A Very Ambitious Ambassador Project

[Dave Swanson]

This is a case of too cheap and too close by.

This 1971 Ambassador popped up for sale about 50 miles from me.  It is fairly complete and has a title.  The $500 price tag was the straw that broke my will.   

The tins on this baby make my other Ambo's tins look like NOS. Thread can be found here - https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=125280.0

Matching numbers,  missing toolboxes and side covers.  The seller was very honest and disclosed that he treated this as a donor bike while restoring his Ambo, therefore I will find bits missing.  This disclosure was reflected in the price, but even though it is a helluva a deal IMO.

This Ambo will be more of a challenge compared to the 1970 but should be just as fun.   

[Dave Swanson]

The rear fender has the original dealer decal.  And as a bonus I found both keys with the dealer fob!

[Dave Swanson]

I might be able make the rear fender into something more presentable.

Before.





After about 30 minutes using medium cut rubbing compound by hand.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

IIRC, Mark Etheridge (or maybe it was someone else?) uses Barkeeper's Friend to remove the rust/stains.

[Dave Swanson]

IIRC, Mark Etheridge (or maybe it was someone else?) uses Barkeeper's Friend to remove the rust/stains.

This is how it looks.  Kept going until I ran out of Barkeeper's Friend.  Not bad.  It will never be a nice fender but depending on the plan for the bike it could be usable.

[Dave Swanson]

As good as I can make it.  Unfortunately the front fender is no where near the shape the rear is. 

[DoubleGuzzi]

Ya mean to say you haven't got it all assembled and running around the block already!
Stop yer shirkin' and get workin'. 

Aye, a wee bit more work required, compared to your other one. Good luck. 

[Dave Swanson]

This is as good as I can make the tank, and it's not too bad.   

The chrome panels had such heavy rust that I used a small wire wheel.  There was no way the chrome was ever going to shine again anyway. 

The painted areas received the Barkeeper's Friend treatment, followed by various abrasive levels of rubbing compound, ending with a coat of carnuba. 

[DoubleGuzzi]

A few weeks back (unlike me) I watched a youtube of a comparison of chrome paint spray. Just saying.
 

[Dave Swanson]

A few weeks back (unlike me) I watched a youtube of a comparison of chrome paint spray. Just saying.
 

No chrome paint spray will be harmed in the making of this Ambo.   

[Dave Swanson]

The engine and transmission housings are the dirtiest of any I have seen.  There's a petrified black coating all over.  It was very hard to scrub off. 

One major piece done. 

[Dave Swanson]

I'm coming to the end of the evaluation phase for this one.  I wanted to evaluate the motor and transmission, before spending any serious $$ on sheetmetal, etc. 

I haven't found anything that would turn this into a parts bike.  So it will be restored.

The engine case was the gnarliest I have ever seen. 

[Dave Swanson]

I sent the 2 rear transmission housings off to Patrick Hayes for his fine mods; oring groove for the selector shaft housing, and a new stainless 20mm liner for the throwout bearing. 

[Dave Swanson]

The crank is in pretty good shape, but the small end is a few tenth of a thousandth undersize, so I will have that ground to the first undersize.  I happen to have a front bearing for the first step also.

The sludge trap cap was reluctant to come out.  It was the first one I have stripped out with my impact wrench.   I have a limited supply of long drills but lucked out having one just long enough to drill for a large easy out.   I have had this big easy out in my drawer for eons, and it finally earned its keep.





As a testament to how long this bike has been laid fallow, 45 years, the sludge was petrified in the half filled sludge trap.  It required an hours work to chip away at the rock hard sludge.

[inditx]

Dave, Dave, he’s the man if Dave can't do it no one can!
Can’t wait to see the end results.
Best wishes
inditx

[Dave Swanson]

The frame is up for final disassembly.

[Dave Swanson]

A bit of luck with the bottom end.

As I said earlier the crank was on the stock grind, and looking good except the small end being a tad under spec. 

My next door neighbor is in the grinding/machining business and had it ground to the first under for me.  When he handed it back - no charge!

I just happened to have a very serviceable first under front bearing in my wish box so, doubly good. 

[Dave Swanson]

When this engine was torn down for whatever reason, all sorts of mayhem ensued! 

They broke out the flange when prying it off!  Luckily I had a stock big end bearing in my wish box also!

[Dave Swanson]

The heads and final drive were dropped off at The Guzzi Doctor today.   

[Dave Swanson]

There's no turning back now!  The money pit is  now open for business. 

New cylinder/piston/ring sets.  Not manufactured by Gilardoni, but you'd never be able to tell they weren't.  High quality, and Nikasil plated bores of course.

[Dave Swanson]

The generator mount had been run with this crack in it for quite some time.





The crack created this worn section .050 deep in the pattern of the crack.





My first thought was to have the divot aluminum welded, but the only welder I know that is good enough to pull this off is very unreliable for turnaround times.

Since it would be much easier to add some metal to the base if necessary (and it probably will not be) I decided to give my little Gorton milling machine a chance to earn it's keep.





The area that supports the generator base is not very generous, therefore it is important that you are working with a good surface.





Since I am breaking out the Scrambler Cycle alternator kit I have had on the shelf for many years for this one, the front cradle for the generator height is not a factor.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

There's no turning back now!  The money pit is  now open for business. 

New cylinder/piston/ring sets.  Not manufactured by Gilardoni, but you'd never be able to tell they weren't.  High quality, and Nikasil plated bores of course.

So they're Stein-Dinse's kits now?

[Dave Swanson]

So they're Stein-Dinse's kits now?

It does appear they are sourced from SD