Modding a Tempo Trax

VooDoo · 29th September 2005, 04:32

Hi,

Got to know this forum from Google. Nice to see so many enthusiasts around.

I am planning to buy a 4x4 Tempo Trax and mod it to add a bit of creature comfort and also a bit of exterior mod to make it more acceptable to eyes. Afterall it is a Merc G Wagen in disguise !!

My budget is around 5L so, I would rather go for a Judo/Gurkha with PS and possibly AC and spend the rest to mod it to my taste. Is Gurkha available in India or is it only Judo ? What is the difference between the two ? Is there a body kit available to fit the exterior to give it a more closer look to the G Wagen ? I believe I can change the seats, interior door cards etc at a body shop but where can I find a suitable dash ?

Sorry for shooting so many questions in the first appearence.

Gurkha · 29th September 2005, 07:02

VooDoo,

Welcome, glad to see another Trax enthusiast, the only bodily difference between the G is that it has a different front grille, otherwise, the Gurkha and Judo are based on the 80s G Wagen, just one correction, someone gave you the wrong price, back in 1997, the Gurkha cost me Rs.6 lakh and currently it is only exported out at a price of Rs. 8lakh, in Europe it gets a tag of 22000 Euro. The OM 616 IDI turbo is no longer sold in India, as a matter of fact, very few were sold here, mine being the 3rd one. It is just too expensive for BTL to make it as most internals parts are MB Germany imports, for instance the pistons cost around Rs.18000. The T case is German, the diff locks etc are all German so the expense. You might be able to find the Judo with the newer DI turbo 2.9L engine with 4WD. If you need more info,send me a PM.

Mpower · 29th September 2005, 09:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gurkha

expense. You might be able to find the Judo with the newer DI turbo 2.9L engine with 4WD. If you need more info,send me a PM.

The new DI engine, what is it called? Is it just a DI version of the old OM616 or an all new engine. What about BTL making the new mercedes 220 common rail engine.

Gurkha · 29th September 2005, 10:57

The 2.7CRDi is slated to be fitted to export Gurkhas by next year, have driven prototypes and would rather prefer my lower powered, super reliable and all mechanical OM 616 turbo. The 2.7 only has a expected life of 100,000 miles versus OM 616/617's 400000+.

The DI engine is based on the original OM 616 but heavily modded by AVL and has a totally different model number, it is called TDI 2950.

VooDoo · 29th September 2005, 13:52

Gurkha,

Thanks for your reply. The Gurkha is a tad high for me. Is there any Judo available with the 616 turbo engine ? Sorry! the tempo site is of no help.

chiragh_bir · 30th September 2005, 16:19

just take it to autopsyche and he will do the job

falcon · 30th September 2005, 23:12

Gurkha,

Am I right in assuming that the Judo does not have the diff locks... so even though it is a 4x4, it has its limits... unlike the Gurkha ?

Falcon...

devarshi84 · 1st October 2005, 04:41

http://www.tempoindia.com/html/whatsnew.aspx

something that might intrest you. Btw I didnt see gurkha listed here. Any links????

and yes I think autopsyche can make this into quite a looker.

Gurkha · 1st October 2005, 07:43

falcon,

Judo and Gurkha shares the same powertrain and you can order diff locks on Judo.

The OM 611 CRDI is what I tested, that engine will blow any other diesel SUVs around here except for the 6 cylinder jobs, the new tranny is quite good too but I have no faith in CRDI's comparative longevity as compared to the OM 616/617, I would have rather seen the 617 turbo there.

Gurkha · 1st October 2005, 08:12

devarishi84,

The yellow SWB with round headlight is the Gurkha and the teal green LWB is the Judo.

devarshi84 · 1st October 2005, 09:04

but where is it under the name gurkha on the website???

ananthkamath · 1st October 2005, 10:24

All the vehicles look friggin' hideous. Looks like someone at Force likes a certain Designer of Cars

Gurkha · 1st October 2005, 10:31

I agree Anantkamath, it doesnt' need the tacky plastics, the original G based design is fine by me, I have it like that on mine.

devarishi,

No Gurkha label and most likely they won't be sold here, but they are going to show it at the auto show in Delhi so you can check them out there.

devarshi84 · 2nd October 2005, 04:57

I like these cars more than the old mahindras. Firodias should spend some money on marketing these cars in rural markets.

ananthkamath · 2nd October 2005, 11:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by devarshi84

I like these cars more than the old mahindras. Firodias should spend some money on marketing these cars in rural markets.

