Development and comparison of an 8-cylinder engine against other models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 123\5\ scan0318 | |
| Date | 23th February 1939 | |
| By. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Da. {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. RHC. {R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. Mx. {John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. Da {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} /Jnr. {Charles L. Jenner} c. Da {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} /MCS. 1044 Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 1/R.23.2.39. 8-Cylinder Engine. Having copied the major portions of the 8-cyl. engine from B.60 (on which we have already had three months' development), and the Induction System from the Buick, we naturally expected to avoid major troubles with the Line 8 engine. As a matter of fact, it will be seen from the attached report that, apart from some defective tappets, we have had remarkably little trouble with it on the Test Bed. The major interest in connection with this unit centres round its behaviour on the road. Even with the partially developed state of the damper, it is not possible to detect a crankshaft period on the Test Bed. We expect to have an engine running in 30-G-VII three weeks after this chassis returns from the Coachbuilders. One rather interesting comparison between the Line 8 and the P.III, apart from the matter of cost and simplicity, is that in spite of the fact that the P.III has an all-aluminium engine, it weighs 4 1/2 lbs per horse-power. The B.80, on the other hand, although largely cast iron, weighs only 4 lbs/H.P. RM. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||
From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).