30th March 2024, 13:52
| #1 |
| Distinguished - BHPian   Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai
Posts: 4,423
Thanked: 11,213 Times
| Project Maximus - A Decade old Jeep Story! So.. this... is about a Jeep I own for over a decade now. Over the last ~10+ years, this Jeep has undergone countless part replacements (eg: Atleast 10 axle swaps), Numerous Changes to its body structure, different tyre rim combinations, different steering and suspension set ups and what not. All this has imparted me with tremendous learnings and knowledge which I will cherish for the rest of my life. This Jeep is also probably one of the reasons my Career and Life has taken a U-Turn to from being a Villager to a Corporate Employee  (Apart from my personal reasons) I will not be getting too deep into how this build, but, I will try to share some pics of the entire lifetime of this Jeep. This is probably few of the first pics after when I bought the Jeep. With the alloys and tyres it came with. I may have only added the canopy to it.    Further which I changed the steering to RCBT and Upgraded the tyres rims and rear axle, IIRC.    Further into the build, I put a proper door, windshield, some lights here and there, some changes to the suspension and some other functional modifications.     Then came a time when I wanted a closed cabin, some music.. nice comfy seats..   Then came a winch, Hi Lift Jack.. some more mechanical mods like the LSD, New Axle, Better steering, Suspension etc...    And a Full page feature in the Local News paper.  Then came MT tyres into the picture.. Some body lift.. Minor mechanical mods..   Last edited by dhanushs : 30th March 2024 at 17:13. |
|  (58)
Thanks
|
| |
|
30th March 2024, 14:39
| #2 |
| Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai
Posts: 4,423
Thanked: 11,213 Times
| Re: Project Maximus - A Decade old Jeep Story! Now, it was a few years into the ownership and parts started giving away.. And it was time for a major overhaul. Did a full patchwork of the Jeep, and most important change was an Engine Swap to a Nissan SD25, a wider stance (wide axles and off-set offroad rims)!  .   During this time, the Jeep also went through major Cooling system change, Roll Cage changes, Electrical changes and more..  Then came even bigger tyres and more mods for tougher off-roading and tougher competitions. Oh. yea.. I had a nice Air Conditioning too    Next phase was the weight reduction phase.. Removing all the unwanted stuff, that weighs the vehicle down.   And some trophies to add to the collection..   Next phase of the Jeep was further complicated. Gave it a new paintjob, New bits and pieces of body, I relocated the radiator to the rear to check for cooling efficiency, more mods on suspension and engine. More mods on the FIP for more power.. More functional mods and some more lights here and there..     Next comes even bigger tyres and some engine mods like better turbo.. Different Fuel Injection Pump.. and some more mods.. Honestly, i dont rememeber them all. Along with this, I had some more mods done on the body, like a different kind of lift. A different steering set up. Ah.. yeah, I had a different axle too.. One with a chromoly build.       And.. Some more recognitions along the way!     Last edited by dhanushs : 30th March 2024 at 14:47. |
|
| (58)
Thanks
|
|
30th March 2024, 15:22
| #3 |
| Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai
Posts: 4,423
Thanked: 11,213 Times
| Re: Project Maximus - A Decade old Jeep Story! Now, the next phase of the Jeep is probably the most advanced, before the current set up. Everything was changed again. The engine was changed to Nissan BD30T, The suspension to Longer Travel Ironman, Pajero seats, New & better winch.. oh yeah.. even bigger tyres and a custom made PTO winch.. and more..            And.. some more recognitions and some media coverage... Including the prestegious Club Challenge Award of India's best Club & 5 Lac Rupee Cash.    After that, I again go ahead and strip and change the Jeep. This time for more weight reduction and in the process make it look good too.. Numerus mechanical changes too come, some of them include pneumatic fiddle brake system, air lockers, changes to the PTO winch, Engine etc.. which I'm not getting in detail.           |
|
| (61)
Thanks
|
|
30th March 2024, 16:56
| #4 |
| Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai
Posts: 4,423
