| Author | Message | ||
     David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 2392 Registered: 4-2003 |
Over the years, this forum has had many posts concerning how to check whether the ride height settings are correct for a Shadow. Yesterday, I saw some excellent photos taken by Patrick Ryan which show the correct ride height for properly set front and rear suspension. I would like to Photoshop the images to provide close-up detail of how a Shadow's ride height can be visually checked easily. Patrick, would you please email me these images in the original off-camera file size for maximum resolution so I can crop the relevant observation points and mark them up to illustrate how the car's appearance can be used to verify if the ride height settings are correct. I will SMS my email address to you in case you do not have it on file - I can receive images up to 25MB by email. If the image file size is greater than this, I can send you a Dropbox or Google Drive folder for you to upload the images. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 968 Registered: 4-2016 |
Thanks David. Images on their way. Did you want some sample images shown here? | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 2393 Registered: 4-2003 |
No need - images received and I will Photoshop them this evening and post here. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 2395 Registered: 4-2003 |
My apologies for the delay in posting the photos as I have had some emergency property matters to attend to yesterday and today. Hopefully, I will be able to process and post the images tomorrow night or over the weekend. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 2408 Registered: 4-2003 |
Patrick, Did you get my phone message on Monday about the resolution of your images? If not, would you please call me when convenient as I need to talk to you. Thanks David | ||
| Patrick Francis Experienced User Username: jackpot Post Number: 24 Registered: 11-2016 |
Looking forward to seeing the pictures. Many pictures of the Shadows show them as being low at the back - at least at rest. Should the sill be absolutely parallel to the ground when the engine is running and the self levelling has activated? Or does the level of the sills have nothing to do? My Shadow 1 is within the limits of the workshop manual measurements, but still seems to have low hind quarters. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 2416 Registered: 4-2003 |
Patricks 1 & 2, Sorry for the extended delay as events have conspired against me. I have had ongoing problems with mobile broadband access at home in Sydney this week due to local base station overloading and connections being dropped with no signs of capacity being increased. I am now at home in the country with a fixed line ADSL2 connection so I should not have further problems processing and posting Patrick Ryan's photos in the next day or two. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 2420 Registered: 4-2003 |
At long last - my apologies for the delay:-      . | ||
| Patrick Francis Experienced User Username: jackpot Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2016 |
David and Patrick Thanks for the combined effort and great photos. I will be using my best endeavours to adjust my self levelling to get that look of a parallel sill to the ground. I will then re measure the workshop manual limits and let you know what results I get! | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1081 Registered: 4-2016 |
Let us all know your results Patrick. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1604 Registered: 5-2012 |
Hi Patrick I have read in a few places that at the correct ride height, if you rest your fingers on the top of the rear tire the back of your hand should just touch the wheelarch. When you get close to workshop manual limits, could you carry out this test. I'd like to verify if this "rule of thumb" is correct. Geoff | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1744 Registered: 6-2006 |
Geoff, that is a good guide. Make sure you have the right tyres on it though  | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 1306 Registered: 5-2015 |
I notice that the sill trim is about level and the sill trim disects the wheel centres | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 2435 Registered: 4-2003 |
Paul, Also the same tyre pressure all round. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1093 Registered: 4-2016 |
Gents, I carried out the finger test on the back suspension and as Geoff said it bang on. Slide my hand under the guard and it's a tight to the top of the tyre. They are 205/70R15 run at 28psi. Out of interest, the body height is very critical based on where I park it. Flat garage for all good; for sideways tilted driveway, the tyre is well into the guard by about 10mm as it faces sideways downhill. Just thought that was interesting, and I guess shows the softness of the springs off level ground. | ||
| richard george yeaman Grand Master Username: richyrich Post Number: 700 Registered: 4-2012 |
I think that the starting point to acquire the right standing height for these cars is to start of with a new set of springs and an amount of shims to adjust to the required height. Richard. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1745 Registered: 6-2006 |
A Harvey Bailey kit & dampers any day. Transforms these from boat to car 205/70/15 Patrick? | ||
| gordon le feuvre Prolific User Username: triumph Post Number: 160 Registered: 7-2012 |
MY 1980 SHADOW 11 WITH JUST 32K MILES HAS BUBBLE NEARLY IN CENTRE WITH SPIRIT LEVEL LONGWAYS ON BATTERY. IT MEASURES 26" ON REAR FROM FLOOR TO WHEEL ARCH AT CENTRE OF HUB. THE FRONTS ARE 27 AND 27 1/2" AGAIN FROM FLOOR TO WHEEL ARCH AT CENTRE OF HUB. LOOKS GOOD TO ME, SPENDT LOADS HOURS DOING STANDING HEIGHT IN DEALERSHIP IN 60/70s. AS SAID BEFORE THE FACTORY PRODUCED REALLY HELPFULL BULLETIN SY/H? TO ASSIST WITH SHIMS IN CAR/AGAINST WHAT WAS REQUIRED. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1097 Registered: 4-2016 |
