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 B.III engine unit, covering production simplification, road performance, and power curve adjustments.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\1\ scan0124 | |
| Date | 22th March 1938 | |
| 400. Ry. From Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. RWC. c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} c. Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Jnr.{Charles L. Jenner} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/PD. B.III ENGINE UNIT. The attached report covers the work done up to date on this unit. It will be seen that in order to simplify production, we are trying to make Wraith and B.III cylinder heads interchangeable. This seems to be feasible. On the road, the improvement in the low speed engine idling and pulling is confirmed, and is a very desirable attribute from the customer's point of view. With the object of discouraging over-revving, which is unnecessary now that an overdrive box is standardised, we are arranging the power curve so that it falls off rapidly above 4,000 R.P.M. At the moment, the engine is too sensitive to the exhaust system, but it will be seen that we have been carrying out investigations to overcome this. We have yet to confirm that the results are applicable to the actual B.III engine. Having settled the exhaust system, we shall concentrate on better fuel economy and cost reductions. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||