[ex670c]

Hi AVR,

I would strongly suggest you you any of the following steering upgrades, since they are from the M&M parts bin.

1) MRCBT (Pickup Type Steering Box)
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ve...d-upgrade.html

2) RCBT PS (Bolero Type (Non Rack & Pinion)
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ve...-my-mm550.html

Regards,

Arka

[vinod_nookala]

Originally Posted by AVR

Finally got my tyres changed and its giving a much better look to the jeep!
Next week it goes in for 4wd conversion! Can't hardly wait!!

Here are the pics!

Gosh,
What tires can do to the stance of a vehicle!! Great to see slightly taller tire, 235 75 R 16!! Mine is 235 70 R 16.
Now make it a true jeep, add 4wd soon!!

[AVR]

Originally Posted by ex670c

Hi AVR,

I would strongly suggest you you any of the following steering upgrades, since they are from the M&M parts bin.

1) MRCBT (Pickup Type Steering Box)
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ve...d-upgrade.html

2) RCBT PS (Bolero Type (Non Rack & Pinion)
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ve...-my-mm550.html

Regards,

Arka

Thanks Arka, I am personally inclined towards the Bolero option (2) as it looks simpler to me (from an understanding viewpoint).

Am also looking at the Bolero brake booster as an option once the 4wd conversion is done (in a couple of days)

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

Gosh,
What tires can do to the stance of a vehicle!! Great to see slightly taller tire, 235 75 R 16!! Mine is 235 70 R 16.
Now make it a true jeep, add 4wd soon!!

Vinod bhai, those are 235 75 R 15s - standard size on the old safari/scorpios! but I agree the stance changed a lot and surprisingly didn't make it so cumbersome to drive.

About 4wd conversion - The process is nearing completion and will be going tomorrow with a few small 4wd lever connecting fork and the transfer-case skidplates.
By tomorrow evening I will put both my4wd Safari and the Jeep through the paces and I can't wait!!

Cheers,
Adi

[AVR]

So the Gelding is finally a black Stallion!

Today was the first day we took an fairly strenuous off-road trial of our ongoing 4wd conversion. The results. Well I had sunstroke after being out in the heat and had to sleep for a few hours and now woken up at 1am and updating this thread! So yes it was AWESOME! It was also my first personal attempt beyond the mild off-roading I've done so far in the Safari.

So here go the pics in fairly chronological order:

Transfer case fitting in progress

The front and rear shafts yet to be connected to the transfer-case

The rear differential shifted from a passenger-side offset to a driver side off-set to align with the transfer case

Transfer case ready to be connected

The Marshall which donated its jewels

Today we took it out for its first off-road trial on a dried up river bank with loose sand. Was very excited about it. Now I actually know what you guys go through at every OTR


The party begins! Getting some instructions from my friend Yograjsinh (JT member)

A descent to understand motion control without abusing the clutch

My expert skills got me stuck in sand but I truly learnt the concept of maintaining momentum and not using very low gears too soon.

No am not jumping out! With no doors was able to see exactly how much grip we were getting (or not getting) while trying to climb up from a sand pit

Another time when the jeep sunk in.

Here's one video..more exciting ones to follow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvdmaqNUZ6M

Overall opinion:
I think we managed to go everywhere we wanted to go. Nothing failed, engine didn't heat up, no leakages whatsoever. Slight issue in shifting from 4H to 4L, I guess I'll get used to that with time.


End of the day, I think I forgot I almost had sunstroke and was fairly exhausted at the end of the heat (For the record- Ahmedabad was around 44 degrees today!)



Few loose ends to be tied up in terms of rear shocks, etc and then the born-again stallion will be ready for OTRs! I think I'll have to organize them for myself out here in Ahmedabad!!

An extremely satisfying day!


Cheers,
Adi

[AVR]

We attempted a fairly steep ascent on loose sand. Funnily, our video only captures the unsuccessful attempts and not the successful one (3rd attempt) Given the gradient and the loose sand I think it was pretty cool

YouTube - Steep ascent on loose sand in mm540

[Jeeper]

Well built machine man, At last managed to meet Yograjsinh virtualy on your thread.

