Jonn worked through the list of customer concerns on our 1964 Daimler 2.5 V8, beginning by tightening and adjusting the interior mirror. He then carried out a visual inspection of the engine from cold, where a small trace of coolant was observed around the inlet manifold and distributor mount. A pressure test of the cooling system revealed leaks from several hoses. All jubilee clips were tightened and the test repeated, with no further issues detected at that stage.
He then ran the engine and selected all gears to check the automatic gearbox level from cold, which was found to be at minimum. A missing bolt on the inlet manifold was replaced and secured. When the engine reached 70°C, coolant began dripping from the overflow, having overcome the radiator cap pressure. The engine was switched off and allowed to cool for five minutes, after which a replacement radiator cap was fitted, borrowed from another vehicle.
A road test followed, confirming a squeak from the steering wheel and a brake squeal from the nearside. Aside from these, approximately eight miles were completed without issue, and the engine temperature remained below 80°C, even after idling for five minutes. Once hot, the gearbox oil level was rechecked and topped up as necessary.
Jonn then removed the steering column cowling and traced the squeak to the top column bush, which displayed slight play but no cause for concern. He applied spray grease and refitted the cowling, noting that lubrication could be repeated when the noise recurs or the column could be dismantled to replace the bush and smooth the contact surface.
To investigate the brake squeal, he jacked up the nearside front and spun the wheel, hearing no noise. He blew out brake dust and lowered the vehicle, but the squeal returned shortly after. Both nearside wheels were then removed and the brakes stripped. The pads were cleaned and resurfaced, lubricated, and refitted, with the same procedure applied to the nearside rear. After a final clean and reassembly, the wheels were refitted and tightened.
A second road test of three miles revealed the brake squeal persisted intermittently. Jonn suspects the brake pads may contain a high metal content, potentially causing the issue, and recommends replacing them if the noise becomes unacceptable. The engine temperature remained stable, with no further signs of overheating.
Additional observations include the viscous fan, which turns very freely and is likely ineffective at operating temperature, where it should stiffen to assist with cooling. There are also a few oil leaks noted underneath, with likely sources being the power steering system, engine rear main oil seal, and possibly the gearbox.
