Met up with Imran (dropping the "Bhai" because he is significantly younger than me) last evening to check out his Gypsy. 2005 model looks as good today as it might have all those years ago. Popped the boot and had a close look at the AC installation.
Israr Bhai has used the stock Subros 80cc compressor and I don't know how he managed, but he found Imran a stock bracket for installing it. The Superking blower is between the firewall and the dashboard but I don't know how he managed to squeeze it in there. Have to take a closer look today. The condensor is in front of the radiator and the mechanical fan has been replaced with an electric fan with a higher blade count. He has also used the stock vents and switchgear with the addition of an AC switch. Overall the quality of the job is superb and looks OE.
As we were discussing about the vehicle somewhere on Pali hill road, two babes showed up in a Red-Bull swift and handed out free red-bulls
After guzzling the drink that kick-started a revolution of insomnia and chain-snatching I took the Gypsy for a drive. I was, until this point, really worried if I had made the right decision buying a Gypsy because the only one I had driven was KSM's carb version. While I enjoyed the experience, I felt I needed a little more "thrust" to "cut" through Mumbai and the highways. The moment I took off in Imran's Gypsy all those doubts and concerns went away. This Gypsy goes like a stabbed samurai!! Very peppy and the free-flow can keep all of Bandra awake with the ruckus...for me it was a sonorous string quartet after the jackhammering, headbanging violence of the Yamaha MT-01. I loved it!!
The BFG tires look good and feel good to drive around. Significantly easier to steer (perhaps to reduced contact patch) and there wasn't much road-noise either (possibly because the exhaust drowns out all else). I think I will stick to my original plan and go with the BFGs for now.
The interiors are stark and in-line with what I was expecting. KSM's seats were a bit more "comfy" for my frame so I need to explore alternate seat options. Also Imran's Gypsy had the rear bench seats which prevented me from moving the driver seat back as much as I would have liked ( I am 6'3" and Imran looked about 5'11" / 6'00"). I did check out the sporty seats in his Optra and I think I am going in that direction (Recaro / Sparco type with more padding) because the thigh, waist, upper body support and bolstering offered by those seats were superb!
I have decided on a Tan-Leather interior. Once the vCool, ICE, AC and Heatlon treatment is done I am getting the dashboard, side panels, Pillars etc. covered with plush Tan-leather. The seats will be Tan leather as well. This Gypsy is going to be a NICE place to be in. Have a vision in mind...lets see how well I can execute on it.
My Gypsy should be in Vasai by now. Octroi work today/tomorrow and then 1 day at the RTO. I should have it in hand on Friday. Going to source the seats on saturday. Will also find a BFG dealer, work out a deal for the stock tires and get the BFGs fitted and balanced.
My AC plans:
Had a long discussion with Mr. Sripadh in Mahim who is the AC specialist for all Sai svc. vehicles. He took a close look at Imran's install and immediately recognized Israr bhai's work and he holds him in high regard. He pointed out that removing the mechanical fan and installing an electric fan can reduce the load on the engine by 2-3% during idle conditions. While this is a small amount, combined with using the Subros 80cc - the effect can help alleviate the "bogging" sensation while getting out of the blocks with the AC switched on. When I drove Imran's Gypsy the car didn't feel significantly different with AC on/off and launched well from standstill even though the ECU fast-idle had not been done.
Instead of a Subros 80cc compressor, Sripadh and I are going for the Maruti Swift variable stroke Sanden 7 series 6 piston compressor. We are installing a Superking blower with the original 2600rpm motors. We are also doing a complete Heatlon treatment which I will couple with an acoustic damping layer around the vehicle.
The variable compressor adjusts the piston stroke as per the cooling efficiency. At startup the pistons are in full-stroke and as the set temperature is attained in the cabin, the piston stroke keeps reducing to maintain the temperature. Sripadh recommends this over the Subros because 80cc will not be enough to cool the cabin during peak summer and stop-go traffic. Imran confirmed that at a recent OTR, although cool air was coming out of the vents, the cabin itself wasn't getting cooler (note that he has a soft-top).
We will also install the electric radiator fan.
We did a lot of brainstorming about my heating requirements. We even looked up a manufacturer in Bangkok who makes a blower with heater and evaporator coils built in (Formula). This would be ideal for my requirements. Sripadh is checking with them today if they have it in production and can ship. Failing this, Sripadh is installing the pipelines to route the coolant into the cabin and installing a small blower under the front passenger seat. He said this would be better than having hot air blasting out the AC vents. He will also leave the final coolant taps disconnected until I need the heater function. Install them before I go to Leh and switch back to OE after I return. I thought this would be the best way to proceed and after spending almost 1.5 hours with him this evening, I am sure he knows his stuff.
All in all an eventful day where I got to drive a nice MPFI Gypsy to get a taste for things to come...and I can sleep peacefully knowing that my AC install is in good hands and covered by the magical warranty
More to come...