My Maruti 800 Carb (1991): Now Restored!

[Varun560061]

Re: Restoration of Maruti 800 1991 (Tonnes of Pics Uploaded)

Nice Anand ! I think you should either tie or keep something below the bass tube so that it doesn't roll around.

 

[ss80]

Short trip to Nandi Hills

Thanks Varun, I agree, I will do some diy to fix the tube in one place, as it keeps bouncing very often, on big potholes etc.

A short Travelogue:

Been a long time since I took my car out of Bangalore (may be almost a month), hence went ahead and did a short trip to Nandi Hills with a friend.

Dint have time to wash the car, its been a week since I washed it, still just took it out and zoomed away. A few pics (actually tonnes of pics)

Trip starts @


Since its a weekday and off peak hour that we started, not much of traffic anywhere.




Stopped on airport road (next to Jakkur aerodrome) and clicked a few pics of flights landing.







The Nandi in the distance




Stopped for random pics on the narrow road leading to the hill. Its been almost 2years since I came here, and this is the first time I have come by car! So I found the road to be quite narrow




My friend busy with his camera




Wow, what a view!


Stopped the car next to the pond and started to enjoy the lush greenery. The weather was actually pretty cool, as it was drizzling and the grass everywhere was glittering. One grave mistake I did was to drive the car all the way up till the top. I should have left it at the bike parking area, I had to stop every now and then and lock car, walk a bit and then move forward. I love to walk in that place.

Few pics of the hill













The pic of the rain so far is too good. Will take a print of it probably.

 

[ss80]

Re: Restoration of Maruti 800 1991 (Tonnes of Pics Uploaded)







Few pics of Sunset









My friend just amazed by the silence of the hill.

Few more pics of my whitey






Meter closing @


One silent, long, breezy drive with no traffic jams & horns, made it an awesome evening. Hoping to do another trip pretty soon.

 

[ss80]

new wiper rods installed







Its been a long pending task of replacing the wiper support rods.finally did it, bought denso make and had to change the ball joint thing to thw newer one. Now no kad kad noise when wiper works.

 

[ss80]

Some more updates

Hi all,

I replaced the rear brake shoes as a DIY and adjusted the hand brake stiffness. Needs to be tightened a bit more.

And the gear shiter broke in my car, and I was unable to shift gears, I could only manage 3rd gear most of the time. Hence bought a new Shifter + SGP pin and got them replaced. Whole thing costed 850/- and after that was done I am at peace of mind now. Took my car to Sri Chandra Choodeshwar Temple in hosur and back today. Felt smooth and good all the way.

 

[ss80]

Ever since the last trip, I hardly made any changes to the car except adding mudflaps and did another trip to Nandi Hills with whole family this time. Here is a pic of the rear brake shoe replaced.

I resigned my job in Accenture and took a month long break, now joined a company closdeby to my home and will be doing pure night shifts going forward, so hopefully I can use my car as a daily drive (finally).

 

[scorpking]

I resigned my job in Accenture and took a month long break, now joined a company closdeby to my home and will be doing pure night shifts going forward, so hopefully I can use my car as a daily drive (finally).

Hi Anand,
congrats!! All the best on you new job. Enjoy your passion buddy... My car is still with the ASS, they may deliver the car tomorrow or day after.

 

[ss80]

Sad yet right decision....

A few pics for now,












Token advance received :(

After having spent close to a 90k on restoration and driven only 12000kms, I just could not find what I was looking for in this car. With times changing, the need for a bigger car with AC is something I cant deny. The car is still good, but has some things which is costly to change & cant compromise on comfort anymore. List of things I wanted to do in this car
1. Rear suspension change to COIL type
2. Gearbox change to get rid of whining noise
3. AC
4. Bigger wheels - 13"

If I do the above mods, I will have to pump in another 50k, which will be nothing but stupidity. With Bangalore roads becoming bumpier day by day and my shifts being mainly night shifts, I need a car which can move me without roughing me up on every drive. Despite the bomb amount I have spent the satisfaction is simply never found. For every km I drive I end up spending close to 7Rs. on pure maintenance (apart from fuel and alignment). So it works out @ Rs.13/- per km which is simply too much to afford for a average salaried guy like me. My usage is now easily 500kms a month and hence it simply doesnt fit my pocket.

So finally the super expensive, less satisfactory restoration has come to an end. Above are pics from the OLX ad I had posted and the token amount received today.

The biggest learnings come from the biggest mistakes we make. This one has surely beaten me up to the core, but lessons from this episode will echo for years to come, in my heart.

IF SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY, THEN YES!!!! THIS RESTORATION WAS A RIDE OF A LIFETIME!

