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).
Technical update regarding vapour lock, connecting rod big ends, and continental chassis replacements.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\4\ scan0347 | |
| Date | 11th July 1936 | |
| -2- Vapour Lock. Since the recent report from France that under extreme conditions of heat, vapour lock can be produced, we have been doing some intensive work on this subject. S.U's have produced a pump for us experimentally which should deliver sufficient petrol when fitted in a cool spot on the frame, and this is at present on test. Our endeavour is to get some palliative which can be fitted to any customers cars where there are complaints, during the next two months. From then onwards we shall have at least six months to get a final solution to the problem. We are hopeful of getting an improvement with the existing pump and pipe arrangement which will be reasonably satisfactory under all but extreme conditions. Connecting Rod Big Ends. The weakest part of the Ph.III engine unit is the big end bearing. We have been frightened of putting up the engine power output for the Continental car because of the likelihood of failures. We have therefore been experimenting with a Hall's metal big end, and a test with the latest arrangement shows that we have already reached a point where it has at least three times the life of white metal. We are hopeful that we shall shortly have something to offer which is suitable for production. Continental. Now that we have had to take 35-EX to replace 32-EX, we are in the somewhat unfortunate position of requiring three chassis - (1) replacement of 30-EX which is completely obsolete and is long overdue, (2) a replacement of 32-EX which will become the Continental car, (3) the long chassis, for which the body is completed. The position is that we have not the capacity to manufacture the parts in our own department, and production are being pressed so hard by Sales that they are reluctant to release any parts. We shall have to ask Sales to help us out with a difficulty such as the existing one, brought about by the accident in France. | ||