My Gypsy Rebuild - Bushranger

Ashish B · 3rd February 2010, 14:08

@ Harjeev: Thanks mate. Appreciate your time & encouragement at every stage...!

@Goslow: Thanks Ankit. See u on Sat (??).

@ Karizma: Thanks mate, yes the color shade was chosen after a lots of mix & match. BTW, initially I had painted the rims too in the same shade, however, the overall package was looking somewhat dull. Then we went in for the cream shade (same as my top), and to get some more pep in the package, we also changed the front grill & FWHs color to orange!

Cheers!

ashish

karizma9292 · 3rd February 2010, 16:47

Oh i get it ashish , anyway its a very good looking and unique colour combination . How much did you pay for each BFG? Me too planning to upgrade to BFG . What is your experience with that tyre so far?

renegade · 3rd February 2010, 20:39

Brilliant gypsy and what a performer,nice color choice too ashish,new shoes certainly look pretty cool on it and i hope the ride would also be a bit different from regular ones.

rishi_kapoor · 3rd February 2010, 21:16

Brilliant write up and hats off to your patience. Cheers!! Enjoy your Bushranger.

sierrakamat · 3rd February 2010, 22:38

nice gypsy but feel sorry for ashish ,know the heart ache we have the same work culture in mumbai the place is known as kurla cst.had bought '' new tyres'' for my 540 changed paid double when in 2 months the stephney mounted on the rear burst without having ever touched the tarmac

Monkeyboy4u · 3rd February 2010, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by karizma9292

Nice colour , i guess the rims also with same colour would have looked better . Anyway nice looking gypsy though . and nice tyres .

I feel Bushranger rims look good in contrast

Amar82 · 4th February 2010, 00:33

Ashish,
I know what it takes to restore an Army Gypsy. Everything you touch has to be replaced, and slowly and slowly you basically end up replacing all the parts and the budget goes way beyond expected. BTW what was the condition of 4X4 gearbox when you purchased the gypsy? I had a to purchase a new one for mine and its lot of money.

Ashish B · 4th February 2010, 10:16

Thanks Karizma, monkeyboy4u & Renegade, sierrakamat & Rishi,

Yes the effort had many ups & downs, still when I look back, I feel it was worth it!

@ Karizma: I had initially taken F78s (@ 2500/-), and after using them for 3 months & 2500 kms, I realized the shortcomings. I exchanged them with BFGs (sold F78 @ 1800/- and new BFGs @ 4100/-). Though I have just driven them for approx 1000 km, the difference in huge! On tarmac, the grip is mush better, steering is lighter, and braking has improved. There is slight difference in ride quality too. Off the road, they perform brilliantly. Overall, a good decision.

@ Amar, " The jeeps do not get old, they become new, part by part"

I was fortunate that the 4x4 transfer case was in perfect condition. Apart from that, everything else had to be replaced/ repaired.

Cheers!

ashish

married2speed · 4th February 2010, 14:16

Quote:

Ashish B;1715496

Though I have just driven them for approx 1000 km, the difference in huge! On tarmac, the grip is mush better, steering is lighter, and braking has improved. There is slight difference in ride quality too. Off the road, they perform brilliantly. Overall, a good decision.

Ash,how do the bf's perform on sand? have you been able to test them on the trail where the bush-ranger was airborne?

Ashish B · 4th February 2010, 15:46

Sukhi,

we have not gone on the Manger trail of late, however, in 2 OTRs since then, I have driven across Behrampore track (Rocks, sand-pit, wadi etc.) and the performance has been considerably improved (may be the engine rebuild has also made difference).
Cheers!

ashish
(next one is on 6th, 2-8 pm. join for a test ride)

yogeshnaik · 4th February 2010, 15:58

The rebuild has come up to a very good extent. This is a great work done by your mechanic. Congrats !

khan_sultan · 4th February 2010, 16:01

Ashish, reading your experience of building your Gypsy is like going through a bollywood movie. Has all the up's & downs, twists & turns, heros, villans, friends etc.. And like a bollywood movie, this also seems to be coming around to a happy ending.

Congrats my friend on being so diligent and patience with your build. I am sure you will be enjoying every moment of the drive now.

Ashish B · 4th February 2010, 16:56

Many thanks Yogesh.

Khan Sir, appreciation coming from you matters a lot! Many thanks.

Cheers!

ashish

Ashish B · 5th February 2010, 12:00

@ Renegade:
Many thanks Mandeep! For appreciation of body color ( and Rims)!!

For everyone's information, Mandeep was instrumental in the purchase of the Gypsy, and the color & shade were also decided by both of us, after a lot of mixing at the Paint shop! In fact, it was his idea to change the Rim color!

Cheers!!

ashish

ntomer · 5th February 2010, 12:41

Mate,

Where did you get the FWH from? How much did you pay for them? And where did you get them fitted? And do they really help?

