Morris Minor Owners Club

What have people found when they have taken old wood off a traveller? Normally is it ok, or has it run in to big dollars to get it welded up?

the rear inner wings /and the rear floor between fuel tank and the bumper end that is what i found was gone . i went and got a frend to make them at there garage found out it would of been cheaper from ESM
mm16

I would say, if your travelelrs wood looks tatty, but the car passes the MOT, drive it like that and enjoy till you have the time, skills and money to do a full resto of the rear end- i.e. steel structure, wood, new ali panels (including painting them) and any other itmes that need refurbing, trim etc.

Otherwise, treat the wood, but leave it if its not falling apart.

Thats the problem mine is falling apart!!!

If the wood is that bad, the the steel structure underneath and probably the ali panels (which corrode at the edges where they screw to the steel and wood) are also likely to need replacing.

The side of the car is what I did, after tackling front wheelarch rust!

Well we will have to wait and see cause I have to do something cause the woods ok other than the rear pillars!!! Just really want to replace it all and if we need to do some welding so be it....but carry on with telling me problems you've had!

It is easier to replace any rusty panels with the old wood still there rather than taking the wood off, cutting the rusty metal off and then wondering where exactly the new panels should go.

The most likely parts to go rusty are the rear inner wings where they meet the wood. If necessary fit new ones before you take the old wood off.

oddly enough with my resto trav, the only areas of (non-surface) rust appear to be the sills and X-Member - theres nothing obvious elsewhere but I'm sure I will find more as I progress!

So would it be obviuos to a mechanic what would be rusty without taking the wood off???

Reasonably obvious to a mechanic who knows the model quite well. Like Dan points out though, there is ALWAYS more than you/they expect

newagetraveller wrote:It is easier to replace any rusty panels with the old wood still there rather than taking the wood off, cutting the rusty metal off and then wondering where exactly the new panels should go.

The most likely parts to go rusty are the rear inner wings where they meet the wood. If necessary fit new ones before you take the old wood off.

That would work if the new wood was exactly the same dimensions as the old.

You may find that aftermarket wood is slightly different from what was on the car as original. I was advised to trial fit the new wood and tack weld on the inner wings/ flange panel (whatever you replace) to ensure the new metal and the new wood fit together well.

Then take the wood off for final welding and painting of the new panels.