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).
Outlining the development program for the B.50 Engine Project, including 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder variants.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 111\2\ scan0389 | |
| Date | 14th September 1938 | |
| 500 By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Jnr.{Charles L. Jenner} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Swdl.{Len H. Swindell} B.50 Engine Project. Confirming our discussion with you relating to the sequence of development which we hope to carry out on the range of engines recently designed, the first of which is the 6-cyl. cast iron unit at present nearing completion, the projected programme outlined is as follows:- As soon as half-a-dozen sets of castings have been obtained from the existing patterns to supply sufficient material for experimental development on this unit, the 6-cyl. block patterns will be modified to make the Straight 8 engine. Half-a-dozen Line 8 castings will then be obtained. The Line 8 cylinder head patterns are entirely separate, and, therefore, it will not be necessary to modify the 6-cylinder pattern already in existence. When the Line 8 have been made we propose to revert to the 6-cyl. pattern, and cast a block which will have the maximum capacity which can be obtained from the design, i.e. 3¾" bore. This will be purely an experimental unit for development work, and modifications will only affect the pattern in so far as the barrels of the cylinders are concerned. The designs are at present on the point of being prepared and details will be completed by the time the patterns are at liberty. We expect to follow on this large bore 6-cyl. engine by an Experimental Line 8 engine which will achieve the maximum possible weight production, and designs for this are at present in hand. It is not expected, however, that this Line 8 engine will be made experimentally until we have done a considerable amount of running on the first type of both 6 and 8 units to ensure that no fundamental alterations are required. In any case, the second type of Line 8 engine will be so designed that only minor pattern modifications are called for. From this total of 4 experimental units we hope to get the maximum amount of experimental information from the money expended on patterns. For the purpose of reference, we propose to refer to these engines as - | ||