A very slow build of a custom traveller
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:37 am
Hi Boys and girls of the Minor Forum, Specifically the custom section,
I thought I should start a build thread of my traveller, it will only be a mild custom, nothing to cleaver, it was a one owner car form new, two owners now I have it, I’ve owned it about 10 years but just had it stored up, so I figure now is a good time to make a start on it,
Now this will be a very slow build as it will have to fit in with life, work, walking the dog etc etc, so don’t expect updates every few days, but I’ll post an update as soon as there is something worth posting,
The plan is to build it mainly out of parts I have laying around already, so not looking to spend a fortune on it, I have a criteria for the build which currently is as follows (but may be subject to change)
Fully restored shell, not patched and bodged as I only intend to restore the shell once, not keep re patching every year for its MOT, now although the floors and chassis legs are really showing their age I want to restore the shell not cut the bottom out and put a full chassis under it, why? Because I still want a Minor traveller not a full blown hot-rod, with the amount of rot in this shell a chassis would be the easier and possibly the more sensible route but that’s not the route I wish to go,?
The suspension will have to be modified to make it practical and reliable for daily use (so no more trunnions for me) front will be a fabricated setup and rear will be a trailing link design rather than leaf springs, it’s got to be a comfortable drive even with a slightly lowered stance,
Brakes, discs all round so no drums to mess about with on the back, and duel circuit for safety,
Engine 2ltr fiat, why? Because I have one sitting here, and it’s still the prettiest engine out there, ok so a YB is a close second,, but for now fiat is my choice,
Interior subtle but very comfortable, if it’s a daily driver then it needs a good heater, good seats, some sounds, phone charger, cup holder etc etc, all the goodies we expect from our plastic modern cars,
Body almost standard in appearance, not looking for radical bodywork here, just the odd nip and tuck to tidy everything up, I grew up around minors and so I like the relatively factory look more than I like radical body mods, I would like the great unwashed to walk past and say “that’s nice” and for those of us with an understanding of minors to see lots of subtle little mods all over, mods like no front overrides, better rear lights for safety, improved door locks and possibly handles, central locking for convenience, all that sort of thing, for me subtle is the road I wish to follow, (so it will probably end up chopped with a V8 in then),,,,, lol, well V8s really not the plan so hopefully I won’t be drawn to the dark side,
The biggest thing is it will have to be completely useable 7 days a week, for 20,000 miles a year as it will replace my modern daily so it has to be enjoyable and reliable,
So there you go, that’s the plan and hopefully in a couple of years’ time I’ll have a finished traveller and I’ll be able to say “I love it when a plan comes together” (oh now what TV show was that)?
Oh one last thing, the traveller will have to carry 2 passengers every day, one of which you will see in some of the pictures I'll post.
Regards to all
Steve
I thought I should start a build thread of my traveller, it will only be a mild custom, nothing to cleaver, it was a one owner car form new, two owners now I have it, I’ve owned it about 10 years but just had it stored up, so I figure now is a good time to make a start on it,
Now this will be a very slow build as it will have to fit in with life, work, walking the dog etc etc, so don’t expect updates every few days, but I’ll post an update as soon as there is something worth posting,
The plan is to build it mainly out of parts I have laying around already, so not looking to spend a fortune on it, I have a criteria for the build which currently is as follows (but may be subject to change)
Fully restored shell, not patched and bodged as I only intend to restore the shell once, not keep re patching every year for its MOT, now although the floors and chassis legs are really showing their age I want to restore the shell not cut the bottom out and put a full chassis under it, why? Because I still want a Minor traveller not a full blown hot-rod, with the amount of rot in this shell a chassis would be the easier and possibly the more sensible route but that’s not the route I wish to go,?
The suspension will have to be modified to make it practical and reliable for daily use (so no more trunnions for me) front will be a fabricated setup and rear will be a trailing link design rather than leaf springs, it’s got to be a comfortable drive even with a slightly lowered stance,
Brakes, discs all round so no drums to mess about with on the back, and duel circuit for safety,
Engine 2ltr fiat, why? Because I have one sitting here, and it’s still the prettiest engine out there, ok so a YB is a close second,, but for now fiat is my choice,
Interior subtle but very comfortable, if it’s a daily driver then it needs a good heater, good seats, some sounds, phone charger, cup holder etc etc, all the goodies we expect from our plastic modern cars,
Body almost standard in appearance, not looking for radical bodywork here, just the odd nip and tuck to tidy everything up, I grew up around minors and so I like the relatively factory look more than I like radical body mods, I would like the great unwashed to walk past and say “that’s nice” and for those of us with an understanding of minors to see lots of subtle little mods all over, mods like no front overrides, better rear lights for safety, improved door locks and possibly handles, central locking for convenience, all that sort of thing, for me subtle is the road I wish to follow, (so it will probably end up chopped with a V8 in then),,,,, lol, well V8s really not the plan so hopefully I won’t be drawn to the dark side,
The biggest thing is it will have to be completely useable 7 days a week, for 20,000 miles a year as it will replace my modern daily so it has to be enjoyable and reliable,
So there you go, that’s the plan and hopefully in a couple of years’ time I’ll have a finished traveller and I’ll be able to say “I love it when a plan comes together” (oh now what TV show was that)?
Oh one last thing, the traveller will have to carry 2 passengers every day, one of which you will see in some of the pictures I'll post.
Regards to all
Steve