Lagonda Rapiers

3 minute(s) of a 484 minute read

Going back to my earlier post. In the first photograph the tubes between the camshaft bearing caps carry oil under full pressure to the camshaft bearings. The bearing housings are further drilled to then take oil to the pivots for the cam followers and finally through a drilling down the length of the cam follower the oil is metered to the "pad" that runs against the cam lobes. You are advised NOT to run the engine with the cam covers removed. That is unless you want to be drenched in a shower of oil.  Oops! The washers etc you can see through the spark plug hole are the ones in the open container on my work bench that can be seen in one of the other photographs........ The smaller "pointy" cams were originally for spring "dampers" to iron out any vibration. These were found to be an un-necessary complication and removed when the cars went for their "first service".

Bernie j.

1-13-2017

Thank you Paul

I am just sorry my photography is not as clear as I would like. The other thing to remember is that the Rapier was a small, just over one litre, capacity (10HP) made in very limited numbers, less than 400 in total over 80 years ago. That so many have survived is testimony to the high quality of both design and manufacture.

Bernie j.

In case you missed it earlier the "bottom end" of the motor is also impressive for 1934. At a time when MG, Riley, Singer, Morris and Austin were all still using just two main bearings for their crankshafts Lagonda were using this crank in the Rapier engine.

Bj.

I know how many of you like photographs, here is something very different, taken by Helen in the French Alps during our  2009 visit. It is a road typical of the ones we love driving on. You can just see the Rapier in the left hand bottom corner.  Absolutely magic.

Bernie j

Anyone for a Cruise or a Luxury Tour? You will not see anything like this......France, Belgium. Italy, Switzerland & Germany. And the local people want to talk to you!