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).
The testing and modification of rear wheel arch clearances on the Phantom II chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 14\8\ Scan190 | |
| Date | 20th December 1929 | |
| S/W (BT.{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer}) Copy to - Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} " " Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} " " JLR. " " EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} " " HO. X7380 EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}6/EBN20.12.29 PHANTOM II CHASSIS Rear Wheel Arch Clearances. In view of the warning which Derby have given us to the effect that the revised wheel arch clearances as determined experimentally by Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} are insufficient owing to the experiments being carried out on obsolete subframe, we consider the matter of sufficient urgency for Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} to visit London to carry out tests with J.L.R., the whole of Thursday being spent testing four cars at different Coachbuilders made to the wheel arch clearances which existed for some time prior to alteration 12350/P. On the road over a section of very bad surface during which single and dual real bump were of continual occurrence, we were able to produce a slight touch between the brake drum and the wheel arch of one car. The cars were weighted to give 5" between the rubber and the axle. We submitted these cars to a rolling test and in each case we went from buffer to buffer. We got a foul on two cars, but it was of such a nature that the paint was not removed but merely bruised, and the brake shield was not damaged. J.L.R. and Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} therefore have come to the conclusion that there is not great urgency for any drastic action in connection with any cars already delivered or which are in the making and cannot be altered without our incurring expense. We agreed that we should overtake as many cars as possible. You have already issued prints and we have asked London to recall the twelve which they have issued because we do not think the modification as shown on the prints is quite intelligible to the average Coachbuilder, and because at the same time it is now agreed that all cars should be made in future to have wheel arch clearance to suit Dunlop Fort tyres on 21" rims. We wish to do this because although cars may start out with Silent Tread tyres, they may subsequently be fitted with Fort Dunlop India or Goodrich, all of which are all about the same size in diameter. It is therefore urgent that HO. should be supplied with the revised prints so that he can instruct the Coachbuilders to take action on the lines fixed up verbally with Mr. Cowen this afternoon with a view to avoiding our having to pay further bills for modifications. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} is returning to NW.{N. Walker - Patents} to-night and will post to you by registered post on Saturday the modifications which we wish made to the chassis prints both English and French, and also the full size small drawing which we suggest should be sent to those Coachbuilders having subframes built in which they will have to modify. | ||