Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: 1970EuropaGuy on Friday,February 01, 2019, 10:36:18 AM
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While I'm using glass I thought I would repair the door latch backing area. Does anyone have a photo of what this area should look like?
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I can send you a picture tomorrow but it looks like you need to tape over the entire outer section of the door then apply a few layers of mat from the inside of door. Then cut into from the outside.
Dakazman
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I can send you a picture tomorrow but it looks like you need to tape over the entire outer section of the door then apply a few layers of mat from the inside of door. Then cut into from the outside.
Dakazman
A photo tomorrow would be fabulous. Yes, I'll be applying a few layers of mat on the inside. Should be a messy job!
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It looks like you have the door off so it should be pretty easy to repair and not to messy .
You will need aluminum tape, 7mil rubber gloves. The hard part will be to chamfer the inside of the door panel so the new matting has a good surface to adhere too. Do you has any air tools or die grinders with sanding discs?
Dakazman
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Actually the door is on the car, shouldn't cause too many issues. Yeah, lots of air tools here. A bad habit!
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Does this help?
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4129R, so this is what the door is supposed to look like! Both of mine are mangled.
Thanks
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Mine Too. I did glass that section of the door .
I’m Glad 4129 posted the pic.
Dakazman
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As thickness isn't critical here I'm going to go a little thicker than original. Do you guys have any thoughts about laminating a sheet of stainless steel between layers of glass? It certainly would be tougher to cut the required holes and slots but sure would be stronger. Might have to drink fewer beer to compensate for the additional weight however!
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i recently made this cutout for my passenger door(mine had no holes).
i traced a pattern from another car that looked like 4129R's door, but tried to only remove enough to make the latch fit- that piece where the striker fits is inset into the door.
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn56/rascott_2008/IMG_3797.jpg) (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/rascott_2008/media/IMG_3797.jpg.html)
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn56/rascott_2008/IMG_3800.jpg) (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/rascott_2008/media/IMG_3800.jpg.html)
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn56/rascott_2008/IMG_3801.jpg) (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/rascott_2008/media/IMG_3801.jpg.html)
i slightly overcut one of the holes. don't do that..….but it works o k, and the fasteners grab enough fiberglass to be firmly mounted- i think further reinforcement is probably not needed(?)- hard to argue with, though.
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As thickness isn't critical here I'm going to go a little thicker than original. Do you guys have any thoughts about laminating a sheet of stainless steel between layers of glass? It certainly would be tougher to cut the required holes and slots but sure would be stronger. Might have to drink fewer beer to compensate for the additional weight however!
Aluminium would be a lot easier to cut, drill and file.
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Fibreglass is plenty strong enough providing you get it thick enough and applied correctly, if you decide to add any metal layers ensure that the surfaces are keyed up to allow a decent bond. - other options would be some marine grade plywood which would give a good bond and add strength without too much weight or a closed cell foam core would give a similar result with even less weight again.
Monolithic fibreglass would be my choice with very carefully cut holes - if you make a mistake you can always reglass and try again after all!
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I didn’t add any additional reinforcements to my doors and think it would be avoverkill as long as the
Striker and catch are properly aligned. E not yet
Forgive the finish of my doors I had just resprayed the car and I have not yet sanded .
Dakazman
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Attached are (2) photos - one of my right hand door without the lock set (door yet to be painted) and my left hand door (waiting to be striped, fitted and primed). If you would like, I could make a full scale PDF of the openings in the fiberglass and send it to you. The first photo is with this reply, the second photo is the next reply as the max. photo size can only be 1024KB.
Tom
74 TCS - 4605R
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Second photo
Tom
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Thanks for all the images and insights. I'm planning on working on this project the next few days, will post an update.
TCS4605R, if you have the time a PDF would be great.
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Attached is a PDF showing the fiberglass door lock cutouts for my right hand door - more or less accurate - no two Lotuses are the same!
Tom
74 TCS - 4605R
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Attached is a PDF showing the fiberglass door lock cutouts for my right hand door - more or less accurate - no two Lotuses are the same!
Tom
74 TCS - 4605R
Thanks Tom, :beerchug:
I'll check measurements but this looks great. I know what you mean about no two Lotuses looking the same, I find that in much of my restoration research.
I'll compare with what I have.
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Thanks Tom , that pdf will definitely guide me to finishing up some unknowns.
Dakazman
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Just finished making an aluminum back plate. A little rough but it's a prototype at this stage and will get sandwiched in glass anyway.
Should work well, thanks for all the help with photos, drawings and suggestions.
I'll post the finished project when I get there. Time for a hard earned beer! :beerchug:
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Does anybody know what these door latches originally came from as i need a replacement passenger unit (drivers side for those on the other side of the pond :))?
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Round off the corners on that backing plate, otherwise you'll get a stress concentration and the possibility of cracking at the corners.
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This looks very close.
They made several million of them.
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Round off the corners on that backing plate, otherwise you'll get a stress concentration and the possibility of cracking at the corners.
Thanks, good idea. I'm learning as I go on this project.
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i believe some elan models used the same latch.
i had found the same part number listed, as i was looking.
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This looks very close.
They made several million of them.
Unfortunately the other side is completely different to the mini ones