Barn find '62 Traveller - Full Resto

Post by **rich-legg** » Thu May 14, 2009 2:01 pm

Latest project at Rich's Resto Shop!

Normally I stick to VW's, but my wife wanted a Morris Traveller, and I stumbled across this one a few weeks ago, sitting on someone's drive. Story goes it had been inherited, and until November had been sitting in a barn since '84!

Plan is to do a full resto on it. No room in the garage at the mo though, so until there is I'll be stripping it down in the lock-up. Needs plenty of welding, all the usual crap I guess. I'll be making the welds 'invisible', and make it look like it just rolled out the factory - better in fact. Although I'll probably drop the suspension slightly & give it a new set of wheels.

Pics so far, the rust fell out when I wobbled it, no hammer or chisel needed here!

Pics when I found it,

picking it up...

And starting work...

Post by **ASL642** » Thu May 14, 2009 3:00 pm

Just a small amount of welding required then!

Post by **Dryad** » Thu May 14, 2009 3:31 pm

At least you can clearly see what's rotten and what isn't. With my first Minor I discovered every conceivable bodge you can imagine under some very thick layers of underseal and paint. Good luck with the restoration - I'm looking forward to watching your progress!

Post by **ani** » Thu May 14, 2009 3:51 pm

Did I see a picture of you kicking it!!!

Good luck - just a bit to do then

Keep an eye on the pick-up resto lots of handy work going on there as well http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... ic&t=24733

Post by **ASL642** » Thu May 14, 2009 3:56 pm

There's a lot of restoration projects on the go on this site at the moment - better than TV!

Post by **Dryad** » Thu May 14, 2009 3:59 pm

There's an idea; a Minor Restoration Show! I'm sure one of the many small channels on Freeview would take it up.

Post by **pfgiz** » Thu May 14, 2009 4:23 pm

It would beat the endless repeats of what you missed on Monday.. I know I'd watch it... Been out checking my welder this afternoon. I thought my seat felt a bit 'mushy'. All fixed now..!!!!

Post by **rich-legg** » Thu May 14, 2009 4:32 pm

haha, I was kicking the ramp!

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

Yeah I can only see where it's been welded twice before - once on the rear inner arch, and the same on the front.
The last Beetle I did had 6 previous bogded patches in one place, which needed cutting out & re-doingm that too needed the whole bottom 6" welding, turned out to be a real show winner though...

Post by **MGFmad** » Fri May 15, 2009 12:07 am

Wow, that beetle is amazing.

Good luck on the Traveller - it looks worse than mine was!

Post by **Dean** » Fri May 15, 2009 6:08 am

I agree that beetle looks fantastic! Good luck with the traveller, and keep the pics coming please.

Post by **timmo** » Fri May 15, 2009 8:24 am

Ive got a Traveller looks like that LOL....Good Luck

Is the Beetle '67 one year only?

Post by **rich-legg** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:09 am

Thanks guys

should have some more updated pics tomorrow morning.

Yeah the Beetle was built as a replica of a US Spec '67 which is indeed one year only. It took a lot of hard work. The Traveller I hope will be as good

Post by **timmo** » Fri May 15, 2009 4:25 pm

Restored a '67 oyo last year, sold it as im fed up with the VW scene..Just got to finish i 69 i started for my son, which for finacial reasons he cant carry on... so i had to buy it off him

THEN... i can carry on with the Traveller

Post by **d_harris** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:38 pm

You won't get empi 5s on a moggy btw

Post by **rich-legg** » Sat May 16, 2009 10:18 am

Dan_Harris wrote:You won't get empi 5s on a moggy btw

Post by **rich-legg** » Mon May 18, 2009 10:26 am

Making good progress now. The body is pretty much stripped now, just a few more dash parts & steering & suspension to remove. Then I can get it in the garage & start cutting out the rust.

Found a few more 'bodged repairs'.

I've left the back in one peice for now, incase I need to re-fit for reference.

I wondered why I couldn't get this bolt out of the wood. I had to cut the wood around it, a discovered this...

Post by **taupe** » Mon May 18, 2009 11:14 am

Hi the strip down is coming on well.

Its going to be great to follow your progress!!

Can you do a close up pic of the area in your second from last photo where the sill meets the wheel arch and the bottom timber fixes as yours looks original set up here?

Regards

Taupe

Post by **rich-legg** » Tue May 19, 2009 7:02 am

taupe wrote: Can you do a close up pic of the area in your second from last photo where the sill meets the wheel arch and the bottom timber fixes as yours looks original set up here?

Yeah no probs, I'll try and get a pic today or tomorrow for you.

Post by **rich-legg** » Fri May 22, 2009 9:07 am

Had a couple of hours spare the last few days, so did a bit more stripping on the Traveller. Pretty much done now, just the rear axles & front suspention to go.
Not sure when I'm going to have space to get it in the garage to start welding though

I was going to get it blasted after I welded it, but I might get it done before now.

Post by **davidmiles** » Fri May 22, 2009 2:24 pm

Well done Rich, look forward to seeing your progress on the trav now that you're free from the V Dub scene. It'll be very educational for me and many others, I'm only starting out on my first project, a pickup, got my eye on a trav restoration project I've seen. These things are addictive.
Great photography and great progress.