Morris Minor Owners Club

How important is the highlighted section to structural strength? What would I need to worry about/reinforce if I were to remove this section and the pillar on both sides?

What are you going to replace these areas with? The chassis section at the bottom of your outlined section is critical, and remember this is a monocoque design where all areas are interdependant for overall strength.

I'm thinking about small suicide door replacements. The monocoque chassis is what I'm concerned about. If I reinforce the area around the bit removed would this be enough? (ie reinforcing along the bottom of this section similar to the section under the doors there.)

I want to get rid of the column but not sure which direction and where the forces act on the chassis.

It will lose a LOT of strength if you take away the 'B' pillar. Probably buckle in the middle - unless you add massive strengthening below.

Might be easier to start with a 4 dr and simple suicide the rears. Cars like the Mazda RX8 do this little trick but they rely heavily on the strength of the glass to keep it all in one piece.

I'm definitely after more of a look like the rx8. The four door won't do (also haven't got a four door, I have a two door! hehe) and not the look i'm after.

Nothing wrong with 4 doors young man! (except i wish i had a 2 door )

You could always swap

ha...i think we both love our cars too much Richard...

sorry, consider me sufficiently corrected! hehe

Although that wasn't what I meant! just that I really like the look of half sized suicide doors on back and open space right through (ie no supporting pillars)

Hi Mike. Think your gonna cause yourself lots a problems with this one. In order to stop the car from sagging in the middle without the B post your gonna have to add a massive amont of strength along the outer sill which will most likely have to encroach into the passenger area. Bare in mind if you add to little the roof will simply disstort a become scrap. Add to that having to form the new B post to hang the suicide door and a latching arangment that stops the doors from bowing with eachother as you drive. Thnk if its an idea you are stuck on you might be better of picking up a scrapper to design the conversion on and then swap the parts over when you know they all work.
All the best
Rod

The only way around it as I see it would be to weld internally a structural cage....

ok I will show my ignorance now...

why would you need a roll cage? the convertible does not require a roll cage. obviously this is with the proviso that enough strength is put into the floor?

My understanding was that the guy wanted to remove the B pillar completely - but if not then I mis read it.....

charlie_morris_minor wrote:ok I will show my ignorance now...

why would you need a roll cage? the convertible does not require a roll cage. obviously this is with the proviso that enough strength is put into the floor?

I was about to mention the convertible

sufficient strengthening in the sills should do the trick

I assume your not interested in a tight handling end product ?

It'll be much less rigid than the 'bendy' convertible as the intention is to do away with the B post and in effect turn the rear 1/4 into a door. A roll cage would do the job if correctly designed.

I think I might try and find myself a scrapper as per rod's advice. Would rather balls up something less important first. I have experience of bespoke roll cages for Landies and mini's but not of minors. I'll do a lot more thinking first.