traveller resto

Post by **Belinda** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:44 pm

my traveller has just undergone most of its resto (found the poor thing rotting away in a pub car park and was given it as long as i promised its lifelong lady owner that i would bring her back to her former glory)
so i far im doing ok, she had fibreglass wings all round, the front ones were letting in water and so there was some rust there, i have replaced these with steel ones, i was thinking about replacing the back ones, but these are in decent enough condition (better when the car gets its respray) would this be a good idea? i know the steel ones ripple quite easily and can be difficult to attach with the timber there.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:17 am

Fibreglass wings give the car as much splash protection as steel ones so I don't really understand the 'letting in water' comment (sounds more like a rogue trader comment), unless you meant they had to be removed to make other repairs and you decided not to have them refitted for other reasons. Fibreglass wings give marginally less crash protection but if you get to a stage where that is an issue, then you're going to have a very bent car!

Anyway for the rears - if they look ok then don't worry but if you are going for a very expensive respray, then you have to think about the fibreglass wings. Although fibreglass ones may well outlast steel ones (unless the steel ones are VERY well looked after) the fibreglass ones detract a little value from the car. If you're spending a small fortune on the respray then a few hundred extra for getting steel rears fitted and painted is something to think about.
Alternatively you can change the rear wings a few years after the respray anyway - they are discreet panels and with a few inches of wood in between them and the nearest other body paint it should be no hassle to get them painted to a 'close enough' match.

Post by **Belinda** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:12 am

i think its because the fibreglass wings were poor quality and wernt fitted very well leaving room for the water to get in. i had the car thoughouly checked out before i bought it and it hadnt managed to cause that much damage yet. so as you guessed i decided to have the front ones replaced with steel as opposed to better quality fibreglass ones after these repairs were carried out just because i was bieng a bit purist i guess! the car probably wont be resprayed for a while because i've spent so much on the mechanics etc, so the wing issue can wait a while anyway. thanks ray

Post by **honda90** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:17 am

I've got fibre glass wings on mine metal on the front fine got no probs with them http://www.morris-1000.co.uk/

Post by **chickenjohn** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 11:42 am

Hi Belinda, I notice that in term time your in Canterbury. Well, the East Kent branch of the club meet just up the road from you on the 2nd monday of the month at the Grove Ferry pub, in Grove Ferry.

We'd be delighted to see you at the next meeting and you can tap the abundant collective knowledge of our club! and its also a great place to get cheap parts or to know where to get them from- and its a good bunch of people. I run the website http://www.ekmm.co.uk
I'm in the thick of it at the moment, myself in the restoration of my Morris Traveller.