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).
Performance variations between car 31-RB and 58-NA, and potential modifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\2\ Scan204 | |
| Date | 24th April 1919 | |
| TO CJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to OY. c. to EH. c. to Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} Copy RE CAR 31 RB.{R. Bowen} With reference to Mr. Olley's memo (OY8/F31/3/19) regarding car 31-RB{R. Bowen} when compared with 58 NA{Mr Nadin}, RB{R. Bowen} cars should be later cars than NA{Mr Nadin}, so that the gear ratios would probably be alike, but one wonders whether the bodies are of equal weight or whether the RB{R. Bowen} is carrying heavy body or is fitted with large wheels, or carrying a large weight of spare tackle. Tyres also could vary somewhat. We presume, however, America have carefully gone into these features. As regards the high lift valves, we do not recommend changing the camshafts and valves, and as they seem to suggest, they are not comparing high speed performance, we think that this feature is not the cause of the variation. We do agree that the engine could be fitted with higher compression; it would have to have aluminium pistons to prevent detonations and also to prevent the risk of scored cylinders. We should send the best pistons we know of up to the present, but not short connecting rods. The higher compression would naturally give more power at all speeds, and the detonations might be avoided by the clean cylinders and the aluminium pistons, or by the use of a fuel made up of partly benzol. There is, however, so much in having the car in good condition all round, and driving it well, that one can hardly realise that the whole climbing difference between 58-NA{Mr Nadin} and 31-RB{R. Bowen} could be due to any comparative slight modifications, which should really affect the high speed running more than the low speed. (Contd) | ||