I think they should also try and sell to the army..I am sure the Gurkha will outperform the Gypsy King...and moreover it gels with the armed forces policy of using a common fuel....diesel

29th September 2005, 04:32	#1
VooDoo BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: CA, US Posts: 59 Thanked: 0 Times	Modding a Tempo Trax Hi, Got to know this forum from Google. Nice to see so many enthusiasts around. I am planning to buy a 4x4 Tempo Trax and mod it to add a bit of creature comfort and also a bit of exterior mod to make it more acceptable to eyes. Afterall it is a Merc G Wagen in disguise !! My budget is around 5L so, I would rather go for a Judo/Gurkha with PS and possibly AC and spend the rest to mod it to my taste. Is Gurkha available in India or is it only Judo ? What is the difference between the two ? Is there a body kit available to fit the exterior to give it a more closer look to the G Wagen ? I believe I can change the seats, interior door cards etc at a body shop but where can I find a suitable dash ? Sorry for shooting so many questions in the first appearence.
	() Thanks

29th September 2005, 07:02	#2
Gurkha BANNED Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kalyani, West Bengal Posts: 444 Thanked: 10 Times	VooDoo, Welcome, glad to see another Trax enthusiast, the only bodily difference between the G is that it has a different front grille, otherwise, the Gurkha and Judo are based on the 80s G Wagen, just one correction, someone gave you the wrong price, back in 1997, the Gurkha cost me Rs.6 lakh and currently it is only exported out at a price of Rs. 8lakh, in Europe it gets a tag of 22000 Euro. The OM 616 IDI turbo is no longer sold in India, as a matter of fact, very few were sold here, mine being the 3rd one. It is just too expensive for BTL to make it as most internals parts are MB Germany imports, for instance the pistons cost around Rs.18000. The T case is German, the diff locks etc are all German so the expense. You might be able to find the Judo with the newer DI turbo 2.9L engine with 4WD. If you need more info,send me a PM.
	(1) Thanks

29th September 2005, 10:57	#4
Gurkha BANNED Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kalyani, West Bengal Posts: 444 Thanked: 10 Times	The 2.7CRDi is slated to be fitted to export Gurkhas by next year, have driven prototypes and would rather prefer my lower powered, super reliable and all mechanical OM 616 turbo. The 2.7 only has a expected life of 100,000 miles versus OM 616/617's 400000+. The DI engine is based on the original OM 616 but heavily modded by AVL and has a totally different model number, it is called TDI 2950.
	() Thanks

29th September 2005, 13:52	#5
VooDoo BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: CA, US Posts: 59 Thanked: 0 Times	Gurkha, Thanks for your reply. The Gurkha is a tad high for me. Is there any Judo available with the 616 turbo engine ? Sorry! the tempo site is of no help.
	() Thanks

30th September 2005, 16:19	#6
chiragh_bir Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In front of you :P Posts: 1,123 Thanked: 74 Times View My Garage	just take it to autopsyche and he will do the job
	() Thanks

30th September 2005, 23:12	#7
falcon BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mumbai / Goa / UK Posts: 88 Thanked: 4 Times View My Garage	Gurkha, Am I right in assuming that the Judo does not have the diff locks... so even though it is a 4x4, it has its limits... unlike the Gurkha ? Falcon...
	() Thanks

1st October 2005, 04:41	#8
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	http://www.tempoindia.com/html/whatsnew.aspx something that might intrest you. Btw I didnt see gurkha listed here. Any links???? and yes I think autopsyche can make this into quite a looker.
	() Thanks

1st October 2005, 07:43	#9
Gurkha BANNED Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kalyani, West Bengal Posts: 444 Thanked: 10 Times	falcon, Judo and Gurkha shares the same powertrain and you can order diff locks on Judo. The OM 611 CRDI is what I tested, that engine will blow any other diesel SUVs around here except for the 6 cylinder jobs, the new tranny is quite good too but I have no faith in CRDI's comparative longevity as compared to the OM 616/617, I would have rather seen the 617 turbo there.
	() Thanks

1st October 2005, 08:12	#10
Gurkha BANNED Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kalyani, West Bengal Posts: 444 Thanked: 10 Times	devarishi84, The yellow SWB with round headlight is the Gurkha and the teal green LWB is the Judo.
	() Thanks

1st October 2005, 09:04	#11
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	but where is it under the name gurkha on the website???
	() Thanks

1st October 2005, 10:24	#12
ananthkamath Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mangalore Posts: 1,209 Thanked: 80 Times View My Garage	All the vehicles look friggin' hideous. Looks like someone at Force likes a certain Designer of Cars
	() Thanks

1st October 2005, 10:31	#13
Gurkha BANNED Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kalyani, West Bengal Posts: 444 Thanked: 10 Times	I agree Anantkamath, it doesnt' need the tacky plastics, the original G based design is fine by me, I have it like that on mine. devarishi, No Gurkha label and most likely they won't be sold here, but they are going to show it at the auto show in Delhi so you can check them out there.
	() Thanks

2nd October 2005, 04:57	#14
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	I like these cars more than the old mahindras. Firodias should spend some money on marketing these cars in rural markets.
	() Thanks