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I think fitting Pratt and Whitney R3350 cylinders and pistons is a better way to go. They give you fractionally over 3 litres per cylinder. Someone has fitted large radial aero engine cylinders to a pre-war JAP engine (in a GN?). That must have a far more fragile bottom end than the S&S? The bevel drive and drive belt might need beefing up a bit :-)

Wilson

This one ? It's a beaut and up there with the Beast of Turin for me
Seen them both at Revival and they really are jaw dropping in action.



GN story

Richard,

That is the Hispano Suiza/Wolseley Viper 18L engined car isn't it. I love these aero engined vintage cars. A friend of mine has built an RR Phantom II with a Meteor 27L V12 engine and had Rob Jolley make a body similar to the Napier Railton for it. The only thing I don't like is that he has used a GM400 auto box with it , after a step up intermediate box. It would have been better IMHO, if he had used an old non-synchro truck gearbox or even a W.O.Bentley D box (the 8L one).

Wilson

+1 - the Meteor projects always fascinate me (funny just ordered the RR Heritage book on the Meteor... hint they have an EBay shop!).

Wilson,

It's got a lot of information on the car on the GN link under the photo.
These aero engined cars are very special I can't imagine the sensation of driving one but it must be damn scary, my heart is in my mouth watching these guys racing them at Goodwood they must have nerves of steel.

The Napier Railton is an amazing machine to see feel and hear, does your friend ever show and or race his Meteor engined one? It sounds a sensational machine and the world needs more of these show stopping machines before it's too late.

Richard,

He has shown his Meteor engined Phantom II but very rarely drives it. The workmanship is immaculate. He was very ably assisted by his next door neighbour in Barcombe, Eric Neve, who is the man who does a lot of the machining work for Crossthwaite and Gardner, making new gearboxes for pre-war Auto Union and Mercedes GP cars, etc. Robin made the error (we all told him) of putting on rear wheel brakes only, as if it was a Brooklands car, albeit I seem to recall they are very large Douglas DC4 brakes with air powered truck actuators. I know what it is like driving RR Silver Ghosts with rear wheel only brakes (+ transmission brake again to the rear wheels) but you tend to drive these in a pretty staid manner.

Another problem with these cars is that Dunlop no longer make 23" diameter vintage racers (R3 criss cross pattern) and they have been muttering about stopping 21" as well. Now it may be that Michelin, who are far more inclined to help owners of old competition cars will step into the breach. Michelin have recently upped the load rating of their 255/45 x 15" MXW tyres made for Alpine GTA Turbo cars, so that owners of 911 RSR's (like me) and Lancia Stratos cars, have an option of a more road orientated rear tyre, than the Michelin TB15 treaded and road legal race tyre, which barely lasts 1000 miles and costs £500 each. Mind you the Excelsior Comp H 4.00 x 19 tyres on my M3W, need replacing and they have only done 3000km. Very usefully, Longstone have opened a French branch, as their prices are 30% less than other French suppliers.

When Robin takes the Meteor-Phantom to a show, he has to remember to take steel plates with him, to put under the downward pointing exhaust outlets (6 into 2 into 1 each side), or the gas will dig a hole in the ground or melt tarmac. I have not seen it for a few years and I know he has been very ill. I must ask the lady who does my ironing, when I am back in the UK, how he is and what has happened to the RR, as she knows him a lot better than me, as she used to work for Robin's wife.

Wilson

I don't think that Curtiss Wright would have been very happy with rivals P&W getting the credit for their R3350 piston aero engine masterpiece.

Wilson,

Wow what a machine I really hope your friend is well enough to enjoy it now, it must be a very savage beast and the braking arrangement certainly sounds hairy. Still smiling about the steel plate.


Thanks for the tyre information I had no idea there was a shortage of these for the vintage boys.

A bit eye watering the price of your RSR tyres too and I was surprised at the replacement interval on your M3W I suppose that is because they are motorcycle tyres really. Good to hear Longstone have opened up out in France there are quite a few M3W owners out there now I believe.

Looks like a nice way to either blow up your engine or die.