Nice find, this thread is going to be awesome!
I've always wondered how much weight is just built into the the metal of these cars and how much is removeable stuff like sound deadener, huge air conditioners, etc. I assume there are plans to add lightness after it's running well?
Did you guys have something like the PPC Rolls in mind?
Just in case you need this info, the hot ticket (discreetly lukewarm ticket?) in Silver Shadow handling is the Harvey-Bailey Handling Kit, described thus: "Harvey Bailey have been synonymous for developing and manufacturing handling packages for Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars for decades. They are designed to keep the car level during cornering. This is a Harvey Bailey handling kit for all models of Silver Shadow and Bentley T Type. The kit consists of new, uprated front and rear road springs and anti-roll bars along with new ARB pivot rubbers. The kit is NOT suitable for any early models still utilising the front height control system - for these cars you will need to order HBEKSS1. We strongly recommend that you replace the four dampers with Bilstein dampers (UR71744P & RH12437P)" by these guys . Of course, the kit costs more in pounds than the car did in dollars, but maybe you can get the sway bar specs and fake something up.
dump the hydraulic ... brakes asap.
That is a fairly outlandish recommendation, at face value.
I assume there's some complicated kajiggery going on in the brakes system that im not aware of that needs to go, and that we're not suggesting throwing the baby (pascal's law) out with the bathwater. lol
The Rolls suspension/brake system is a total berkeleying nightmare. It uses a hydraulic pump that runs off a cam lobe in the motor that constantly makes 2000psi and the brake pedal is connected to a valve that distributes fluid to the wheels and when it does so it diverts it from the hydraulic suspension system. They were kind enough to put a spring underneath the brake pedal so it feels sort of like a brake pedal but the end result is an awful, vague brake feel and extreme nose dive any time you use them. The pressure spheres in the system are notorious for leaking and cost $1200 each (two of them under the hood) and it won't work without $20 a quart lubriplate Rolls Royce hydraulic fluid and the system holds over 6 quarts.
I have now rebuilt 3 shadow series hydraulic systems at work. I have zero respect for any of the so-called engineering in them. They feel terrible in every way. Ghastly, seasick inducing....just nauseating.
Just did a 85 Shadow II last week. I won't even do the test drive any more. I hand the keys to the boss and make him do it.
In reply to ditchdigger:
geezus, that's overly complex in an obnoxiou$ kinda way
wtf were they thinkin' 
patgizz wrote: i dunno, i kinda think it's lame to do that to a rolls. i'd rather LS swap it and drive it on the street than make it a beater lemons POS just for shock value
That is by far the least valuable Rolls out there. Parts are mega expensive and for a Rolls, they really aren't that rare.
I would vote getting rid of as many of Rolls pieces as possible and selling them because they will easily pay for that car.
patgizz wrote: i dunno, i kinda think it's lame to do that to a rolls. i'd rather LS swap it and drive it on the street than make it a beater lemons POS just for shock value
That was my initial thought, as well... But as others have mentioned, it's not like it's a super-rare example of the breed. Plus, it looks like it would take more $$$ to turn it into a decent cruiser than it would ever be worth.
The fact that the seller, who had an emotional attachment to it, is ok with it being turned into a crap-can racer? Well, that to me means that this is what must be done!!!
Nice LeMony score!!!! As a lover of British cars, a Rolls and a Land Rover are the two I refuse to own. Well, maybe a Series LR... anyway, E36 M3can the stupid brake system. It's crap.
Post a picture of the window regulators when you get them out. 
fasted58 wrote: wtf were they thinkin'
"If Citroen can do it, we can do it better!"
"Better" meaning more cast iron and fluid leakage, is my assumption. I have very limited vintage Rolls experience, and the experience I do have is that they're 1940s chassis and interior technology at astronomical prices. I believe one contemporary writer said that they were the best truck that money could buy. (Mind you, trucks weren't seen as luxury cars at the time, so this was an insult)
If it has SU carbs and they need reworking, they're probably going to cost more than an L33 swap. FWIW.
93EXCivic wrote: I would vote getting rid of as many of Rolls pieces as possible and selling them because they will easily pay for that car.
