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).
Analysis of the Ford V-8 engine's design characteristics.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 126\3\ scan0015 | |
| Date | 2nd October 1935 | |
| X1104 To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Smth.5/KW.2.10.35. Ford V-8 Engine. (1) Good dynamically. Secondary forces and couples balance. 4 per rev. period estimated at about 4600 can easily be damped. (2) Due to crank arrangement, large balance weights required to eliminate primary couple. (3) Unsymmetrical firing order may cause induction troubles. (4) Engine very short, but fact that exhaust port passes through centre of head limits the valve size. (5) Probably very large heat flow due to exhaust passages in heads. (6) To reduce engine width the pistons and connecting rods are very short. We should expect piston knocks and high piston friction. (7) An overhead valve arrangement not possible owing to the great width of the engine. The engine would be 29" wide using Ramp heads and R.R. proportions for pistons and con. rods. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/F.Ll.Smith. | ||