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).
Questioning the different firing order of a new straight 8 engine compared to the Terraplane engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\6\ Scan140 | |
| Date | 9th March 1934 | |
| X4217 H3 To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} re Carburation Experiments. Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Referring to E.3/HP.8.3.34 I note that the firing order of the straight 8 you are designing is different from that of the Terraplane. I should be interested to know why this is the case. I may be entirely wrong but I look at it from a non-technical point of view as follows: Our experience of straight 8's is nil. The American experience of straight 8's is very considerable. Our trial of the straight 8 Terraplane shows the engine extraordinarily good and better than we thought possible with an engine of this type. Why, therefore, do we want to depart from what seems to me certain essential features such as the firing order? I should have thought we would have followed its main characteristics as closely as we dared without being accused too much of copying. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||