| Author | Message | ||
     Randy Roberson Frequent User Username: wascator Post Number: 839 Registered: 05-2009 |
The Wraith II seems to have a fuel cap which is not correct; perhaps some PO lost the original, who knows. I almost could not remove it at the last fuel fill. It seems likely this item was bought out rather than made specifically for this model so is there one available for reasonable cost? | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3105 Registered: 06-2009 |
Randy, Could you post an image of what it is you actually have? I'm curious. I can also post an image of the cap on LRK37110, which I know to be OEM issue, and that's quite different than the one on SRH33576, which is only 1 year older but is European, not US spec, which LRK37110 is. Brian | ||
| Robert J. Sprauer Frequent User Username: wraithman Post Number: 650 Registered: 11-2017 |
Just to add: My 1977 Shadow LRE-23114 has a "cast" gas cap with a wire keeper attached to the cap. Traditional twist to tighten My 1980 Wraith II LRL-41587C has a "stamped" cap and marked "Rolls-Royce" and is the newer turn until it clicks type. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Frequent User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 681 Registered: 05-2016 |
My 79 Shadow SRH37125 has a solid metal cap with female thread while the filler pipe is metal with a male thread, there's a metal chain for a keeper. | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3106 Registered: 06-2009 |
Interesting in that SRH33576 has exactly what Mr. Sprauer describes for LRE23114 and Mr. Kavanaugh describes for SRH37125. And LRK37110 and LRL41587C have the same cap. (She's a 1979 US Spec Wraith II, but with SU carbs, not fuel injection like the C suffix cars for the California market.) I'm guessing the change probably came about due to evaporative emissions requirements for US Spec cars. Brian | ||
| Robert J. Sprauer Frequent User Username: wraithman Post Number: 651 Registered: 11-2017 |
Yes Brian, the cap on my 1980 Silver Wraith II which was ordered in Dec 1980 and delivered in June 1981, has a gas cap with what appears to be a venting inner cap to minimize a surge upon removal. CA emissions were tight and reminded when I glance at the 80 mph speedo. | ||
| Randy Roberson Frequent User Username: wascator Post Number: 840 Registered: 05-2009 |
Car is LRF 30305, USA delivery.  Cap I have:  | ||
| Robert J. Sprauer Frequent User Username: wraithman Post Number: 652 Registered: 11-2017 |
Aftermarket | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3107 Registered: 06-2009 |
Aftermarket. The OEM one has a metal top-cap with a plastic thread set. I can't imagine that RR had an RR-specific cap thread pattern, so it's probably possible to find an aftermarket gas cap with the correct fit. Whoever bought that one didn't since it's binding. Brian | ||
| Randy Roberson Frequent User Username: wascator Post Number: 841 Registered: 05-2009 |
I thought about other British marques perhaps using the same part: Jaguar, Land Rover, et al. | ||
| felipe heuser Experienced User Username: felipe Post Number: 124 Registered: 07-2017 |
I have a correct original used metal cap from an early SS if that would fit...happy to sell realistically...plus shipping from Europe...pm me for price and images… | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3108 Registered: 06-2009 |
Photos of the Fuel/Petrol/Gas cap from LRK37110:    Brian | ||
| Randy Roberson Frequent User Username: wascator Post Number: 846 Registered: 05-2009 |
UPDATE: I did find a new replacement cap, at Albers' of all places, and the cost was most reasonable. I only did not look there first because I could not imagine anyone would have a new one in stock. I will post a photo when it arrives and I test-fit the replacement. | ||
| Randy Roberson Frequent User Username: wascator Post Number: 847 Registered: 05-2009 |
New cap fits perfectly; not certain where the strap fastens, though. The new cap has BENTLEY molded in.  . | ||
| Graham Phillips Frequent User Username: playtime Post Number: 335 Registered: 03-2019 |
G'day everyone,... Camilla's fuel cap.   Graham. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Frequent User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 720 Registered: 05-2016 |
My fuel cap is exactly the same as Graham's. I must get one of the grandkids to show me how to download photos. | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3118 Registered: 06-2009 |
SRH33576 has the same cap as pictured by Graham, but missing its tether. I believe the style of cap was different depending on where the car was being delivered and the emissions laws in those places. LRK37110 has US spec emissions controls for 1979 and has the "sealing" plastic cap I showed in previous photos as well as exhaust gas recirculation hardware, etc. SRH33576 never had any of it, and has the filler tube with external threads and four "winged" cap with internal threads. Brian | ||
| Graham Phillips Frequent User Username: playtime Post Number: 336 Registered: 03-2019 |
G'day everyone,..... Well if the type of fuel cap is dependent on the region the vehicle was destined for Camilla was built for the home market. She is an English girl. Just out of curiosity, dose anyone use any additives to their fuel? You will notice the 'No Unleaded' sticker on the inside of the fuel filler cover. Graham. | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3119 Registered: 06-2009 |
