Restoration Of My Hindustan Ambassador 2412

[HKS2412]

guys i am attaching few pics of round led lights, my request is can anybody able to find the source or available near your location can helpful, the above items are available in ebay usa/aus which way too expensive.. the diameter/size should be within 4 inches

 

[Ambylovers]

Hi HKS2412,
I checked the same kind of Light in some shops, But i got only a negative response from them.

 

[Robin79in]

Hi @ HKS2412

Most welcome in TAI. You are doing well, select color according your choice. As concern about brands of car paint, there are various brands available in market i.e. DuPont, Nippon, AMCO, Asian Paints, Duco, Autolite, AkzoNobel's Dynacoat etc.

Some of choices for your reference:

 

[SANDY.]

Hi HKS2412,

Here are some pictures for color reference.
Silver and black looks good on Amby[





How about powderblue.

 

[Ambylovers]

Hi HKS 2412,
What ever paint it may be. Before that get a good painter to do the best of you like. Else it will not make appeal.
Check with the painter before you go to get the type of paint. That will make him also comfortable in proceeding further.

 

[HKS2412]

hi guys, firstly thanks for the color reference.. will work on that, the tinkering process was going on fine, but since 1 week the work is running on snail pace because of rain falling frequently

 

[HKS2412]

I am uploading few pics of the car work done on right side which include
1. running board
2. mudguard arch doom inner and outer
3. door patch front & rear
4. front glass frame pole
5. water channel completely removed 3 layer and rebuild
6. necessary patch & tapping works

 

[HKS2412]

few more...

 

[Ambylovers]

Doing a good job.Appreciate the efforts taken by the Tinker.
So how much is the amount you have finalised for the Tinker.

 

[Ambyson]

hi HKS2412, nice to see some work going on in your car, and i am glad that you have got a tinker to touch ambassador. nowadays no body wants to touch ambassador, we have to literaly beg these tinkers to get the job done. so my suggestion is to maintian a good relationship with the tinker and motivate him.

btw how much is amount quoted for tinker job alone, please share if you don't mind

 

[HKS2412]

hi guys, the tinkering amount initially before handing over the car to the tinker was finalized for Rs.38,000 which include
1.water channel rebuild both sides (3 layer)
2. front glass frame work and poles both side
3. 4 doors glass frame replace below water channel
4. mudguard piece rebuild right from top to bottom both side(beside front door)
5. dicky/ boot is badly rusted inside so instead of patch work replace with good one
6. running board outer and inner both sides
7. quarter platform both sides
8. mudguard arch rework both sides inner and outer
9. bumper alteration front and rear (grand type)
10. heat shield inside engine cabin
11. rear chassis latest type so can incorporate metal bush rubber type
13. 4 doors bottom patch work outer and inner
12. labour charges(removing and refitting new items) so other than this list other alteration may cost beyond that quote.

The tinker is bit expensive and as usual like other tinker do the work slowly but he is experienced and quality and finish can be assured which is more important than cost.

I did a lot of survey in finding right person for my car to work on it.. i had been to Coimbatore which is the nest for rebuilding ambassador, i visited to CAG but i got poor response there as the supervisor coolly suggested me to completely replace the body shell. In 2002 my car was left there for some mechanical work related to engine and suspension the quality and workmanship was superb, at that time there were more than 25 ambys being worked and when i visited in 2013 February the CAG is completely lost its charm as it was totally a deserted place without a single amby, and was filled with new generation cars

secondly i went south India motors there i got a whooping quotation for 2 lakh + for total restoration (tinkering, engine rebuild, painting and electrical and mechanical works),but somehow i was not satisfied because the supervisor there told me that he will do the tinkering only the area where rust is covered and then send it for painting and clearly told me and mentioned in the quotation saying " NO GUARANTEE FOR TINKERING AND PAINTING" which is unacceptable with that kind of investment and estimated delivery was 3 months+

so finally i decided its better to search the tinker locally so that atleast i can sit along with him and guide the finish according to my taste and fortunately i landed in experienced place and near to my location..

 

[Ambylovers]

Hi HKS2412,
Installing Power Steering in Ambassador will not slow down the performance a lot. But alterations are bit hectic. The Steering Column will be changed and it will be collapasble one. Since you are already in the body work process, if you set this Power Steering now, then it will be easy for Tinker to design the Inner Cover for the Steering column. Because the heat will creep up in that holes very easily.
I havent faced any major problems in it. Once the Metal piece holding the Power Steering pump got broken. Tyre wear was not there and its not pulling either side.
If it got fitted perfectly, then you will love it a lot. Not even face vibrations in the steering on bad roads even.

Instead of coming to Ciombatore , if you could have asked me, then i would clearly mention "NOT TO GO TO THESE KIND OF BIG GARAGES FOR COMPLETE REWORK"..Only advantage is you can get you rcar back in very short time. But the quality of work will never never satisfy you. (Particularly Me)..

 

[Ambyson]

good job HKS2412,

you have made right decision on not changing the whole shell, where i made a great mistake.

this is due to the shortage of talented tinkers, these work shops suggest to change the shell and no body is ready to sit and tinker and tap the body to bring it to a perfect shape.
i think the price for that much volume of tinkering work is quite reasonable.
b'cos it is hard to find talented tinkers who can open up the water channels and rebuild from the inner layers. even tinkers who can do it also doesn't want to take so much of pain to do it, as they have started tasting easy money from latest cars and other small commercial vehicles.

so i am quite confident that your project is on right track and well planned, keep going

 

[HKS2412]

Hi HKS2412,
Installing Power Steering in Ambassador will not slow down the performance a lot. But alterations are bit hectic. The Steering Column will be changed and it will be collapasble one. Since you are already in the body work process, if you set this Power Steering now, then it will be easy for Tinker to design the Inner Cover for the Steering column. Because the heat will creep up in that holes very easily.
I havent faced any major problems in it. Once the Metal piece holding the Power Steering pump got broken. Tyre wear was not there and its not pulling either side.
If it got fitted perfectly, then you will love it a lot. Not even face vibrations in the steering on bad roads even.

Instead of coming to Ciombatore , if you could have asked me, then i would clearly mention "NOT TO GO TO THESE KIND OF BIG GARAGES FOR COMPLETE REWORK"..Only advantage is you can get you rcar back in very short time. But the quality of work will never never satisfy you. (Particularly Me)..

hi, sure i will plan for installing power steering if budget permits otherwise i can plan for nova steering box now where all alterations are similar(except pump and oil container will not be there) so that after some time i can go for power steering so there will be no major changes and alterations only swap the desired steering box, what you say abt it

 

[HKS2412]

good job HKS2412,

you have made right decision on not changing the whole shell, where i made a great mistake.

this is due to the shortage of talented tinkers, these work shops suggest to change the shell and no body is ready to sit and tinker and tap the body to bring it to a perfect shape.
i think the price for that much volume of tinkering work is quite reasonable.
b'cos it is hard to find talented tinkers who can open up the water channels and rebuild from the inner layers. even tinkers who can do it also doesn't want to take so much of pain to do it, as they have started tasting easy money from latest cars and other small commercial vehicles.

so i am quite confident that your project is on right track and well planned, keep going

Thank you for the motivation, to be frank my tinker is capable and experienced but when i approached him for the first time he too suggested me to change the body shell, he had couple of body shell readily available (old and new) as he was not ready to take the work initially, so after few request and resistance to not go for change of shell he agreed to restore my car and told me the process will take some time so i finally agreed for that