Traveller Chassis woodwork/restoration

[nwxh]

I am planning on replacing the timber in my Traveller, and (while the wood's up) dealing with the chassis, steel wings and front cab. What is the best approach?

The front was resprayed but rust is coming through. Should I bare metal the whole thing?

I can post pictures of the current condition.

Some areas need welding but I have no experience, so I will get a garage to do this. I was planning on doing the prep myself and getting a garage to spray this (I don't have the proper equipment). Is this a good/bad idea?

What prep does the underside need compared to the rest?

I have read the Haynes manual but it leaves me in doubt over these questions.

[kevin s]

Removing all the paint is the best way to make sure you have found all the corrosion, don't leave it like this for long though because will begin to corrode quickly (a temporary thin coat from a rattle can is a simple way of protecting it).

Most body shops won't guarantee the results if they don't do the prep and some won't even touch it, you need to decide who is going to paint it and then agree who does what.

If you want to paint it yourself it would be a lot cheaper to buy a small compressor and spray gun than pay someone to do it, cellulose is pretty easy to work with and forgiving to the novice user.

For the underside it depends on the result you want, if you are looking for concours it needs to be much the same as the top, a good daily driver then you can use brush on products. I have gone for the centre of the road, cleaned all old underseal off, repaired / treated rusty areas then a good primer followed by spray on stone chip.

[nwxh]

Cheers. It's going to be left out in the rain but used many times a week for the next few years. I am using a parent's garage to do the work, so I think my own spraying is out of the question, but if I can use brush on products that would be brilliant. What products would you suggest, how to prep, and how many coats? I assume this is good for everything unseen, i.e. under the carpets too? Maybe I can just get the visible parts professionally resprayed.

I don't mind not having a guarantee for the spray painting. I'll call around.

[nwxh]

BPost[frame][/frame]

[nwxh]

Cross member[frame][/frame]

[nwxh]

Engine Bay rust[frame][/frame]

[nwxh]

More corrosion[frame][/frame]

[nwxh]

Quarter panel (will pay for both to be repaired)[frame][/frame]

[nwxh]

Nearside wing (will also pay for welding repair)[frame][/frame]

[nwxh]

Rear underside[frame][/frame]

[nwxh]

Read underside hanger. Will it be enough to sand and coat this? I was told that this was "sound".[frame][/frame]

[nwxh]

and this is why the wood is being replaced[frame][/frame]

[MrIan]

Well from what I can see on my small phone screen it's not that bad. I'd strip back the visible body paint with flap discs where necessary , underneath with something a bit tougher.

[MrIan]

That rear spring hanger to me looks solid yes but it looks like a patch repair that's on top of the edge of the hanger. Might be just my small screen though.

[nwxh]

Many thanks! So back to bare metal for the entire body is the way forward based on that? If the rear hanger is indeed a patch repair, this should be replaced with a proper panel right?

[MrIan]

Your main worry is the woodwork as it's not cheap !!!!! I'd start with the underneath structure like floors, sills, chassis. Not really any point stripping the body as yet but maybe have a look at the bits you're concerned about, so Cut the paint back to bare metal, assess the rust but if you're not repairing it straight away get some zinc rich primer on it to stop it rusting over.

[nwxh]

That is true, but I can halve the cost by fitting the woodwork myself. Is it ok to put brand new wood on with only a mere touch up of the parts which look bad?

[MrIan]

Not sure as I've never worked on a traveller. As far as I know the wood is structural but if you sort the steel first then fit the wood or fit the wood then sort the car I don't know.

[ian.mcdougall]

As i understand you have to fit the wood first if the rear arches are rusted through, and then fit the new arches to the timber.
Someone who has done the job may be on as well

[ASL642]

Get everything "metal" sorted out first. i.e. welding/ any rust on front wings. The rear wings will need to be removed if you are fitting new wood anyway so these can be attended to away from the car. Once you have a strong metal structure then you can take off the wood frame. The car cab front will hold shape. You will of course need to remove the rear roof if you are completely refitting new wood. Only then can you assess any more work needs doing as the wood covers some metal areas.

It's a big job but can be done by the amateur at home we did my Traveller - just don't rush it.