Traveller sill reinforcing

Post by **eastona** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:28 pm

http://www.eastonadventures.co.uk/resto.htm

here's some pictures of my sills, a 4 door.

I'll see if there are any other, better pictures. As BMC says, youngun had some really good pictures of his.

Andrew

Post by **taupe** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:41 pm

Nice welding!

Cant see the panel on yours, but I expect reinforcing would only have been needed for a traveller and perhaps a convertible.

If Eastona's dose'nt have it then maybe it was only used on some cars and then Morris decided it wasnt needed?

I noticed that the square plate and nut is fixed to the reinforcing plate and there is then a plain hole in the step sill. Could it be that the reinforcement was added for the seatbelt mounts and dropped later?

I think it was about 62 when seatbelts came in as standard fitment?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:43 pm

You could ask JLH - they are usually very helpful - although seem to be absent from the Forum last few days.
http://www.jlhmorrisminors.co.uk/

Post by **taupe** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 12:55 am

Thanks for all responses, I found the repair panel listed on the Nordisk site. Its ref CHS 260 item No.34 Sill reinforcement panel for traveller and convertible. I will order one so I can see how it fits in on the bottom edge.

Post by **Peetee** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:10 am

Sill reinforcement panel for traveller and convertible

Hmmm. I know the convertible has extra metal in the sills but I thought this was only the top 'L'' panel that the carpet sits on.
There are owners out there who think that travellers could do with beefing up. Could this be an aftermarket optional addiitional panel?

Post by **taupe** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:38 am

Peetee

Definitely original on both of mine and spot welded to the inner step sill,( this is the L panel that the carpet sits on?)

Post by **Peetee** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:56 pm

Definitely original on both of mine

Definitely out of my experience then. I'll let the Traveller owners discuss this one.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:42 pm

I'm glad someone could answer, as those photos were taken too close for my brain to cope with.

The convertibles had an extra U section inside the sills - so this seems different. However it is a very common mod to double skin the inner step when making a post production convertible, so if that had been done on travellers I'm not surprised.

As for your hand sketch - I was admiring it then noticed you'd redrawn the kick plate to go over the top of the sill finisher (the finisher goes on after the kick plate, not under it)

Post by **jaekl** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 12:20 pm

Yes the convertibles and travellers both have reinforced sills. It's U shaped. The travellers really only need it from a bit before the B post to the rear wing. It may have only been used to drive the steel part of the car over to Abington to have the rear body assembled. However, they might also have been concerned with less structural integrity of the wood/aluminum construction.
The preferred repair is thicker single metal section. Perhaps splicing it into repacement pieces.

Post by **Peetee** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:45 pm

The travellers really only need it from a bit before the B post to the rear wing.

I'm inclined to disagree. As the roof is in two parts any stiffening of the sill section has to be a good idea.

Post by **jaekl** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 6:51 pm

Picture the car without the wooden structure. The cab is a box and then the rear box is attached only by the sills. The highest stress will be at the base of the B post. The door sill has the stress spread out through the roof. Think of door hinges, placing the hinges far apart versus real close together. Morris saloons are like far set hinges and convertibles and back halves of travellers are close set hinges. The reinforcement must be at the base of the B post.

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:22 am

As far as I know all travellers had these extra channel sections inside the sill step. They're the same part as the convertible and not widely available as most parts lists dot acknowledge their existance.
The panel for a 'post production' convertible is similar but intended to go on the inside, I mean inside the car as the car may have good sills so not possible to fit in the box section.
Many travellers will have been restored without this, but as the cars a pretty sturdy and over engineered they must get away with it. Good to recreate and fit it though if you've got the chance...

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:24 am

jaekl wrote:Picture the car without the wooden structure. The cab is a box and then the rear box is attached only by the sills. The highest stress will be at the base of the B post. The door sill has the stress spread out through the roof. Think of door hinges, placing the hinges far apart versus real close together. Morris saloons are like far set hinges and convertibles and back halves of travellers are close set hinges. The reinforcement must be at the base of the B post.

Indeed - by the time you've got the sill off and the boxing plate extension off you've got one bendy car. Needs well bracing first before work in this area...