Thanked: 11,213 Times
| Re: Project Maximus - A Decade old Jeep Story! Now, for the final episode of this thread, and for the final iteration of my Jeep! After the numerous iterations the Jeep has gone through, I think, I can safely say that this would be one of the last. In this last iteration or this current rebuild I have tried to incorporate my decade old experience in the design and for build, I have replaced every old part and with brand new ones wherever available, and good condition ones if not available. This new re-build of mine would be the 'newest' a re-built jeep can become. Since now it's relevant, and very much present. The Current Specs of the Jeep would be:
Presenting MAXIMUS with a Brand New Body, New Chassis, New Axles, New Compressors, New Fiddle Brake Boosters, Rebuilt Engine, New Clutch, New everything..  Some Paint Booth Pics from night.       Now some Paint Booth Pics in Day Light.    Some pics to drool on the paint finish.    Now some outdoor pics:        Now for some action pics:         I hope I have done justice to Maximus in summarizing it's lifetime. This is particularly important as this guy is now out of action. Cos of the current career path I have taken, I have decided to retire Maximus out of action and keep it home. Parked. Safe. Like a Trophy Truck. Hence the fancy paint job and attention to detail. I also hope you guys have enjoyed a decade of transition of my Jeep - which started out its life as a humble MM540XD. Last edited by dhanushs : 30th March 2024 at 17:15. |
|
| (119)
Thanks
|
|
30th March 2024, 19:37
| #5 |
| Team-BHP Support  | |
| (2)
Thanks
|
|
31st March 2024, 09:55
| #6 |
| Distinguished - BHPian  Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: COK\BLR\MYS
Posts: 3,850
Thanked: 11,181 Times
| Re: Project Maximus - A Decade old Jeep Story! Given what Maximus Reborn (You should consider the name plate) is, it's not going to be long before it tempts you back into the rough stuff should your occupation keeps you behind a computer screen at some point of time in future, hope not. Thanks for the awesome Easter Sunday morning read My daughter has already given me notice about my Jeep, that it's going to be hers soon, It's a tradition one should preserve because they have many lives, reborn. |
|
| (8)
Thanks
|
|
31st March 2024, 10:44
| #7 |
| BHPian  Join Date: May 2020 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 222
Thanked: 1,600 Times
| |
|
| (1)
Thanks
|
|
31st March 2024, 12:40
| #8 |
| Newbie  Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Mumbai
Posts: 12
Thanked: 24 Times
| |
|
| (1)
Thanks
|
|
31st March 2024, 13:13
| #9 | |
| BHPian Join Date: Mar 2024 Location: at sea.....
Posts: 188
Thanked: 496 Times
| Re: Project Maximus - A Decade old Jeep Story! Quote:
 From the pictures it looks like you have an electric winch installed currently, what happened to the PTO winch? Is it a traditional PTO or a high speed one (apparently in Malaysia they have one called the "god winch", something similar?). Any specific reason why you have not done a suspension upgrade/change from the original leaf sprung set up despite the engine upgrade? | |
|
| (1)
Thanks
|
|
31st March 2024, 16:27
| #10 | |||||
| Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai
Posts: 4,423
Thanked: 11,213 Times
| Re: Project Maximus - A Decade old Jeep Story! Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
| |||||
|
| (4)
Thanks
|
|
31st March 2024, 17:44
| #11 |
| BHPian Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Chandigarh
Posts: 44
Thanked: 160 Times
| |
|
| (2)
Thanks
|
| |
|
31st March 2024, 19:34
| #12 |
| Newbie Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Coimbatore/NY
Posts: 4
Thanked: 18 Times
| |
|
| (7)
Thanks
|
|
31st March 2024, 19:45
| #13 |
| Newbie Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Patiala
Posts: 6
Thanked: 15 Times
| |
|
| (1)
Thanks
|
|
31st March 2024, 23:45
| #14 | |
| BHPian Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: pale blue dot
Posts: 694
Thanked: 3,195 Times
| Re: Project Maximus - A Decade old Jeep Story! Amazing care and dedication shown for Maximus by you Dhanush. I can't begin to imagine how much of a labor of love this is. Quote:
| |
|
| (4)
Thanks
|
|
1st April 2024, 10:04
| #15 |
| BANNED Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: coorg/bangalore
Posts: 459
Thanked: 606 Times
Infractions: 0/1 (10) | |
|
| (2)
Thanks
|
 |
Most Viewed