Morris Minor Owners Club

I am replacing the floor on my traveller and have noticed these were on the underneath on the passenger side floor roughly under the seat. The driver side does not have these. They were held together and to the floor with 4 large pan head bolts?

Are they original and what are they for please?

Answer - Exhaust heat shield - apparently they originally had asbestos sheet between them but fortunately this is no longer there.

Question and Self-Answer already.... Is this a new trend

Yes, they all had a heat shield under the floor (I'm not sure about the side valve MM, but presumably so).
It's quite unusual to find one still there.
You can buy them still, presumably for those looking for originality, but I've no idea what they make the pads from these days.
I've never seen pads for sale separately...

They're terrible water traps to help the floor rust through.

Seems quite remarkable they felt the need really, considering the amount of heat that comes from a Catalytic Converter on a modern car.
I remember the first car I brought with a Cat, circa 1991, the Drivers Handbook advised against parking on long grass due to the fire risk....

Edited my silly typo, at least Chief spotted it

geoberni wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2024 9:46 pm advised against parking on long grass due to the first risk....

The first risk, what was the second?
(my Dads' Volvo 440 had the same warning against grass and fire).

I still remember seeing a very broken asbestos Minor heatshield for sale on eBay, did not look like breathing near it was a good idea.

Chief wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2024 11:23 pm

geoberni wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2024 9:46 pm advised against parking on long grass due to the first risk....

The first risk, what was the second?
(my Dads' Volvo 440 had the same warning against grass and fire).

I still remember seeing a very broken asbestos Minor heatshield for sale on eBay, did not look like breathing near it was a good idea.

I shouldn't be typing that late in the evening

Indeed answering my own question - but may help someone

I think I will re attach for original look but just the outer cover to avoid the water trap and will add a little heat protection

northernboy wrote: ↑Fri Dec 20, 2024 1:24 pm Indeed answering my own question - but may help someone

I think I will re attach for original look but just the outer cover to avoid the water trap and will add a little heat protection

I don't know what the flat section on the right of your photo is...
The original assembly was only the Insulator (22) and the Insulator Retainer (23)...

I think the item on the right is the Asbestos sheet, probably best assume it contains Asbestos.

Regards John

StillGotMy1stCar wrote: ↑Fri Dec 20, 2024 3:37 pm I think the item on the right is the Asbestos sheet, probably best assume it contains Asbestos.

Regards John

No, that's a sheet of metal and has holes to align with the mounting holes in the Retainer.
The insulator is a pure rectangle and sits inside the Retainer, as per the illustration from the parts book.
Here's a modern replacement one, complete, on ebay...

Yes you’re right, I thought it looked about ¼ inch thick along the edge but can see it is folded metal…… My eyes, should have gone to Specsavers.

I would recommend that the the heat shield and insulator pad is ditched as it is a major water trap and if left can rot out the floor above the insulator pad.

Yes - I have two metal components - one flat sheet and one with folded edges - they were bolted together - there was no insulator pad. Looking at the above, I suspect the flat sheet is not original part.

Flat sheet is not original. Unless you're concourse, ditch the whole thing.