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).
Relaying observations from a visit to the Lincoln Plant and an analysis of the Lincoln Zephyr vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 173\4\ img143 | |
| Date | 11th December 1935 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 8/KW.11.12.35. The following is a memo. we have received from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} dated 30.11.35 :- "I went over the Lincoln Plant yesterday. They were not giving away much information. A run in a second Zephyr showed it to be rough and noisy like the first one. A surprisingly good rear seat ride was the only redeeming feature. The new "turret top" or steel roof is said to be contributory to the noise. The exhaust system is very noisy. Again two torsional periods were noticeable. As the car sells for % 1300, one would not expect Cadillac refinement and certainly does not get it. The engine mounting is two point rubber in front and one at the rear. In addition there are two huge rigid fore and aft stays in front to take the torque tube thrust. This doesn't help engine smoothness. Copper lead bearings running according to Federal at considerably more than whitemetal clearance, and the increased deflection of a cast iron crankshaft, would also not be conducive to a smooth engine. The crankshaft damper of the dry friction variety is very small and set at a very light load. The Vee angle is 75°, and the con. rods side by side 2 1/8" dia. x 3/4" wide. 4 main bearings 2 1/2" diameter, compression ratio 7.1 : 1. We saw the bearing caps being fitted: if the split pin would not enter, the nut was slacked off accordingly. The steel crank pinion and fabroil cam pinion are the only two gears. The distributor is driven on its side at the front of the camshaft in front of the Fabroil gear. The oil pump is driven off a skew gear on the camshaft. The dynamo and two water pumps are driven by one belt, as usual Ford practice. The end side valves were exhausts. The connecting rods are coined after forging under 20 ton press. They are checked on scales and any more than 3 grms. out either end discarded. Hardly any are scrapped. | ||