Sorry Paul, 215/75R15. Typo mate  Gordon, My car is 26 1/2 at the rear and 28 at the front. Flat floor measured at hub cap centres. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1746 Registered: 6-2006 |
Hope nobody rushed out and ordered the 70 size ones. Cheaper but look terrible    | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1098 Registered: 4-2016 |
I stuffed both sizes up there Paul. Don't know how I did that. But just to confirm 215/75R15 Those in the pics look unusual that's for sure. | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 1307 Registered: 5-2015 |
My car is also 27.5 inches from wheel arch to wheel centre. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Experienced User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 34 Registered: 5-2016 |
I'm assuming that the measurements are taken while the gear selector has been set to park and after which the ignition has been switched off. Also, is it necessary to disconnect the height control valve levers from the sub-frame and pull them downwards to expel any hydraulic fluid from the rams before taking measurements? Regards, Larry. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1109 Registered: 4-2016 |
I just pulled up and took the pics Larry. In park and hand brake on. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Experienced User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 35 Registered: 5-2016 |
Thanks for that info Patrick, I think my old girl's rear springs are getting weak but if she passes this test I'll leave well enough alone for another while. Your Silver Shadow looks stunning, the paint and chrome look flawless. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1110 Registered: 4-2016 |
Thanks for the kind words Larry. Don't forget, they are a tad droopy in the bum compared to the front. If she is a tad droopy but the ride is excellent, you can always put some packing shims under the springs. But let's not get to close mate. She's not a bad 10ft car. She has a few warts on her that were noted in the build sheets in72. Check them out in the original post of "photos of our cars" Of course by now everyone knows what I use on my paint and chrome. It works for me. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1112 Registered: 4-2016 |
Sorry Larry. The pic was not where I thought it was, but here is one of my cars blemishes. It was mentioned in the build sheets in 1971, of course was fixed, but surfaced in the 90's. Developed into this, but has not got worse since then.  The car also has some fine/minor cracking around the bottom of the A pillars where it meets the front wings/mud guards. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 2442 Registered: 4-2003 |
Patrick, These most probably are the notorious paint bubbles associated with the lead wiping used by RRMC to cover the sheet metal joins in the body shell. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1114 Registered: 4-2016 |
More than likely David. | ||
| Nick Adlam Frequent User Username: crewes_control Post Number: 92 Registered: 12-2015 |
Pat, going by these pics, your car sits perfectly mate, in my humble opinion. The sill strip imaginary line intersects *just* above the front/rear hubcap centrelines, easily seen in the rear quarter view. If you closely study RR's original promo photos, yours is the same. I'm sounding like the stuck record, but the gloss/colour of your machine is awesome. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1115 Registered: 4-2016 |
Thanks Nick, It sits well on a flat surface, I'm just amazed how a tilted driveway or parking spot can make her look crooked or odd. But that the soft springs I guess. Your car sits pretty nicely as well mate. Thanks mate, Check out my Mr Sheen Effect post I did tonight. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Experienced User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 36 Registered: 5-2016 |
There's a couple of similar paint bubbles on my front left wing which I had assumed were caused by careless spillage of brake fluid droplets but maybe it's the lead wiping problem described above. I can live with them. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1120 Registered: 4-2016 |
Larry, I'm proud of the cars marks that are also mentioned in the build sheets. Every judge that has seen them, then sees the build sheet always nod with approval. It's never gone agains the cars score.    Above are some paint inspection pages from my build sheets. Everywhere these pages show issues, the car eventually had these issues re surface over time. The pin holes comment on the final inspection, is exactly where the cars warts are. If you think the above is bad, and has to much info Here are the rear view pages.    | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Experienced User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 37 Registered: 5-2016 |
Thanks Patrick, There's great minute detail in those build sheets, I hadn't realised they would produce so much information. I'd been toying with the idea of ordering build sheets for my old girl but now - having seen yours - I've concluded that I definitely must, your posts are much appreciated, Regards, Larry. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1126 Registered: 4-2016 |
Hi Larry, Well worth it mate. Mine consists of over 40 pages and covers everything fitted to the car. The engine pages are covered in greasy fingerprints as the guys assembling the engine signed off on the pages. It came with the original order (dealer to Rolls Royce) plus what they ordered to be fitted to the car. The original warranty page & date of delivery. If you want to check mine out I could email you the PDF. Just let me know your email address. | ||
