Page 1 of 1

Advice needed from Traveler experts pls...

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:31 pm
by PSL184
I've seen a very pretty looking Traveller. Snowberry white with duotone red interior. I like the car a lot but i have a dlilema...
I'm not looking for a major resto project but this car needs some work... Here goes. It would MOT fairly easily. A couple of bits of underbody welding and a brake refurb... But, the wood is soggy in a few places and the front gutters are rotted out badly. Bugget wise, if I bought the car, I would have about £1000 left over to spend on it, so questions as follows:
Can the wood be easily replaced in sections or do you have to strip it all off to replace the wheel arch pieces and the base of the B post pieces and secondly, how easy are the gutters to fix? Would I be able to do this inside my budget and how long would the work take? Apart from the roof the paintwork is good and the interior is immaculate so it has some very good points and some not so good. Its the wood that worries me most as it is unchartered territory for me :oops:
Any help, suggestions or advice appreciated, Thanks

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:39 pm
by MGFmad
I have only mine to base my experience on but I had to renew (both sides) the vertical against the B post, mid rail, wheel arch and small part between the wheel arch and b post.

My top rails and C posts were good so the roof did not need to come off but you need to lift the assembly clear to get room to slot the tenons into the mortice at the mid rails.

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:01 pm
by simmitc
If you need to replace any wood then you must be aware that it is a structural part of the body, not a cosmetic addition. If you're going to do any significant work on the wood then my advice would be to bite the bullet and do one complete side at a time - it's far easier to buy the pre-assembled side.

Whatever you decide, you will need to remove the complete rear interior in order to gain access to the screws that hold the aluminium panels to the wood. The windows will have to come out along with the channels - and it's 99% certain that you'll have to budget for new channels.

The gutter is held on by nails, and a lip folds over to hide the heads.

Don't be put off, but be aware of the potential work and costs. For example, if there is welding to do underneath, then you may well find that when you take the wood off, the wheel arches also need attention.

Soft wood needs to be replaced, but Travellers go on for years and are well worth repairing.

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:01 pm
by bmcecosse
Trouble is - the wet wood usually means rotten steel underneath. So - likely you would need to sort all that out, and THEN fit new wood. The gutters seem to be available ok from a regular contributor on here - not a job I have done - but i'm sure he would guide you!

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:35 pm
by PSL184
Thanks Guys's - you've pretty much confirmed my fears that it would be more work than I would want to take on right now, esp considering the 2 saloon projects that are on the go also :-)
I'l keep looking for a better one....