGE Wayanad. I did some upgrades. These are the upgrades. Swapped the Army wheels and JK Sand cum Highway tyres with Yokohoma Geolandar A/T tyres 32 x 10.5 R15 mounted on 8J Alloy wheels with negative offset. Installed Rugged Ridge 10500 lbs Winch Replaced faulty free wheeling hubs with brand new lamda ones. All Terrain Tyres 10500 bls ( 4.7 ton) Winch New Freewheeling Hub Now some pics taken during MGE Waynad.
	(1) Thanks