I don't and won't use fuel additives, and in particular "lead replacement" products. Unleaded is the only fuel that's been available in the USA since I started driving in the 1970s. There are still millions of cars designed during the era of lead that are running just fine, thanks, with unleaded fuel. Lead wasn't the only anti-knock additive, it was just the cheapest one. Brian, who remembers the "Gloom and Doom" among gearheads way back when, insisting that cars designed before unleaded fuel would be destroyed by it. That never happened. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Frequent User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 721 Registered: 05-2016 |
I'm aware of older cars in the UK being retrofitted with "unleaded engine heads" to supposedly make them more suitable for unleaded fuel. I think the main difference between the old and new heads is the hardness of the metal used in the valves. | ||
| Graham Phillips Frequent User Username: playtime Post Number: 337 Registered: 03-2019 |
G'day everyone,.... If your cylinder head was alloy then its fine to run unleaded as it would have already had hardened valve guides,they were what wore out without the lead lubrication. Steel cylinder heads had softer valve guides and it was these that had the problems, you just had to change out the valve guides to hardened guides. Graham. | ||
| Mark Aldridge Frequent User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 723 Registered: 10-2008 |
My understanding is that lead prevents micro welding of exhaust valves to valve seats and hence erosion of the seat and pitting of the valve.This is particularly bad on BMC A series engines ( cast iron head with no valve seat inserts).However, my son has run a tuned Morris minor for 50k+ miles with no additive and no valve seat damage but a couple of blown headgaskets. The big problem with unleaded fuel is the octane rating, in the Uk standard unleaded is 95 ron, supergreen 97 ron and Shell V power 99 ron. All uk rr & B ( Shadow on ) require 98to 100 ron, hence the use of octane boosters. This also applies to many UK classic cars and retarding the ignition is not a satisfactory option,( loss of power, fuel economy and overheating). Interestingly I have just had the top end of my wifes Bentley 8 engine rebuilt following a blown headgasket ( 1999 new Crewe engine, 55 K miles ). The valves and seats even at this mileage benefited refacing. Mark | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3121 Registered: 06-2009 |
Well, I'm living proof that what's suggested and what's actually required are not the same. SRH33576 was a home market Shadow II. I've run her on regular unleaded here in the USA ever since I bought her in 2006. Power has always been "adequate" and she's never overheated. Made it from Virginia to Utah and back not long after I got her. Her ignition timing, if it was changed, was changed before I got her, but I've never adjusted it. No knocking or pinging, ever. Of course, I believe that by 1978 we were talking about an engine tweaked for "unleaded virtually everywhere" anyway. It was required in the USA starting in 1975, if memory serves. Brian | ||
| Mark Aldridge Frequent User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 724 Registered: 10-2008 |
Brian, I used my 1975 Shadow 1 as my daily driver for business between 1998 and 2009. Most of this was "A" and "B" road driving, briskly ! I retimed it for 95 ron per the TSD and the fuel consumption dropped fro 13mpg to 11 mpg overall and the performance dropped accordingly. I reset it and have used min 98 ron ever since. Still have the car, having had it restored after an accident with a tree branch at 60mph in 2008. Had far bigger problems with my 1970 Austin Healey Sprite,fuel consumption, pinging, boiling when driven hard after timing retarded etc . I built this engine for 100 ron back in the 1970's with 10:1 compression ratio. Again I reset it to the original build settings and use octane booster to 100 ron with no problems. UK sales engines generally are a different spec and cr to export markets. Mark | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 2238 Registered: 05-2012 |
Could be the difference in compression ratios. Mark's 75 Shadow would likely be 9:1 whereas Brian's 78 Shadow 7.3:1. Data from Marinus's website: 9.0:1, 8.0:1 from autumn 1975, 7.3:1 for America, Australia and Japan | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3122 Registered: 06-2009 |
Geoff, But remember, SRH33576 was not originally destined for the USA, Australia, or Japan. She started off life in the UK, moved to Germany, then eventually moved to the United States. LRK37110 was a US Spec car from the get-go. Brian, who also hasn't had any issues with ethanol in fuel at the usual 10% level with these cars, either. | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 2400 Registered: 09-2004 |
You will if you do if you put some leg on the car! | ||
| Robert J. Sprauer Frequent User Username: wraithman Post Number: 660 Registered: 11-2017 |
The stamped fuel cap (metal + plastic) also has a vacuum break feature that is not found with the cast cap. |
