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A few jobs on my Libra
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Author:  Elansprint [ Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
Just think of those nice Cambelt changes you have missed out on
Ian
Author:  nikvanorton [ Fri Mar 12, 2021 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
Indeed. I had a few cars with the 900 series engine - Esprit, Excel SE, Lotus Sunbeam - mainly serviced by Pat Thomas in Spalding. If I could get a full refund I'd be able to retire!
Author:  Elansprint [ Sat Mar 13, 2021 11:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
Elite, eclat & excel are easy compared to esprit due to access and bulkhead clearance
Author:  nikvanorton [ Sat Mar 13, 2021 2:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
It didn’t seem to make much difference to the bills!
Author:  nikvanorton [ Wed Mar 17, 2021 12:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
I love the styling of the Libra, there's only one thing that spoils it for me and that's the rear side windows. The more I look at them, the stranger the artificial air duct seems to be. I decided to make some flat replacements and it's taken a few attempts to get a good result.

The first attempt was with 3mm polycarbonate. I watched a few videos on youtube about cutting and after tracing the outline from the old window I tried to cut it with an oscillating multi-tool. This didn't work well at all so I tried a small jigsaw, then a small circular saw. None were satisfactory and it was impossible to replicate the very gentle curves of the top and bottom edges.

I ended up reducing the polycarbonate thickness to 2mm, fastening the original window onto the sheet with small bits of double-sided adhesive tape and scoring directly around the edge using a purpose-made cutter from eBay which cost about a tenner. Seven or eight heavy passes saw the material cut right through. This worked really well and only required the rounded 'corners' to be filed into shape. Holes were drilled and black edges painted on after a bit of careful masking.

Very pleased with the result. Only two minor issues - I wouldn't mind a tint to match the very pale green of the windows (apparently tinted polycarbonate isn't available in 2mm), and also the polycarbonate I used is very susceptible to very fine 'swirl mark' type scratches.

I can knock a pair of windows out in about an hour and a half now so may well experiment with some different material. Might try a set bonded in with VHB tape and no screws.

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Author:  sanzomat [ Wed Mar 17, 2021 8:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
Having a Spyder I'd never really looked at those windows but I see what you mean. I think flat looks better too but I also think bonded rather than screws would look better still.
Author:  nikvanorton [ Wed Mar 17, 2021 10:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
I agree. It's only the easy scratching nature of the polycarbonate that stopped me bonding these ones in - it would have been a pain to get them out again. My stuff is very soft whereas the polycarbonate used in a motorcycle helmet visor is very hard and scratch-resistant. I need to do some research.
Author:  nikvanorton [ Fri Mar 19, 2021 4:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
My car is fitted with AP 'Big Brake' calipers on the front, finished in a nice glossy red. Unfortunately, nobody knows they're AP as there is no brand name on them.
This has been rectified by the purchase of some heat resistant vinyl 'AP Racing' decals (from good old eBay) which are now applied.
At first, I thought it looked a bit conspicuous but the decal is exactly like new AP calipers in font, size and colour, and I've now decided that it looks a bit bare without them.

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Author:  sidewinder [ Fri Mar 19, 2021 8:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
Mine have MG embossed on em I think.
Author:  nikvanorton [ Sun Apr 11, 2021 11:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
There's a bit of a parasitic drain on my battery (to be investigated later) so I have fitted an isolator switch so that I can cut the power when it goes in the garage. I didn't want a switch on the dash so it was a bit tricky finding a suitable spot in the cabin.

My car has a small aftermarket heater behind the dashboard so the space under the front clam for the Metro heater is empty. I've fitted the switch so that the extended cables are short and the switch key is tucked up in the passenger's footwell out of the way of wriggly feet. This involved cutting a 22mm hole in the tub and I used an old trick shown to me by a boatbuilder which is to drill the hole with a flat wood bit. This gives a lovely clean hole and they are available in pretty big sizes. I bought a cheap hydraulic crimper from eBay (£25) and this did a very nice job of attaching the terminals.

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Author:  sidewinder [ Mon Apr 12, 2021 11:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
What's the little black box near the battery?
Author:  nikvanorton [ Mon Apr 12, 2021 11:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
It's a bluetooth battery monitor which works with an app on your phone so you can see live info as to the charge remaining in your battery. I've been using it to monitor the voltage drop. Works a treat.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Battery- ... SwMz1gUhYj
Author:  Phil.1380 [ Tue May 04, 2021 4:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
nikvanorton wrote:
There's a bit of a parasitic drain on my battery (to be investigated later) so I have fitted an isolator switch so that I can cut the power when it goes in the garage. I didn't want a switch on the dash so it was a bit tricky finding a suitable spot in the cabin.

My car has a small aftermarket heater behind the dashboard so the space under the front clam for the Metro heater is empty. I've fitted the switch so that the extended cables are short and the switch key is tucked up in the passenger's footwell out of the way of wriggly feet. This involved cutting a 22mm hole in the tub and I used an old trick shown to me by a boatbuilder which is to drill the hole with a flat wood bit. This gives a lovely clean hole and they are available in pretty big sizes. I bought a cheap hydraulic crimper from eBay (£25) and this did a very nice job of attaching the terminals.


Which aftermarket heater do you have ?? Is it one of the T7 Designs ones or something else ??

Phil.
Author:  nikvanorton [ Tue May 04, 2021 5:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
it's this one or very similar
https://www.carbuilder.com/us/52kw-car-heater-kit
Fits up behind the dash.

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Author:  oldshep [ Tue May 04, 2021 9:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A few jobs on my Libra
That's interesting, I have the same issue with an as yet unidentified parasitic drain on my Libra , although the radio was cited as the prime suspect by the previous owner.
Like you, previous owner fitted a battery cut-off switch to avoid dead-battery-syndrome but it's a pain if I use it every time I park the car as the alarm & central locking doesn't work and I have to retune the radio!

I like the idea of your Bluetooth battery monitor, particularly because my drain problem doesn't seem to be consistent - sometimes no problem for a couple of weeks and then occasionally, over a couple of days of non-use, flat battery.

My plan is to hook up the monitor, watch for unexpected drain and then start pulling fuses to try and isolate the circuit involved.

Off to Ebay to order a minitor now.........I'll let you know how I get on.
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