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).
Notes on crankshaft bearings, clutches, frame construction, and competitor costs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\2\ img117 | |
| Date | 3rd January 1935 | |
| -9- crankshaft to run true at high speeds, whereas balance weights fitted in a normal manner do not necessarily correct the deflections in the crankshaft. We also recommend trying the Cleveland centrifugally cast white metal bearings, which should be a considerable improvement over our present type. (12) Clutches. We brought back a sample 12" Long clutch centre as fitted to the Packard V-12 engine. This size they consider entirely adequate for the SpectreCodename for Phantom III-requirements. Clutches get used far more in the States than they do in England, so we do not see why there should be any doubt about this information being correct. We brought back a similar clutch two years ago, and so far it has given the best results in a Ph.III car. (13) Frame Information. The latest frames on the General Motors cars have all the cross members welded to the side channels, which according to Olley increases quite materially the frame stiffness owing to the fact that shift of the rivets takes place in the normal construction when the frame twists. The stiffness of the cross in the Cadillac position is according to Olley directly additive to that provided by the body, the Ph.III cross not being in the best position for frame stiffness. (14) Costs. No-one was willing to give us the actual cost of any part of their car, but Lincoln have promised to send us the number of man hours required to manufacture and assemble the new small Zephyr engine, when they have this information themselves. | ||