Good going, we shall meet up sometime in Ahmedabad or Mr. Yograjsinh's farm and have first OTR too.....

[ex670c]

Originally Posted by AVR

We attempted a fairly steep ascent on loose sand. Funnily, our video only captures the unsuccessful attempts and not the successful one (3rd attempt) Given the gradient and the loose sand I think it was pretty cool

YouTube - Steep ascent on loose sand in mm540

Hi AVR,

Good to see the 4WD swap, and your JEEP in Action.

Please don't climb a slope at and angle, go for it Head on.

Did you notice the Cable on the Left of the Gearbox, that is attached to the Gear Box Cross Member, I think its called a Spike Arrestor.

Regards,

Arka

The Attachment is from The CJ3B Page

[vinod_nookala]

Congratulations!!
Your commitment to 4wd is commendable. 44 degree hot sun and no top is an achievement! Please do not attempt it next time. Health first!!

please add skid plate immediately.

[AVR]

Originally Posted by ex670c

Hi AVR,

Good to see the 4WD swap, and your JEEP in Action. Thanks Arka

Please don't climb a slope at and angle, go for it Head on. I know its a risk but the incline was such that climbing it head on was not feasible. We did try another one head on. Also, I guess loose sand makes it less likely to topple over than hard ground.

Did you notice the Cable on the Left of the Gearbox, that is attached to the Gear Box Cross Member, I think its called a Spike Arrestor. What's the purpose of this? Apart from serving as our man's tbhp handle!!What kind of current would be built up?

Regards,

Arka

The Attachment is from The CJ3B Page Yup have seen this in detail, My friend has all the CJ3 manuals and have gone through most of them

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

Congratulations!!
Your commitment to 4wd is commendable. 44 degree hot sun and no top is an achievement! Please do not attempt it next time. Health first!!
I know Vinod, but you've to understand I have only seen other people have fun for more than a year now and I frankly couldn't care less about the temperature given the kind of excitement that had built up

please add skid plate immediately. Yesterday went looking for a skid plate but couldn't find one. Did you guys fabricate one yourself or did you find it in the scrapyards in your city?

Here's another video of me driving down the same ascent in the video. Engine braking is an awesome feeling. There's so much more that I need to try out now!

YouTube - Loose sand descent in 540

Cheers,
Adi

[vinod_nookala]

AVR,
You seem to have a TCIC safari 4x4. Haven't you taken it off road yet? MM540 4wd seems to be your first experience.

[AVR]

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

AVR,
You seem to have a TCIC safari 4x4. Haven't you taken it off road yet? MM540 4wd seems to be your first experience.

I actually have but you know with the bulk I have not done much with the Safari in loose sand. Also the electronic transfer you never know when it conks off so have to be rather careful.

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

Originally Posted by ex670c

Hi AVR,

Did you notice the Cable on the Left of the Gearbox, that is attached to the Gear Box Cross Member, I think its called a Spike Arrestor.

Yes indeed, well spotted Arka, eagle eyes i must say.

Spike

[AVR]

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

Yes indeed, well spotted Arka, eagle eyes i must say.

Spike

What exactly is its purpose?? Still curious

Adi

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

Originally Posted by AVR

What exactly is its purpose?? Still curious

Adi

It resists the movement of the the power train along the X axis (longitudinal axis) specially under braking and acceleration.

Spike

[AVR]

So finally my jeep is back!
Post 4x4 conversion, it went in for some leaf spring shackles replacement along with a complete overhaul of electricals. But what taught me the virtues of patience was the hood and frame job. It took a while longer than we expected but tonight around 1130 I finally reached home with a covered jeep that might just serve some purpose in the Ahmedabad heat!

Have tried to get the hood done with a slight slope at the rear. Will upload pics tomorrow.

Few things pending for lack of funding:
1) Fog Lights - purchase and fitting
2) Low cut doors - design and fabrication
3) Brake boosters - Bolero style - at a later date
4) Skid plate - Next week
5) Freewheeling hubs - Next week
6) Hand-held spot light with clamped seating - Still in design phase

Am just going to drive the jeep around for a few weeks to get to learn the quirks and then will take a call on the rest.

Cheers,
Adi