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).
From Mr. Olley to Mr. Hives discussing modifications to reduce the car's undersheeting.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66\3\ scan0255 | |
| Date | 22th June 1923 | |
| ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. X3468 Oy2-W-62223 PERSONAL June 22, 1923. To: Mr. Hives From: Mr. Olley Re: Reducing Undersheets, etc. We have the impression that our car is too much undersheeted and would like to know whether you have any development work in hand along this line. We are just fitting to 102-CE a gear box undersheet of which the rear 17" is cut away, having an idea that this will not only reduce gear noise, but will make for cooler floorboards and bodies, and will not cause more dirt on the gear box, speedometer drive, starter motor, etc., because the mud, etc., under the car flies almost horizontally. We think it is the depth rather than the length of the gearbox undersheet that defines its protective powers. The undersheet on 102-CE is now only 21½" long from the front panel. Then with regard to the engine undersheets, we have found that it is possible to cut out the louvers around the pendulum lever altogether without having water enter, first, however, raising the upper projections of the front panel of the gearbox undersheet 1" in order to close the slots which exist below the engine feet and inside the flywheel guard, with the standard front panel (see A-1701 attached). These louvers around the pendulum lever foul the lever and end of the side steering tube and cut the leather boot. Packard Hup/and Paige and other later models of American cars have abandoned the engine underpan altogether and instead use splash guards to keep splash from the wheels from hitting the engine. This seems an excellent idea, and I attach a sketch showing how I | ||