One small piece of wood soft...

[Arthurdaily]

Hi, the wood on my traveller in now A1 except for one piece, it is the centre upright... such a small piece of wood and only 5.50 to buy... but how easy is it to replace? It isn't an 'all the wood off' job is it??

[ASL642]

"Centre upright" - of which bit? Do you mean the side waistrail or the middle rail of the rear door? How soft is it. Would wood hardener save it?

[Arthurdaily]

Hi, it is the one on the side between the bottom of the window and the top of the wheel arch, ie it joine those bits of wood together - I have injected it with hardener, but it is still soft!!!!

[simmitc]

An irritating piece it is too You don't have to remove ALL the wood, it just seems like it. The screws that hold it in place are fitted from the inside, so you have to take off all the interior trim on the affected side. Then remove all screws holding the aluminium panels to the wood and CAREFULLY ease the panels inwards until you can get to the screws - you won't be able to take the panels right off as access to the bottom is appalling. On some cars, the panels are held in by wooden fillets, on others there are just screws. IIRC, you also have to remove the windows to get to the top screws, but I will need to check that. When you put everything back, you will need new sealant.

It would be worth purchasing the section direct from a woodwork specialist such as Steve Foreman and seeking his advice - he might know a short cut. Good luck.

[Arthurdaily]

Just toask Simmitc, or anybody else, DO you have to remove windows etc to get at the top screws? Thinking of tackling this next weekend if the weather holds...

[simmitc]

I just happen to have a brand new side in the garage, I'll try to post photos tomorrow.

[Arthurdaily]

Ah ha! Brilliant! Please do, it would be SO SO useful! I hope this is a one day job? lol

[simmitc]

Sorry, haven't had a chance with the camera, but I can confirm that you do NOT need to remove the windows. However, you do need to remove the wing

With the interior trim and aluminium panels off as much as possible, there are two screws at the top of the piece, going from inside to out, into the waist rail; and then a further two at the bottom, again from inside to out, going into the arch. There is a final screw going up from underneath (ie hidden by the wing). Hope that helps, will get some pictures, but it might be a few days; however, the description is accurate. Good luck,

[Arthurdaily]

Brilliant - thanks... but does that mean the wing has to come off as well?

[pegasus]

I would try it without removing the wing. I have just finished restoring my traveller and neither the old original wood or the new had a screw from under the wheel arch up into the small block. There are 2 screws top and 2 bottom from the inside (under the aluminium panels) into the middle rail and the arch.
I think it depends now on where new wood is purchased from as to how many screws are fitted and where, but there was only the 4 in the original i removed.
You can see under the arch just about here on my new wood
All the best
Mark

[Arthurdaily]

Thanks, that pic is very helpful