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-   -   Daimler Tales - 1947 Daimler DB18 Luxury Saloon (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/post-war/182200-daimler-tales-1947-daimler-db18-luxury-saloon-19.html)

clap:Hearty congratulations KPS. A reward for your labour of love.:thumbs up

Hehehe. KPS, now you get to travel the world. Kudos!!!!

After more than 12 months of use and having clocked close to 2000 kms in the car, it was time to revisit Rodricks Restorations. In 2022, there are some major road trips planned and hence the car needed a complete check up.

While all fluids had to be changed, small niggles too had to be fixed. I also wanted an electric fan fitted as an upgrade, after being stuck in quite a few traffic jams in Bangalore.

One niggle from the recent past was that oil was leaking from the Fluid Flywheel. As the oil level falls in the fluid flywheel, there is loss of power.

As a short term measure, we used to top up the fluid flywheel oil and continue to use the car. Since the gear box had to be removed, wanted postponed as much as possible, till Chris could make space for the car in his packed garage.

Since a major road trip is planned, we could not postpone this work. The culprit was higher oil clearance in the bushing on the fluid flywheel. We had to machine a new one and fix the same




Another thing which was was in my pending list for such a long time, was the crank hole cover. This piece is just not available any where. Fitted in a unique way, the grill had to be removed to get this done.

BHPian Srinand was kind enough to get his tinker to build one from scratch. Chris modified and refined this same, to fit is just like it should look!

Seen with the cover closed


You can see it is hinged on top and has to be opened upwards


Demonstrating the closing




This has come out far better than I expected

Cheers

KPS

Brilliant attention to details, kudos to KPS and Christopherclap:

The semaphore was a neat idea at the time. And reminds me of the one we found fascinating, as children, on our bua's Hindustan-14 (erstwhile Morris Oxford of the 50's) in Allahabad.

Some updates on the recent work

Fitted a fan to the radiator, to take care of the heating issues, we experience being stuck in one of those notorious traffic jams at Bangalore.



Secondly, the Starting Handle has been fixed back at its original position, under the bonnet. With a fluid flywheel, you cannot push start this car! Hence the Starting Handle is very important



Cheers

KPS

The car came back home, after a through check at Rodricks Restoration,


The following work has been done on the car

Engine oil replaced, Gear oil replaced, Differential oil top-up.

Coolant added 2 L, Distilled water added, Sacrificial anode fitted inside radiator.

Comprehensive tuning for optimum running, New spark plugs.

New exhaust flexi pipe fitted with clamps. The allows the silencer to flex and pressure on the manifold bolts significantly reduces. Reduces the possibility of leaks, an issue I faced in the Sandur trip





Gearbox removed for change of fluid flywheel seal. Fluid flywheel center PB bushing replaced. Fluid flywheel calibration for optimum clearance.Bell housing cleaned and detailed as original.







Front grill assembly fitted and realigned. Radiator mounting assembly fitted. Radiator electric 10” fan fitted with brackets. Electric fan relay fitted. Electric fan switch and bracket installed.



All wheel drums sanded. Brake mechanical cylinders serviced. Brake hardware serviced.

Steering link arm bushes refabricated and fitted. Tie rod ends replaced all. LH king pin bushes fabricated and replaced.







Carburettor banjo bolt fabricated and chrome plated. Carburettor banjo adaptor fitted. Brass mesh fuel filter added to carburettor.



Three clamps fabricated and chromed for new badges. Starting handle clamp fabricated. Crank hole cover fabricated and installed


The car is now set for the 2022! Plan to do 2000-3000 kms in 2022!


Cheers

KPS

Mr. KPS, I feel like - installing a dual inline radiator fan (which covers whole radiator) could have increased the cooling capacity and performance of your masterpiece. :thumbs up

I am still running with the Dynamo. Had I installed a Alternator, probably the load would have been manageable. The fan is used mostly in heavy traffic. On the highway, it is not required. The radiator is not pressurized.

Everything is tight fit in this car.

Appreciate your suggestions. Thanks for following the work done

Cheers

KPS

The Feb'22 issue of "The Driving Member" the monthly magazine of the Daimler Lanchester Owners' Club (DLOC), features my car in two places


The Editor was fascinated by the Temple Chariot next to my car on the Sandur-Chitradurga Highway


The lovely article by Pablo Chaterji of Motoring World, was reproduced with kind permission.






Cheers

KPS

Spent time with Chris last morning, as we worked on adjusting the tappets, after more than 2000 kms use.

Getting ready for adjust the tappets. Having the original Starting Handle makes this exercise relatively easy. The tappet cover is opened and starting handle engaged


Shows the how the Crank Hole Cover is operated. The Starting Handle in place and the crank hole cover in open position


Chris adjusts the tappets while I operate the starting handle


With the manual in place, Chris explained to me how this is done. .


Fascinating to watch the way Chris approaches his work. Very systematic, no short cuts and totally focused. Do it once and do it right

Cheers

KPS

Having started the day at 0430, shuttling between Kochi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and finally to Coimbatore, I was looking forward to reaching Vivanta and hitting the bed. Alas, destiny had other plans. Reaching the hotel and stepping out of the car, I spot this beauty. Ditching my first officer, I went straight for her. Somehow, my mind convinced my body to stop thinking about how tired I was and take it all in. Stood staring at her for a good couple of minutes, did the customary walk around, admired her timeless curves, snapped a couple of pictures. Sir, you truly have done a magnificant job. Peace :)

Takes me back to my 5th Engr days when tappet adjustment of the alternator diesel engines was de rigueur for us, while the 4th engr watched with eagle eyes that there was no cutting corners!

KPS Sir, this is a fantastic car, a true classic. Hope you keep it for a long time and keep giving us updates as you have been.

If you don't mind could you share the cost of restoring a classic car to such a pristine condition? I have been wondering about this for years now.

Sorry for the delayed revert. Air_Kerala, you are being too kind. Glad you like the way she looks! If you have read this thread, you can easily connect as to why this car is a Star!

This picture is just after we arrived in Coimbatore from Bangalore.

Happy to inform you that we returned home last noon after a 2100 kms drive in the Daimler. She performed flawlessly as we travelled Bangalore to Coimbatore to Munnar to Kochi to Madurai to Karaikudi to Pondicherry to Chennai and returning home to Bangalore.


Actually each to his own. There are no boundaries on the amount time and money what can be spent. The same car could be restored differently based on the eccentricity of the current owner!

I follow certain rule, namely I will not spend more money than what to car is currently worth.

Preference should be to sort the car mechanically, use the car, before doing a complete restoration.

Cheers

KPS