Morris Minor Owners Club

I became the proud owner of a traveller at the end of this summer. As I started 'going through' the car it became obvious that the previous owner(s?) didn't have much mechanical acumen and had let a lot of things get done by individuals - or businesses - of varying ability.

The closing panels were corroded but knowing that they weren't structural, I assumed they wouldn't disadvantage me re the pending MOT.... WRONG!

Someone had welded them to the floor on both sides, whether in a fit of efficiency, misdirected kindness or just plain stupidity, I don't know.
Having been attached to the floor pan (becoming part of the car's structure), they failed the car as having 'excessive corrosion'. I was exasperated and contacted Foreman's, the minor centre and ESM, who all said the same EXCEPT Foreman's who said they remembered this had happened to one of their clients' cars a while ago.

The judgement for a fail was fair and followed the MOT guide to the letter, a bit over zealous maybe but they were protecting their licence.
THIS IS A WARNING, THESE PANELS ARE ONLY TO PROTECT THE LOWER FACES OF THE WOODEN FRAME FROM TOO MUCH WATER DAMAGE AND NOT MEANT TO BE WELDED IN PLACE!

Check them next time, it could be a trap for the unwary.

I would agree - If they "become" part of the structure then they are "structural". I MOT'd my project last year with them removed because they were rotten. Can't fail if they are not fitted

Thanks for the confirmation, it's the same logic I used.
Steve (Foreman) even said that some of his customers didn't want them put on when the wood was replaced by him...

Seemed a bit drastic but as he said, if the plates are left off there isn't any place for water to accumulate and with proper preservative/paint/or waterproof coating any residual moisture drains away.
As the gap seemed a bit too much with winter breathing down my neck, (the car's got enough fresh air for now without any more help!) I went for replacements made from new, decent thickness galvanised steel, shaped with a flange by an excellent bloke at a local engineering works, sprayed with 3 coats of zinc rich paint, wood treated and then screwed in place I left them like that so the tester could see they were ok.

The car then flew through for no extra cost.

Call me stupid if you like but what parts are talking about could someone post a picture?
thank you
alan

They are the floor to body sealing plates fitted under the bottom of the horizontal traveller rail by the boxing extension panel.

They close the gap between the timber and the chassis and some people weld them on...

They are held with three self tap screws into the timber on the underside and one screw through the flap into the wooden wheelarch.

Here are some pics of an original ....





Taupe

Hahahaha - at the first MOT when I took my Trav to the local garage they failed it on 'insufficient welding' for these plates. I pointed out that welding steel to wood was not easy - and that these were simple cover plates to keep the timber dry..... I took along a resto book that clearly shows the plates being fitted - and they grudgingly believed me ......

just out of interest what was the book you took.

kind regards

alan

bmcecosse wrote:Hahahaha - at the first MOT when I took my Trav to the local garage they failed it on 'insufficient welding' for these plates. I pointed out that welding steel to wood was not easy - and that these were simple cover plates to keep the timber dry..... I took along a resto book that clearly shows the plates being fitted - and they grudgingly believed me ......

My 1970 Traveller never came with them fitted. Can't say I really miss them - I think it's probably best that they're left off for the wood to breathe. Certainly, the wood down there has lasted well enough without them.

Plenty of waxoyl protects both