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).
Letter to Cadillac detailing the findings from the teardown of one of their cars after a run in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 170\2\ img259 | |
| Date | 8th April 1935 | |
| Exptl. Dept. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Ra.12/KW. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley Esq., The Cadillac Motor Car Co., Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. Dear Olley, We have now had the Cadillac car in pieces after its run in France. Attached is H.C's report on some of the bits. The clearance in the big ends was such that we could not keep any oil pressure. The exhaust valves were a terrible shape. We do not understand how you manage to get along with the high percentage of ethyl fuel which is common practice in the United States. We believe there is less lead in the French petrol than in most, but it seems to have dealt with these valves fairly comprehensively. The threaded shackles on the front suspension had worn badly in spite of the fact that C.W.H's gang in France lubricate the cars with unfailing perseverance and regularity. The cylinder bore wear is rather more than we get. It may be that the disintegration of the small ends has had something to do with this. The timing chain rather shocked us, but we should be very glad if you would tell us a little more about this. An increase of length of .5" is to our unsophisticated minds a very alarming amount of stretch, but possibly if we were more familiar with silent chain front ends we should regard it with equanimity! We should like to know how much longer you would expect this chain to go on running with this sort of rate of wear. | ||