Cheers

Nitin

3rd February 2010, 14:08	#46
Ashish B BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 71 Thanked: 39 Times	@ Harjeev: Thanks mate. Appreciate your time & encouragement at every stage...! @Goslow: Thanks Ankit. See u on Sat (??). @ Karizma: Thanks mate, yes the color shade was chosen after a lots of mix & match. BTW, initially I had painted the rims too in the same shade, however, the overall package was looking somewhat dull. Then we went in for the cream shade (same as my top), and to get some more pep in the package, we also changed the front grill & FWHs color to orange! Cheers! ashish
	() Thanks

3rd February 2010, 16:47	#47
karizma9292 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 470 Thanked: 227 Times View My Garage	Oh i get it ashish , anyway its a very good looking and unique colour combination . How much did you pay for each BFG? Me too planning to upgrade to BFG . What is your experience with that tyre so far?
	() Thanks

3rd February 2010, 20:39	#48
renegade BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NEW DELHI Posts: 184 Thanked: 43 Times View My Garage	Brilliant gypsy and what a performer,nice color choice too ashish,new shoes certainly look pretty cool on it and i hope the ride would also be a bit different from regular ones.
	() Thanks

3rd February 2010, 21:16	#49
rishi_kapoor BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Noida Posts: 486 Thanked: 672 Times View My Garage	Brilliant write up and hats off to your patience. Cheers!! Enjoy your Bushranger.
	() Thanks

3rd February 2010, 22:38	#50
sierrakamat BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: mumbai Posts: 246 Thanked: 77 Times View My Garage	nice gypsy but feel sorry for ashish ,know the heart ache we have the same work culture in mumbai the place is known as kurla cst.had bought '' new tyres'' for my 540 changed paid double when in 2 months the stephney mounted on the rear burst without having ever touched the tarmac
	() Thanks

4th February 2010, 00:33	#52
Amar82 BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ludhiana Posts: 291 Thanked: 5 Times View My Garage	Ashish, I know what it takes to restore an Army Gypsy. Everything you touch has to be replaced, and slowly and slowly you basically end up replacing all the parts and the budget goes way beyond expected. BTW what was the condition of 4X4 gearbox when you purchased the gypsy? I had a to purchase a new one for mine and its lot of money.
	() Thanks

4th February 2010, 10:16	#53
Ashish B BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 71 Thanked: 39 Times	Thanks Karizma, monkeyboy4u & Renegade, sierrakamat & Rishi, Yes the effort had many ups & downs, still when I look back, I feel it was worth it! @ Karizma: I had initially taken F78s (@ 2500/-), and after using them for 3 months & 2500 kms, I realized the shortcomings. I exchanged them with BFGs (sold F78 @ 1800/- and new BFGs @ 4100/-). Though I have just driven them for approx 1000 km, the difference in huge! On tarmac, the grip is mush better, steering is lighter, and braking has improved. There is slight difference in ride quality too. Off the road, they perform brilliantly. Overall, a good decision. @ Amar, " The jeeps do not get old, they become new, part by part" I was fortunate that the 4x4 transfer case was in perfect condition. Apart from that, everything else had to be replaced/ repaired. Cheers! ashish
	() Thanks

4th February 2010, 15:46	#55
Ashish B BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 71 Thanked: 39 Times	Sukhi, we have not gone on the Manger trail of late, however, in 2 OTRs since then, I have driven across Behrampore track (Rocks, sand-pit, wadi etc.) and the performance has been considerably improved (may be the engine rebuild has also made difference). Cheers! ashish (next one is on 6th, 2-8 pm. join for a test ride)
	() Thanks

4th February 2010, 15:58	#56
yogeshnaik BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 347 Thanked: 216 Times	The rebuild has come up to a very good extent. This is a great work done by your mechanic. Congrats !
	() Thanks

4th February 2010, 16:01	#57
khan_sultan Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Noida/Bangalore Posts: 4,925 Thanked: 5,853 Times View My Garage	Ashish, reading your experience of building your Gypsy is like going through a bollywood movie. Has all the up's & downs, twists & turns, heros, villans, friends etc.. And like a bollywood movie, this also seems to be coming around to a happy ending. Congrats my friend on being so diligent and patience with your build. I am sure you will be enjoying every moment of the drive now.
	() Thanks

4th February 2010, 16:56	#58
Ashish B BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 71 Thanked: 39 Times	Many thanks Yogesh. Khan Sir, appreciation coming from you matters a lot! Many thanks. Cheers! ashish
	() Thanks

5th February 2010, 12:00	#59
Ashish B BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 71 Thanked: 39 Times	@ Renegade: Many thanks Mandeep! For appreciation of body color ( and Rims)!! For everyone's information, Mandeep was instrumental in the purchase of the Gypsy, and the color & shade were also decided by both of us, after a lot of mixing at the Paint shop! In fact, it was his idea to change the Rim color! Cheers!! ashish
	() Thanks

5th February 2010, 12:41	#60
ntomer BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 643 Thanked: 133 Times	Mate, Where did you get the FWH from? How much did you pay for them? And where did you get them fitted? And do they really help? Cheers Nitin
	() Thanks