 

[mayankdixit]

I am feeling very sad that its all coming to an end.Honestly ,I never wanted it to end.I wished it had gone on and on and on. But I was being selfish,maybe.I respect your decision.You wont believe yours and varuns thread( about the 800 DIYs)motivated me in joining TAI.You had been fantastic in your DIYs which are the core of TAI.This was the exact thing I found missing in other forums.You guys had all been so honest and hardworking and without bling and showoff ,which is the best thing I liked in your thread, and we all watched spellbound what all you did with this cute little car,to restore it to its glory.Hats of to you,and best of luck with your next car.

 

[shrijit303]

It is very sad to know that you sold your whitey.I regularly read your thread and check for updates.Best of luck for your next car

 

[saroya]

Buddy its a bitter truth that these little beauties can't give that big sedan like comfort and satisfaction even after spending lot of money and various modifications. And middle class people like me can't afford two cars. That's why we have no option other than sell our loved little Angels and purchase the car which can give us that satisfaction and fulfill most of our needs.
Best of luck for your upcoming car.

 

[shashikanth]

Anand I was speechless on your restoration but its your decision to let the car go to new home anyway good luck for the car with the new home.

Regards,

Shashikanth

 

[ss80]

Guys, thanks for all your kind words. Yesterday afternoon the buyer came to home with his mom (the buyer is about 45yrs old) and collected full balance, all documentation done. Explained to him clearly the list of parts replaced in recent times and that these @ no cost will need a replacement. Also showed him the easy way to start a carb car (fuel dump method - press the accelarator pedal thrice and then crank once) also checked most nuts and bolts etc, wiped the car clean and brushed the carpets once again. Covered the car with blanket as it was too hot in afternoon and the old lady might feel very uncomfortable while sitting in car.

I have stripped the car of all ICE & wheel spanner and jack. Explained the same to the buyer and insisted him to buy new wheel jack and spanner kit asap.

The person drove the car away, while I stood till it disappeared into a cross at the end of the road. Ever since I am hooked on to OLX, Cartrade, Quikr etc yet to find a good car. I have hardly slept for 5hrs in last 3days.

THIS IS WHAT YOU GO THROUGH - NO MATTER HOW HONEST YOU ARE!(read below)
The owner texts me at 9.19pm saying that

"Hello Mr Anand We drive the car for some 8 to 10kms there is a problem in clutch & gearbox, my mother is little upset plz if you can come tomorrow afternoon to the mechanic plz help me out my mother trusted me a lot"

I really felt very bad seeing words like clutch and gearbox in the text, called up the buyer and asked him to meet at a common point immediately and I test drove the car, 2 simple issues -

1. He had pushed the floor mat so hard that 50% of it is under the pedals, none of pedals are moving.
2. Choke cable adjuster was a bit lose, hence increasing RPM, he had unnecessarily operated it. Choke is required only in mornings. In fact in my car I have never used it till date, just do the fuel dump thing and drive the car.

Explained the same and used a 10size spanner and fixed it, I told him not to come to conclusions straight away and type things like "problem in clutch and gearbox". He felt a bit embarrased, yet he could not digest the fact that I came @ 10pm night and fixed it for him. I told him the amount of money spent in the car and asked him to read that list once again. Asked them to relax and went back home.

I told him not to doubt every inch of the car, instead start loving it, you will have peace of mind. For 55K he got way more than he can get anywhere else.

A short list of things which are still as good as brand new
1. Front suspension
2. Rear gas dampers
3. Battery - 1.5yrs old
4. Carburator - only 1yr old
5. clutch, speedo, accelerator cables
6. Radiator - 2000kms since replaced
7. Headlamps still good
8. 4new mrf tyres - only about 8k used - not a single puncture till date
9. New carpet - MGP - 750/- on the day of delivery, just so that he feels good about it.
10. Brake booster and rear brakes shoes too are new.

A rebuilt engine and fair amount of paint still left and decent enough for anyone to use.

I even put 300/- worth fuel just before handing over the car. Total fuel left in car was enough to drive about 100 to 110kms

Despite all this, the buyer hardly had a smile throughout the conversations. I priced it pretty low, so that it can go away from me, as I simply cant live with the thoughts of seeing people test drive it everyday.

I am currently looking for a used Santro type 1 or a WagonR type 1 or 2 for approx 1 - 1.3lakhs. Please do refer any Bangalore vehicles if you know.

Thank you so much for all the support and encouragement.

 

[AppU]

Liked the way you responded to the people who brought your car, Appreciate it

This shows the care which you had on your 800.

Wish you to get another beautiful car on your hands before I come to Bangalore by next month

 

[shrijit303]

SS80,I suggest you to buy a type 1 WagonR. . 1.It has more space than Santro. 2.Its design is much better than type 2 WagonR.