Making a 1970 'rat rod'

[Lee Davis]

I have a question about carburetors on a 1970 Ambassador. 


   The bike was parked in Houston in 1985, with the 'cylinders 'oiled up' and the battery removed. It slowly rusted to a not unpleasant patina. My plans are to replace the pistons/cylinders with a new set of Nigisil jugs, add a battery and see if she runs. But, I am unsure about the carbs. What are the thoughts on just running new gas through the carburetors and running it as-is? Do carbs tend to remain ok after years, or should they be rebuilt?

[Groover]

I would rebuild them if parked for so long. It will probably run without the rebuilt, but you'll likely get backfiring and poor/no idle and such unless you refresh them with new seals and clear the passages for good. The o-rings get brittle and weird oxidation happens inside if left dry for long.

Take them apart and soak them in one of these overnight and they'll be like new (once you replace the wearable parts with a rebuilt kit) - keep the original floats.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/MCR6402

[chuck peterson]

Wow, that's a jack pot on the panniers...

CRAVENS...usually black, but I think those are the real deal

Whatever you do save those horns just to PO the purists!

[JoeW]

before you Rebuild the carbs, drop the pan and clean it out, look for chrome flakes or worse, bearing material. If there is no metal in the pan, proceed with cylinders. Do you have the side covers? WD40 and a soft brush will take away that white oxidation, just don't scrub too hard, it'll keep it's patina but not have the barnacles. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

You might be surprised at how well the rusty chrome will clean up with aluminum foil and water. Trust me on this.. 

[Lee Davis]

Chuck... I have been scrubbing the original chrome in the cylinder walls with aluminum foil and water for hours and it doesn't seem to help. Any suggestions? I are a smart guy, but this has me trumped.

[fotoguzzi]

You joke? Chuck was talking about the chrome tear drops on the tank. I think

[brider]

Keeping an eye on this thread for activity....I just bought a '70 Ambo myself and I'm eager to not replicate any of Lee's mistakes! 

[Lee Davis]

I don't think I have made any mistakes so far, but, of course my ex would say different. Congratulations on the 1970... As I said in another thread, I think it is my favorite year (I have 3 of them). 1970 is also my favorite year for BMWs, and I have two R50/5 bikes. One is a nice running original that I got from the first owner, and the second is a good candidate for a full restoration. My focus right now is pulling out the dents from the 2nd r50 tank. As with the Moto Guzzis, my bugaboo is the painting and pinstriping... I tend to do everything myself, and I am not competent at the pinstriping as yet, but I shall keep practicing. The 1st BMW:


postimage org safe

[Testarossa]

Did you clean the carbs? Inspect for flakes in the pan?  Is the bike running?

[Rick4003]

Hi Lee,

Hoping you're doing good on your project. BUT where are the pictures? We need pictures! 

 

-Ulrik