Austin Seven Saloon Body Extension

(From the Austin Workshop Bulletins)

It has been found that, owing to the over-loading the public will impose on these cars, trouble has been experienced with the doors. In some cases, the panel has split, due to the excessive amount of strain imposed.
We are now fitting an extension to the frame—thereby supporting the back of the body, and reducing the strain on it in the event of overloading. We wish to point out, however, that this does not obviate the damage to the chassis resulting from overloading, but only relieves the body itself of damage.
These extensions can and should be fitted by our Agents to all saloons made previous to those being supplied on new cars. Extensions required for the cars in your district can be obtained free of charge upon application to the Service Department, and fitting instructions are given below. When you have fitted these extensions to cars in your district, it will remove to a large extent the trouble caused by overloading.

The extension members are supplied drilled with 5/16 in. holes. It is not necessary to remove the body when fitting them. Slacken the body-bolts, particularly the two on each side at the rear, and wedge the body up from the rear ends of the chassis frame side members. Remove the one rivet on each side of the car holding the shock absorber brackets to the top of the rear cross member, and bolt the extension members to the cross member at these points with 5/16 in. bolts. The extension members should then be flush with the top of the frame side members. Drill the frame through the hole in the end of each extension member, and ream out the holes to take 3/8 in. bolts, the bolts being a tight fit, through each extension member and frame side member. This tight fit is important. The unthreaded portion of the bolt shank should be giving the fit in the holes, not the threaded portion, and washers should be placed under the nut to secure this condition. It is best to have the bolt head on the outside of the frame channel, and the nut and washers on the inside. The body can then be dropped into position on the frame, re-bolted, and drilled for the two 5/16 in. bolts to secure it to the end of the extension members, inserting a thin piece of felt or similar material between the body and each extension.