Heater and pipework
From GTM Workshop
The Libra utilises the standard Metro heater unit. It is mounted in the same manner as in the Metro but however has a special air pipe from the heater fan unit to the mixer unit in the car. The screen demisters are special to the Libra and are fed through flexible pipes. Special fresh air ventilators are provided in the centre of the dashboard and these are fed via a plenum chamber provided in the internal structure of the dashboard and feed by the conventional outlet from the heater unit.
Rubber piping feeds the heater unit within the car through the front bulkhead down to the tunnel at the front of the car and through aluminium pipes that run through the tunnel to the engine end of the car and then through rubber pipes to the standard heater outlets from the engine.
Heater & pipework assembly
Take the standard Rover Metro fan assembly and remove the metal clip opposite the central front hole flush with the front of the mounting plate.
With a small diameter drill centre drill the six holes required in the monocoque to mount the heater fan assembly in the position indicated by the small indentations Open out these holes to six millimeter clearance. Using the drawing provided mark out the aperture required enabling the square air pipe to pass through THE bulkhead. Drill the four corner positions with a ten millimeter drill. Using a jigsaw or by chain drilling remove the shape from the monocoque. Clean the edges with a suitable file/production paper.
The heater unit can now be mounted to the monocoque using six millimeter diameter set bolt 20 millimetres long washers and nylon nuts. When screwing THE I'm long set bolts into the captive nuts on the top of the heater blower unit make sure that the bolts do not protrude to far and foul the plastic of the heater unit. If necessary cut the bolts down in length. The top face of the heater blower unit may have to be trimmed to allow the bonnet to fit correctly.
It is extremely important that prior to fitting the heater blower unit finally that the two mating faces are clean and the rubber gasket intact to prevent water seeping through into the cockpit. If you are in any doubt whatsoever it is advisable to use clear silicone sealant between the two. Any water leaking through this seal into the cockpit can be extremely irritating. The six-millimetre bolt along the front edge of the heater mounting plate in the front outside corner can be difficult to fit as it is extremely close to the outside edge of the monocoque. By fitting the plate loosely with the other bolts it is possible to drill at an angle to get this bolt in.
The heater mixer unit can now be fitted from under the heater mixer unit to the underside of the to fit the heater air duct TO120 to the heater unit using two or three small self-tapping screws. Where the heater air duct comes up to the fan unit it is necessary to pack the gap out using a suitable piece of foam. Looking up from under the dashboard the two holes required to mount the heater have small indents. Pilot drill centres, and drills out eight- millimetre clearance. The heater unit can now be bolted up under the dashboard using 2 eight millimetre 25 millimetre long set bolts, washers and nylons.
Mark the position of the two holes required enabling THE heater pipes to run through the front bulkhead. Make sure the positions are such that the pipes miss the spare wheel when in position and also miss the heater blower unit. Use the grommets to determine the minimum centre distance. Drill the two holes with a 35-millimetre hole saw. Clean the holes using production paper as a good seal is required here to prevent water running through the grommet into the car. Fit the grommets in the holes and thread the heater pipes through and secure to the heater unit using jubilee clips. The pipes can now be run through round the outside of the spare wheel and through the front of the battery mounting mould onto the aluminium pipes running through the tunnel. Note that at the heater end of the firework a part Of the Rover Metro heater hoses used so as to retain the bleed facility. At the rear end of the car the heater hoses run above the petrol tank to the joiners The Joiners join the standard heater hose into part of the original Metro hoses and then into the standard positions on the engine.
Fresh Air Vents Assembly
The fresh air vents T0696 are attached to the front of the structural dashboard in the centre with the centres of the vents as indicated on the dashboard moulding Drill out the centres with a small drill and hole saw to 70-mm diameter. Now carefully remove the centre of the fresh air eyeball T0696 and use the outside as a template to drill the four locating holes through the dashboard fascia. These holes need to be countersunk to allow the bessell plate T1716 to fit flush against the dashboard.
The outside of the fresh air vents can now be attached to the inside of the dashboard and held in place by four countersunk screws.
The centre eyeball of the air vent can now be pushed carefully in from the front of the dashboard. Bessel plate T1716 can now be attached to the front of the dashboard with either contact adhesive or hot melt glue.
Check that the eyeballs work correctly and finally put in place plenum chamber TO122 over the internal part of the dashboard to direct the air from the heater to the eyeballs.
When fitting the plenum chamber be careful to seal off the holes with a suitable sealing material to prevent any air leaks.
With the heater switched on the eyeballs should now give a good amount of fresh air to the cabin.