| gordon le feuvre Prolific User Username: triumph Post Number: 162 Registered: 7-2012 |
As I understand, 4 dr cars (apart from LWB) were built and painted at Crewe from bodies manufactured by Pressed Steel on another site. Long wheelbase were manufactured by sending standard wheelbase bodyshell down to London to MWP at Willesden, putting this on jig and cutting it in half and stretching it by 4" across rear footwell floor pan and sills in offset cut. I have actually seen this. Corniche shells were manufactured at same place, then sent up to Crewe for fitting of mechanical components and then shipped back to MPW With all this, apart from the issues with Pressed Steel being owned by someone else and therefore quality control being outside Crewe's own control, it's no wonder there are PLENTY of notes on paint report! It can be seen that all the issues with lead at bottom of "A" post on (SY) Shadow was designed out on (SZ)Spirit by having NO joint that needed leading where screen post screen deck panel and front wing meet. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1128 Registered: 4-2016 |
Interesting points and observations Gordon. These cars certainly give us plenty to do and contemplate. Probably the most interesting car ever made. They certainly keep our mind and body active. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Experienced User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 38 Registered: 5-2016 |
Thanks for the kind offer Patrick but there's really no need for you to go to the trouble. I'm about to get in touch with the RR Enthusiast's Club in the UK to place an order for SRH37125's build sheets, Regards, Larry. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1615 Registered: 5-2012 |
This has prompted me to do the same. They will wonder why there is a sudden rush for build sheets. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1130 Registered: 4-2016 |
Well done guys, I'm sure you wont be disappointed. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1616 Registered: 5-2012 |
Cheers Patrick. This is something I've been meaning to do for ages. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1131 Registered: 4-2016 |
Hi Geoff, I copied mine when I got it, then spiral bound it so its easy to hand to people to read. If it gets messed up, I just print it again and re bind it. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1617 Registered: 5-2012 |
Hi Patrick I will scan mine to a pdf file when it arrives. I haven't got a spiral binding machine so no fancy hard copy for me. However I'm so used to reading from a screen I actually prefer it these days. Geoff | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1132 Registered: 4-2016 |
Yes Geoff, It can be much easier to see that is for sure. Don't know about fancy LOL I did all my paperwork, invoices & receipts supplied with the car this way.  | ||
| Jonas TRACHSEL Prolific User Username: jonas_trachsel Post Number: 115 Registered: 2-2005 |
Geoff It should not be too difficult to find a local office-goods shop that can spiral bind your documents. Jonas | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1623 Registered: 5-2012 |
Patrick - that's a nice set of documents. A full tool kit as well. Jonas - that's a good suggestion. I will check our local FedEx office - they offer these types of services. Geoff | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1134 Registered: 4-2016 |
Thanks Geoff, The tool kit is still as new. I use the tool on the sump plug for oil changes all the time. The feeler gauges are correct as well, 1 marked plugs, 1 marked points. Pliers marked "Rolls Royce" and the genuine Lucas Girder" adjustable spanner. We have a number of places in Sydney that do this type of spiral binding, it takes just a few minutes, and just a couple of bucks. I've done some for other club members docs as well. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1643 Registered: 5-2012 |
I ordered the build sheets for my car 2 weeks ago. Still waiting - lol. I emailed them after a week (last Friday) and they said there had been technical difficulties but they would now get them out straightaway. Still waiting. My account hasn't even been debited yet. I wonder if Larry has received his yet. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1233 Registered: 4-2016 |
I do remember they were slow mate. I wasn't debited until about 2 weeks after I received them. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1644 Registered: 5-2012 |
Hi Patrick Thanks for letting me know that. I will give it another week before sending another reminder. The thing is, it will take 10 days for the build sheets to get here through the post. A month in total. It's just like the good old days. I think I would prefer modern methods; scan the debit card and receive a pdf file a few minutes later via email. I guess Hunt House are doing it the traditional way. Geoff | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 1234 Registered: 4-2016 |
Exactly what I thought when I ordered mine Geoff. Snail mail is yesterday man lol You're lucky, because it took me 3 months to at first get a reply, to my request for the build sheets to begin with. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Experienced User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 45 Registered: 5-2016 |
Hi Geoff, I haven't ordered mine yet, Larry | ||
| gordon le feuvre Prolific User Username: triumph Post Number: 172 Registered: 7-2012 |
Seem to remember one of the ladies went off to have a baby I think, left them short staffed? |
