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).
Assessment of competitor 8-cylinder V-type engines, noting their performance and torsional vibration issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 63\4\ scan0091 | |
| Date | 16th October 1929 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. SS.{S. Smith} c. WOr.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} RS.{Sir Henry Royce's Secretary} c. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} X.4499 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AMS/AM.16.10.29. X.4449 X.4048 X.4024 X.3531 X.1729 X.3929 8-CYLINDER VEE ENGINE. We have now tried four cars with 8-cylinder vee engines, La{L. A. Archer} Salle, Cadillac, Lincoln and Lancia. On the whole they have not been impressive. They have not been any better on the pick up than a good six, and compare even less favourably with a good straight eight which has similar cylinder size. The differences are not great but when changing over to a different type of car engine, one would naturally look for improvement over the six in every respect. The 8 cylinder vee engine does not appear to be free from crankshaft torsional vibration. The Lincoln have been forced to fit a crankshaft damper, in the Lancia the torsional vibration is definitely present. The main advantage the vee eight possess, apart from its compactness, appears, to be absence of inertia torque giving a smooth over-run. We suggest that the V eight engine crankshaft will have to be relatively stiff to avoid the master period if used with a supercharger. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||