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).
Necessary mechanical modifications and checks for a car, including suspension, wheels, and lighting.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\3\ scan0252 | |
| Date | 15th February 1939 guessed | |
| No 3 --- particularly satisfactory for this job, as, if necessary, we can pull them out and increase the intensity of the light. Coming back to the mechanical side, it is considered that the front end of the car, is the part of the chassis that should receive the most attention. The addition of several light Hartfords would help to stabilise the front of the car, and the object in saying " several" is that it is always safer to have more than one absorber in case of any breakages. Furthermore, if several shock absorbers are fitted, they need not be tightened up nearly so much as would be the case with a single shock absorber thereby reducing wear by excessive friction. Apart from this, all the Paulin mountings to the cross-member and fittings should be carefully examined , and all the original Paulin parts should, in my opinion, be replaced in this part of the car by R.R., bits and pieces. This, I think, would give a feeling of security which is greatly needed on these attempts, and be far more satisfactory. WHEELS- The necessary spare wheels will be supplied by Derby and sent over with the car, and stands for these spare wheels to have them all ready in the event of a wheel change, will be supplied by me, as I find they are available in Box N°14 on the Monthéry track, and a Box is also being put at my disposal by the Autodrome authori-ties. The rear wheel drivers and splines that these fit into, should be investigated, as should also be the back axle thrust-race; although I fully appreciate that everything will be minutely inspected, I nevertheless wish to stress these particular items. WING CLEARANCES- These clearances, both front and rear should be carefully checked for 6 x 19 tyres. We found that it was not possible until further investigations had been carried out, to fit the racing tyres of this dimension to the front of the car,owing to the wing stay rubbing on the tyres at certain moments. If this wing stay has to be modified, it would naturally have to be done in a scientific manner. Mr. Paulin says one must be careful not to cut away the stay without reinforcing in some other manner. With regard to the rear wheels, we find considerable difficulty is encountered when fitting these wheels, owing to the back wings closing in too much at the bottom of the wheel arch nearest the door. These wheel arches would have to be opened out. This, Radcliff knows all about. It is, naturally, not intended to use the rear wheel covers owing to the time which would be lost during tyre change periods. ELECTRIC LIGHTING ETC.- A strong bulb should be fitted to the interior dome light. By this, I mean a bulb that will give a really good light inside the car, as this will be most useful on occasions. The Headlamps should, of course, be fitted with separate fuses, and the centre lamp wired up direct to the battery. | ||