Kyrgyzstan Patrol/Mercedes build

[ryanh1006]

Been posting some of this on my ongoing adventure thread, but getting ready to start a bigger overhaul of my Patrol so figured I should start a thread.

As it is now:
-2.8 TD basic engine (no intercooler, no electronics, blown head).
-5 speed FS5R30a manual trans (blown 4th gear synchro, won't stay in 5th)
-Tough Dog springs with +300kg rating.
-Profender heavy duty shocks
-All new bushings
-32 inch Maxxis Bighorn MT tires on 15 inch high offset rims.

Upcoming plans:
-Swap in SsangYong 2.9 TD engine (Mercedes OM602)
-Swap in SsangYong Rexton manual transmission (modified T5)
-Install intercooler to go with 2.9 engine
-Add oil cooler
-Retain original transfer case
-Build roof rack
-Add lighting and maybe snorkel
-Replace interior carpet and freshen interior
-Improve noise installation to reduce cabin racket

Should be fun and hopefully more reliable this way. Last season is ate two head gaskets in 15,000 km then the head went (I think, too angry with it, I just parked it for the winter). To expensive to keep fixing the 2.8 so a reliable Mercedes 2.9 looks really nice.

Truck as it is now.

 

[Scott Brady]

Best of luck with the conversion!

Kyrgyzstan is a stunningly beatiful country. I had a few cold beers in Bishkek too

 

[dwh]

Nice truck.
Your website crashed my browser.
You can keep the horse milk - I don't even like cow's milk.

But I'd love to tour that country one of these days.

 

[Patrollife]

That thing is stout. Subscribed!

 

[ryanh1006]

Nice truck.
Your website crashed my browser.
You can keep the horse milk - I don't even like cow's milk.

But I'd love to tour that country one of these days.

Out of curiosity what browser are you using? I do my own web admin, so I need to trouble shoot it if it's causing problems!

Come on and visit! You'll at least have to try the "Kumis" though. It's lightly fermented, smokey, and sour horse milk, you never know, you might just like it :coffeedrink:

 

[ryanh1006]

Best of luck with the conversion!

Kyrgyzstan is a stunningly beatiful country. I had a few cold beers in Bishkek too

Thanks! Where did you get to in KG? I mean Bishkek is alright, I live there, but the nomadic camps are where it's really at!

 

[Scott Brady]

Thanks! Where did you get to in KG? I mean Bishkek is alright, I live there, but the nomadic camps are where it's really at!

I entered through the southern border with Tajikistan, then through the war zone of Osh (this was 2010), then through the Farghana Valley and ultimately into Bishkek. It was part of a trip I did along the Silk Road, through Central Asia and through the Pamirs and the Wakhan Corridor

 

[dwh]

Out of curiosity what browser are you using? I do my own web admin, so I need to trouble shoot it if it's causing problems!

Lemme see...that time I was using...Opera 12.

Come on and visit! You'll at least have to try the "Kumis" though. It's lightly fermented, smokey, and sour horse milk, you never know, you might just like it :coffeedrink:

Steamed in my espresso, or sweetened in Thai iced coffee. That's the extent of my relationship with milk, I've never believed that people are supposed to consume milk after they are weaned. If it wasn't for coffee, I'd never touch the stuff.

 

[sweety]

Nice looking Patrol & good luck with the conversion but I would have went for the Patrol 4.2L engine myself

 

[ryanh1006]

Nice looking Patrol & good luck with the conversion but I would have went for the Patrol 4.2L engine myself

Would love to, but there is only one 4.2 available at this time in the whole country and it is $5000 without transmission, probably another $1500 or more for the transmission plus installation for the two. And to make it worse, can't guarantee the condition of the engine. It's a very rare engine and transmission here. It's just not realistic to do the conversion economically. The 2.8 had enough power, it managed to cross Ak-Baital pass on the Pamir Highway (4655 meters) with a blown turbo gasket. So in the end I'm opting for reliability, cost effectiveness, and ease of parts supply.