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 concerning a subframe fouling a brake drum on chassis 22-WJ and a query about correct coachbuilding procedures.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 14\8\ Scan205 | |
| Date | 18th January 1930 | |
| Sèvres P/W "Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}" X7380. Ps2/RJ.18/1/30. Re: Chassis 22-WJ - C.B. Fairfax Esq. I recently had a very bad case of a subframe fouling the brake drum. I had but an hour to do the job with the owner standing alongside waiting to proceed to Nice. He had come in from Calais and was crashing badly. Although I agree the modification to the subframe had not been properly attended to, the fault was that the body was, in my opinion, incorrectly fitted. The centre lines of body and chassis were 3/8" apart. In fact, I overcame the difficulty by readjusting the subframe mounting on the chassis frame by setting them square to each other. Furthermore, the body was resting on the rear extension horns of chassis, whereas there should be about 5/16" clearance. Consequently, at the same time I raised this 1/4". I did it carefully, attending to all the subframe supports. I reported the case to London because I thought somebody ought to inform the Coachbuilders to watch these points, and I have received a reply, Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}/JG/EBN. 6/1/30. I cannot think that it can be true, and I put the following points to you for reply please, that your opinions may be forwarded to "Whr{Mr Wheeler}":- 1) Is a Coachbuilder in order in fitting a body to a chassis, the centre lines of which are 3/8" apart, reducing the brake drum clearance on one side by 3/8". 2) Is it wrong for me to raise the body from the rear end of the chassis to give clearance by readjusting the subframe supports, naturally by rearranging the packing washers for that purpose. 3) Do you agree that I should be instructed not to interfere with subframe mounting on chassis, when I know them to be wrong, and do you agree that theoretically this would have a tendency to upset the fitting of doors, etc. Kindly let me have your reply as early as possible. Ps. B | ||