User:Naresh K.Gianchandani/sandbox

Mahindra Jeeps

Mahindra and Mahindra started as Mahindra and Mohammed in about 1946, distributing jeeps in the Indian Sub continent.

After the division of India, their partners retained the Karachi operations, and it was renamed Mahindra and Mahindra.

An assembly plant was put up in Worli, Bombay, and production of the 81" CJ-3B was started, till 1967 it was made in left hand drive only.

The plant was later shifted to Kandivili, Bombay and an additional plant was built in Igatpuri, Nasik.

A 91" wheelbase model, the CJ-4A, was introduced in 1971, and sold much more than the 3B. It is not related to the Willy's CJ-4

The 1973-74 Arab oil crisis caused the prices of fuel to shoot up, and International Harvester tractor engines were fitted in the CJ-4 series, they were called CJ-4D, later CJ-500D, and CL-500D. Engine was 4 cylinder 2523 cc, 38 HP @ 2300 rpm, at first indirect and from 1985 or so direct injection.

CJ / CL500 DP was with the Peugeot XDP 4.88 62 bhp engine, license built by Mahindra. The front fender had the tips extended and bent downwards, making them easier to spot.

There were 101" wheelbase variants, CJ/CL 500-101, gearboxes were 3 speed "Uncle Sam", later Kia designed 4 speed, and after about 1998 the five speed from the 1969 CJ5.

The Commander Series was an extended chassis with two rows of front facing seats, with local body builders making four door bodies on it, it was called the NC640 (with the IH engine) and NC650 (Peugeot engine). It was discontinued as the hard top bodies sourced from Mitsubishi were introduced as the Marshal series.

The CJ340 Classic was a CJ3B with the 4.88 Peugeot engine, did not sell in large numbers, discontinued. 4x4, Kia 4 speed gearbox

The 540/550 series was a replica of the CJ5, tooling from Mitsubishi, engines were Peugeot 4.88 (62 hp)/ 4.90 (4.90 XDB), gearboxes were copied of the 1969 CJ5, locally made under license from Dana Spicer. 540 was 4 speed Kia, 550 was 5 speed.

The XDB was sold mainly to the Indian forces, and later upgraded with front CV joints as the Thar, the rigid front axle version is no longer sold.

Thar now is available only as 4 x 4 with a common rail engine, a modified Peugeot 4.90 with turbocharging and other changes to the head. The cheaper version, with the MDI 63 hp engine and 4x2/4x4 versions is no longer made.

Production ended 01 October 2010, with the Major, the successor to the CL500, which was really a Mitsubishi tooled Jeep, marking the world wide end of flat fender jeeps.

CJ-3B production ended in about 1987.

Army MM550 XDB had manual front hubs, later normal hubs were seen tyres were 7.00-16. Now the forces are using a version of the Invader, and the Maruti Gypsy for their light vehicles.

FC 160 was licensed version of Jeep FC160, last produced in the 1970s with petrol engine. Mostly 4x4.

FC 260 was FC160 with the IH engine, 38 Hp. rarely in 4x4.

FC 360 was FC 160 with Simpson P4 engine, 33 HP, never seen in 4x4.

Summary:

Engines: Petrol

2199 cc 75 HP Go-Devil, Isuzu 1800 cc 74 HP, Exports only version had Mitsubishi engines.

Diesel:

1. IH sourced 2523 cc, 38 HP indirect injection 2300 rpm

Modified to: MD3000, Direct injected, 3000rpm

Further modified to MDI 3200, 63 HP. Turbocharged.

Further modified to M2DIcr, with common rail injection.

2. Peugeot 4.88, 2.2 litre, 62 hp. Unpopular due to power coming in late, heater issues, and high fuel consumption.

3. Peugeot 4.90, 2.4 litre, 74 hp, indirect injection. Later the engine was used as the basis for the NEF series engines, with turbo charging, common rail injection and other changes, the bore/stroke remains the same.

4. NEF series in the Thar, 140HP approx, common rail turbo diesel