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1934 Daimler 15 Coupe
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:21 pm    Post subject: 1934 Daimler 15 Coupe Reply with quote

I've already introduced this on the main site, but it seemed like a plan to open up a thread on this latest purchase.



The full story is on the main site, put simply this had been sat in a lock-up since the 1960s and hasn't turned a wheel since. Some old tax discs suggest it was last in use in 1961.

The immediate plan is to gen up on the model, and take some steps to free the engine off. I don't plan to dive in until I've crossed off a few more entries on the Dodge's "to do" list, and I must re-visit the '32 Minor sometime, so I'll attempt not to get distracted by this one too much just yet, although I would like to get it running asap. Overall it is very sound bodily, and the trim is tidy, but I'm in the dark regarding the condition of the oily bits.

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/daimler-15.htm

RJ
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice characterful car Rick. Interior looks beautiful.

Peter
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 8:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lovely car Rick, hope the engine will come back to life by doing as you described so we can hear it !!
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Ted170



Joined: 20 Jun 2011
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 1:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fantastic car, Rick! Congratulations!
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captain bobo



Joined: 02 Feb 2012
Posts: 43
Location: South West Cambs

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Rick, in the book "Daimler Days" by Brian E Smith there are at least 3 photos of your spec car. I know of at least one currently owned by a Daimler & Lanchester Owners Club member.

Per my posting elsehwere, if I know your chassis & engine number we can (a) add it to our archives, and (b) confirm the engine size for you.

Best wishes, Dave B
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1937 Daimler 15 Mulliner Sports Saloon & 1969 Daimler V8 250 Saloon
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Rick
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is it a rare book to get hold of?

Funnily enough there was one very similar to it on ebay last year, slightly dismantled but otherwise in comparable condition.

I've got the numbers in a file here somewhere, when I dig them out I'll let you know. I need to get on with its re-registration actually.

RJ
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captain bobo



Joined: 02 Feb 2012
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Location: South West Cambs

PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Rick,

It's a set of 2 books celebrating one hundred years of "Daimler" covering the period 1896 to 1996. Sadly out of print for some time. Sets occasionally pop up on eBay. The last set that I saw sold for £200.00! It's full of technical data, great narrative coupled with hundreds of brilliant photos and copies of adverts, brochures, etc.

If you are interested I have a couple of documents that you might find useful. The first is "Care & Maintenance of the Daimler 15" published in Autocar May 1936. The second is "Servicing the Daimler 15" reprinted from The Motor Trader, August 1938. They cover all engines and chassis types and contain technical data, some engine tolerances, etc.

If you'd like copies send me a message with your email address & I'll send them.

Best wishes, Dave
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Rick
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 10:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the offer Dave - I might have some Motor Trader sheets still about the place, I'll have a look and see what I have - thanks for the reminder, if I don't have it I'll take you up on that thanks Smile

RJ
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Rick
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had a look in my copies of '30s magazine Motor Repair and Overhauling, and one issue has a pull-out "check-over data sheet" covering the 1936-on Daimler 15, plus the '37 2-litre, '38 DB17 and '39 DB18. A little later than my car, but a handy reference nonetheless.

R
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captain bobo



Joined: 02 Feb 2012
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rick, if you want the documents specific for your version of the car just let me know.

Best wishes, Dave
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Rick
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 8:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Dave I'll let you know what I need, I found a factory '34 handbook/manual for it a few months back which is pretty good, but sometimes original books don't include the basic service data, or if they do, it's spread throughout the text rather than in a handy table.

Somewhere I've a book on the pre-selector gearbox too.

RJ
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Rick
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I found a few spare hours today, so decided to have a tinker with the coupe.

Swinging on the starting handle, despite pouring a drop of diesel down each pot a while ago, wasn't getting the engine to turn.

Investigations down below (the car is up on four stands at the moment) revealed an access hole beneath the flywheel. Some judicious levering of the flywheel finally resulted in movement of the crank, confirmed by diesel added earlier today being expunged from one of the cylinders through the plug hole, down the side of the engine, and over me below. Good news!

Many more small movements, tooth by tooth, followed, sometimes one way, then the other, followed by further top-ups of each cylinder with yet more diesel in a bid to free things off before further turns of the flywheel. By this time the valve gear had also received several dousings of the devil's fuel. As the crank slowly rotated, more diesel was forced out of different plug holes as the pistons moved upwards.

This process was repeated a number of times, in all I think the crank turned through roughly 180 degrees, before my arm started to give out from all the levering underneath the car. Each cylinder was given another drink of diesel, and has now been left to seep down past the rings (hopefully). I still can't turn it on the handle, but gradually it should free up.

I also popped a battery on to see what would work. Both front sidelights flickered into life, and the horn emitted an impressive "TOOT". The wiper motor also began chunnering to itself, so maybe that'll restore ok. Amazingly the starter solenoid fired into life at the press of the starter button, the starter wouldn't turn the engine (still too tight I think) but I couldn't believe that the solenoid was doing its thing.

A smell of burning and a thin pire of smoke from the aftermarket screen demister led to a swift disconnection of the battery.

I noticed that some of the fuses are u/s, so perhaps a few more systems will glimmer into life once they've been replaced. The battery is on charge now, I'll give it another whirl soon.

If I can get it to turn over ok, I don't see why an attempt at starting can't be tried sometime - given that it has a pre-selector gearbox, is there anything unique to this type of car that I should do before attempting a start-up (ie jobs on top of what I'd normally do when getting an oldie to fire up after a long period of rest)?

RJ
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MVPeters



Joined: 28 Aug 2008
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As I mentioned somewhere else, "Put A Little Tizer in Your Tank"! Smile

(edited later: by the way, the Tizer joke has now expired, along with my PlusGas lectures!)
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captain bobo



Joined: 02 Feb 2012
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Rick, good to see that there's potential in the project!

If I remember correctly you have a mechanical fuel pump down near the dizzie & coil. If you haven't already done so it might be worth setting up a temporary fuel supply and using the priming lever on the pump 20 or 30 times & then depress the carb flood button to see if fuel is getting through.

The flywheel access hole that you mentioned is normally used for draining the fluid flywheel. You'll find 2 "drain plugs" 180 degrees opposed on the flywheel. There are access points to these under the flywheel (as you've discovered) but also through the floor near the bulkhead. With the right tool, using the floor access point, you can undo the plug and check / fill with fluid. If you find it difficult to undo the plug, rotate 180 degrees and try again with the other plug. Daimler used to seal one of them with something like Loctite, so users used to find a way of marking which plug was easiest to use.

Good luck!

Dave B
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RotaryBri



Joined: 20 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rick wrote:
Is it a rare book to get hold of?

RJ


Rick,

Now that I no longer have a Daimler I might part with my copy of Daimler Days if you are interested.
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