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Parcel Shelf

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:26 pm
by Andy W
Apologies if this is a daft question but would a '68 Traveller have ever had a parcel shelf?

Mine doesn't look like it did, but they seem like a useful item!

Re: Parcel Shelf

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 7:00 pm
by ManyMinors
Yes, they all had the parcel shelf fitted originally under the dashboard - just below the heater. The captive nuts should be present still on either side behind the trimmed scuttle panels. In fact the holes in these panels are probably still visible?

The parcel shelf itself is only made of millboard (a hardboard material) which suffers in damp conditions and often collapses over the years so owners pull them out and throw them away I suppose :(

If you haven't got anything at all you'll have to buy all the different fittings plus a new board I imagine. A matter of telephoning around all the various specialists until you strike lucky.

Re: Parcel Shelf

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 8:59 pm
by minijojo

Re: Parcel Shelf

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 11:35 pm
by mike.perry
You will be better making up new scuttle panels from some decent material eg, hardboard rather than the poor quality original items.
The fun starts when you try fitting the new parcel shelf

Re: Parcel Shelf

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 5:55 pm
by Andy W
Woah..!
All the bits new come to 80 quid...... :o

Thanks for the info, though I think I'll shelve ( :roll: ) that idea for now!

Re: Parcel Shelf

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 8:25 am
by ManyMinors
I wouldn't consider buying everything new! Have you not done some 'phoning around to try and get a secondhand one? You'll probably have to buy the actual shelf material new (about £20?) but everything else should be easy enough surely?
Have you put a "wanted" ad on here?

Re: Parcel Shelf

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 1:33 pm
by stag36587
I have the bar but the shelf itself must have disintegrated ages ago so I though I might try to make a replacement out of hardboard or mdf. Is the shelf really only held in by the screws either side? Is there no other support - how do you avoid it sagging in the middle?

Re: Parcel Shelf

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 1:52 pm
by ManyMinors
The shelf itself is also held in place by a row of rivets into the engine bay bulkhead and a couple more into the base of the battery tray (which means removing the battery).
When I replaced mine I used "pop rivets" with a washer on either side.
As you say, the original material isn't the most robust but had lasted over 30years already when I did mine, so fair enough really :wink:

Re: Parcel Shelf

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 7:51 pm
by Andy W
Good points, well made...for the amount of work involved, buying the shelf is probably wise.
I am watching a bar & some end spacers on Fleabay, & have also put a post in the Wanted section here.

It will be nice to have somewhere to put my, um, well, er...parcels! :D

Re: Parcel Shelf

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 6:18 pm
by Andy W
Crickey!
That was a total bar steward of a job to fit..! :cry:

If I ever have another Minor, I will find one with the parcel shelf already in, or just not bother!

The rather flimsy & rubbish new parcel tray sustained damage during the very awkward fitting process & what's with this bar end spacer lark? Why on earth couldn't BMC just make the blasted bar the correct length!

Still, I've now got a choice of places to throw my mobile phone when I get in the Traveller! :D

Re: Parcel Shelf

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 6:34 pm
by panky
It's for parcels :wink:

Re: Parcel Shelf

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 7:38 pm
by stag36587
I'm about to do this job. Can someone tell me why besides the captive nuts there are also a couple of slots and extra hole on each side?