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).
Alfa Romeo engine's performance and design, comparing it to the Peregrine engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\3\ img118 | |
| Date | 18th March 1932 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} (At Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) C. to SC, WOR{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}, EC C. to DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}, BY, PN{Mr Northey} re. ALFA ROMEO. X++82. This seems a jolly good little engine, which gives almost exactly our estimate for the Peregrine sized Bensport of 100HP. at 4000 RPM. It rather confirms our wish for this as a model of efficiency. The valve timing is our WW. ideal of rather later exhaust, and late closing inlet - in round figures: I.O. 15° E.C. I.C. 60° E.O. 45° With .013 clearance. and agrees with Derby's idea of the same inlet and exhaust cams. With .020 clearance timing equals about 225°, and much less overlap. Since writing the above I have received further particulars via Mr. Grylls, and many of the details such as valves,pistons, connecting rods, would not suit our views because we should not expectthem to remain in good order for a long time. I understand that in the 8 cyl. engine they have adopted a bearing each side of each crank - i.e. 9 or 10 bearings. This is their later work and they must have good reason for departing from the more usual 5 bearing crankshaft for a "straight eight" cylinder engine. Our Peregrine master period may be too low for a supercharged engine. Perhaps Mr. Grylls will report on this. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||