[Amrik Singh]

Months after I selected a Gypsy King 2001 Model at Mayapuri

Blame it on my Karma, it took over 2 Months to get RC.

A period too long to maintain interest in its build up,

I finally collected it Last Week. Drove it to home and parked it. Few days later sent it to my trusted Mechanic for Oil Change and general review of the condition of the vehicle. It was delivered to me with a new Soft Top. Incidently a few days before it was delivered to me, the vendor received a Gypsy with Hard Top (in very good condition) for general repairs and replecement of Hard Top to Soft One.
The seat belts were soiled with Oil/Grease and my clothes were badly affected. I removed these belts, washed with Kerosene and later with Soap.

Gypsy was inspected by my Mechanic who pointed out the following

1. Propeller shaft appears to be bent resulting in Vibration
2. Mounting of Gear Box was cracked with the same effect.
3. The Driver seat wasw not getting locked in its position.
4. Various other minor issues.

From Mechanic, it went back to Mayapuri for fixing of Hard Top. The King is still without any floor mats and Hand Brake.
Only the cracked mounting of Gear Box was replaced while the Propeller shaft was declared to be OK.

Back from Mayapuri, again with Mechanic for installation of
1. A/C
2. CNG
3. Another round of Mechanical inspection and road test drive.

After this, it is intended to be sent to Mayapuri again for all tidbits works.

Initially it was in OG Military colour which I had got changed to Dark Grey. The Hard Top was also painted from White to Light Grey.
Pictures of the King shall appear later, when the Gypsy is ready to be Photographed (under my Control).

Costs :

1,98,000/- Delivered including RC Charges
1,000/- Oil Change and other minors
9,000/- Replacement of Soft-top to Hard-Top
??? A/C and CNG Installation (Yet to be paid)

Presently, the tyres are just Okay and shall be replaced when the Gypsy passes a few reliability test drives. Shall be interested in slight Lift and Oversized Tyres. I shall seek advice on this issue later.

As explained in some earlier posts, the rear seat was changed to front facing and Collapsible type. Initially some pipe suports were fixed on the cab body edge/rim to lock the seat in position which had to be removed to allow seating of Hard-top. Modifications shall be done again for this during its next visit to Mayapuri.


Amrik Singh

[jeepster]

congrats!

please post some pictures.

BTW why the CNG?
is the gypsy for normal city use?

[Ragul]

Are you installing hard top just so you can use the A/C? Whats the problem with running A/C with soft top?

--Ragul

[Amrik Singh]

Pics shall follow soon.. next week.

I need this Car for daily commuting between Delhi and Gurgaon.

In consideration of traffic chaos between these two cities, I have managed to ride Bike during Winter and am managing through Summer. But come Monsoon.... I shall need a 4WD. Since I do not own Oil well yet, I had to economise with temporary changeover to CNG.



Soft Top is prone to pilferage.

You cannot keep anything in the car and feel safe. Anything means... Tools, Music system, CNG Kit and other valuables.

The Hard Top has better Thermal properties than Soft Top which helps in having a better Air Conditioning and comfort level.

Soft Top has higher Outside Air infiltration than Hard Top with same effect as above.

The transparent sheet fitted on Soft top rear is never good enough compared to Glass at the rear door of the Hard Top in terms of visibility.

[kamboj]

Congrats on purchase.

Gypsy with CNG is an interesting proposition for someone living in NCR. Even I was thinking about the same for quite sometime. But due to some other priorities & general laziness I didn't proceed on this path.

My ideal Gypsy would be one with hardtop cabin for front 2 seats (for dust free AC cabin) and softop for rear seats (for occasional extra passengers). I am not much into offroading, rather I will use it as my daily office commute, with cng ensuring low running cost.

Based on your experience I might decide to go for this. So keep us posted with all the details.

[blueblooded]

congrats Amrik on your recent acquisition.
We are eagerly waiting for the photos to be uploaded.

One thing more ,could you elaborate, the cost factor, i mean ,you mentioned you paid for 198,000 for vehilcel delivery and RC, i want to know how much you paid for the vehicle minus the RC charges

[Amrik Singh]

Yesterday I drove the King myself for a proper road test after installing CNG.

