My Older Jeeps I can recollect that I had a Mahindra CJ500D diesel Jeep , with the MD2350 International engine.It was very crude for a diesel, the crudest ever. The engine NVH levels were the highest ever for any Indian automobile (sorry the Jawa/Yezdi 250 competes with the CJ500D). But the jeep was very, very dependable. Parts were available anywhere , even in the rural areas and any mechanic would repair it well.
This vehicle is unique and is made to run without any battery support.It had a Lucas dynamo (alternator used to be fitted in the CJ 3B/ CJ 4A's) for recharging the battery.Now whenever my battery conked off, the jeep could be either jump started or pushed for the start.Being in a rural area, it could be a few days before I could go to get a new battery.On chilly mornings the start would be a tedious process as the heater would'nt function.Petrol jeeps (CJ 3B and CJ 4A) when push started take hardly any effort much like petrol cars.
And believe me , the CJ 500D would run for hundreds of kms without any battery. It just does'nt need one to aid the diesel ignition process.The horn, indicators,lights and the heater did not work.So just like many modern bikes, where the battery backs up the self , indicators and horn (the headlights are magneto powered) the CJ 500D would run tirelessly.Even the Royal Enfield Bullet engine cannot run minus a battery as the DC current aids the ignition process. The CJ 500D's engine noise was so prominent that seldom any horn was needed.Night driving would have to be avoided.
The 540DP that replaced the CJ500D had a rotary fuel pump for the 2112cc Peugeot 540DP engine and this fuel pump needed the battery. So no liberties could be taken on the new jeep.There is nothing to beat the CJ 500D for rural duties in India.Its a MULE and needs very little care if at all.
Got pictures of two old ones. The three pictures below are of the steel grey 1980 (CJ 4A petrol) model and the fourth one the light smoke grey 540DP is a 1999 model.Note the ugly black and red stickers put by me on that 1980 jeep.I am yet to get the CJ 500D pictures whose body is the same as the CJ 4A petrol but for the heater within, the protrusion of the engine within the front passenger compartment reducing the leg space for the front passenger seated at the centre.
I have driven this CJ 4a @ 110 kmph at full throttle. It had a Solex carburetter and the 2.5 L Hurricane petrol engine. The spare parts were not very widely available as compared to the diesels.
My pet Alsatian dog (female) Sony (1982-1996) who is no more, alongside.
The picture below of a later date, shows that the jeep is serviced and polished. I had also fitted side indicators on the bonnet and had got the wiring job done, connecting it to the front and rear indicators.The chrome has been given monsoon protection
Last edited by anjan_c2007 : 25th February 2009 at 20:42.
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