The guy who installed the kit took the Gypsy for a spin as Test. He had been installing CNG on Cars and probably King was his passion, he zoomed it like rocket. Although I had gone against installing 'Accelerator' for speedier pick-up (which is add-on to the standard kit costing approx. 1k), the pick up was excellent as acknowledged by the specialist.

Anyway, I have noticed the following which shall required attendance.

1. Rear Spring Leaves need to be repaired.
2. Rear One side shocker is not functioning while the other one... does not exist.
3. Temperature Gauge is not functional.... a MUST
4. It is mis-firing... proabaly one minor Cough (single THUD!) every few kilometres.
5. Lot of rattling from the rear...(everything in my Car makes noise .. except..the Horn). It shall be looked into after repairs to suspension.
6. Immediate re-start after drive is .. as if the battery is weak. Although overnight morning start was normal.
7. A/C is installed, but not yet tested to its fullest extent.
8. Now that I have got it, repairs shall be regular.

Cost factors

The break-up of original cost is

Rs. 1.85,000/- + Rs. 13,000/- for RC

Additionals

A/C - slightly used - with external Blower (Not connected to OEM air passages) - Rs. 15,000/-.

CNG Installation - 14 k.g. Cylinder + Indian Kit @ Rs. 12,500/- + Rs. 10,000/-

Repairs & Costs yet to be carried out shall be advised later. Pics shall appear in few days.

Amrik Singh

[Amrik Singh]

After more than a year with neglibible driving and zero maintenance on the Gypsy, it is back to Mayapuri for a 'Resurrection'.
As the Gypsy was ex-Army, and in Olive Green colour, I had a spray coat of Smoke Grey ordinary enamel paint to drive without hassles.
The intended modifications are :
1. Cabin only with Two Seats,
2. Modified steel Bumper with Bull bar,
3. No Fancy lights (at least on the Bull bar) that would obstruct road view,
4. Aluminium chequered Plate covered rear cabin. Partly fixed, partly hinged.
5. Painting,
6. Single powerful light facing backwards (to blind and repay those driving behind with High Beam at night),
7. Bucket Seats,
8. Selected Bolero Rear Glass for Cabin Rear as it is completely Flat and reasonably smaller than the cabin width. Better than using Gypsy front Glass.

Future Modifications as presently the Gypsy would be parked unattended for at least One Year because my house shall be under re-construction too.
1. A set of Powerful 100W Lights on front Bumper
2. Alloy Wheels

Roll cage etc. is not needed as I do not intend to do serious off roading. Trying to improve on the habits picked up at desert / dune bashing back in Dubai.

Any / All suggestions on the works and planning are Welcome.

Amrik Singh

[andy.001]

your gypsy is coming along well. I was in Mayapuri yesterday for a cursory look as I am too thinking of buying an jeep or gypsy (one of the two for sure..!!). I saw your gypsy when i inquired about a rally cabin. They showed me this same car. He was telling me about the custom bumper. Great going sir.

[Amrik Singh]

Very slow progress, as I had to advise on each step.

A part of rear is closed / fixed with Aluminium Chequered Plate while another part is with Hinged Chequered plate cover.

Framework for the Plate shall be detailed in next mail.

Locking system for the Hinged part shall be pictured and detailed later.

[Amrik Singh]

Framework under fixed part (chequered Plate) of rear cabin.
I shall be fixing Eye Bolts on either side to strap luggage on this part with Ratchet Straps. So need stronger base. The supports beneath Hinged part shall be temporary for easy detatchment, which I shall explain later.

[Amrik Singh]

Pictures for rear cabin

[Amrik Singh]

Sheet metal works nearing completion and reaching second phase - Painting

All screws and boltheads appearing on the chequered plates shall be replaced with Stainless Steel Countersunk screws and S/S Bolts later.

[Amrik Singh]

One step forward

Gypsy gets primer Paint Coat

[Amrik Singh]

Originally Posted by Amrik Singh

One step forward

Gypsy gets primer Paint Coat

Apologies for missed Pics which are attached now