This, it's a win-win. Contribute to the budget, lose the stupid-complicated awful-performing Rolls parts.
Wow, no respect for the top of british automotive engineering. I gotta say that between the hydraulics with Citroen levels of complexity but built by the nation that can make a dishwasher leak oil, and the electrics from the Prince of Darkness or the boat anchor of a motor, there doesn't seem to be any real reason to like those old Rolls. But a track Rolls is still cool. Like I said, look into the PPC Track Rolls for some insight because they did what you guys want to do. They stripped all the luxuries and removed the entire hydraulic system. With all that weight removed, they cut the springs and fitted some Bilstein shocks. They retrofit a turbo system from a later model. The engine seems to be pretty bulletproof. The transmission is of the GM variety apparently. Oh and for cool factor, they gave it a roof chop.
fasted58 wrote: In reply to ditchdigger: geezus, that's overly complex in an obnoxiou$ kinda way wtf were they thinkin'
Now you are getting it. That is what Rolls Royce is all about. I like to think of their "advancements" as what I call "pub ideas". After a few pints of lager one of the engineers says something as a joke and every one runs with it and the next thing you know a car has the most expensive, complicated and in no way superior braking system ever conceived. RR installed 2 brake calipers on each rotor for the front brakes for this series car instead of increasing the wheel size. At over 6000lbs the car was too much for the brake system, so they doubled up the calipers without changing the heat sink capabilities of the rotors. The result? A much more expensive brake system that overheats very rapidly all because they didn't want to spoil the ride quality by going with less than an 80 series sidewall on the tire.
Remember Rolls Royce still used mechanical brakes into the 50's and in one of the service manuals we have at work states that they left the "unproved hydraulic technology" to the less important front end of the vehicle while the tried and true mechanical handled the bulk of the stopping via the rear end.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/
Should have everything you need.
BTW, it needs Soft 8s on it.
This is full of win.
Build thread started in the build thread forum
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/3-pedal-mafias-24-hours-of-lemons-rolls-royce-silv/59120/page1/
Dude, I think I love you...
This is exactly what I've always anted to do with an old Roller.
patgizz wrote: i dunno, i kinda think it's lame to do that to a rolls. i'd rather LS swap it and drive it on the street than make it a beater lemons POS just for shock value
the obvious answer is for you to go buy this car from them and do with it as you wish..
BTW, your theme should be as the sheik from Cannon Ball Run. the trick is getting Jaime Farr's nose right.
I am so bummed I missed this build weekend. I cannot wait to see the car...uh...automobile. It looks smashing! Simply splendid!!
Bolt pattern is a unique 5x155 from what I can tell. If we want replacement wheels, we need to have them made, sadly.
The cannonball run theme is certainly in play, as is Monopoly, putting a big top hat on the car and bribing the judges with Monopoly money, etc.
Driving it is slightly frightening.
Sweet Jesus. 
Sonic wrote: Bolt pattern is a unique 5x155 from what I can tell. If we want replacement wheels, we need to have them made, sadly. The cannonball run theme is certainly in play, as is Monopoly, putting a big top hat on the car and bribing the judges with Monopoly money, etc. Driving it is slightly frightening.
How much money in ones would make a sufficiently impressive stack? You should keep it in your coat pocket.
Seems to me it would be easy to deal with the suspension. I don't know anything about the PPC car other than it exists, but I'm sure a welder would allow shocks to be mounted. As long as the brake calipers are hydraulic, then you just redo the rest of the system.
For teh engine, a SBC with a carb would be the way to go. Much easier than the L33 swap and it would look more appropriate underhood. Plus this is supposed to be cheap racing, right?
Keith Tanner wrote: Seems to me it would be easy to deal with the suspension. I don't know anything about the PPC car other than it exists, but I'm sure a welder would allow shocks to be mounted. As long as the brake calipers are hydraulic, then you just redo the rest of the system. For teh engine, a SBC with a carb would be the way to go. Much easier than the L33 swap and it would look more appropriate underhood. Plus this is supposed to be cheap racing, right?
Opinions differ, but the data says SBCs are terribly unreliable Lemons engines. As are most Ford V8s. Not sure why, perhaps they're too easy to hop up? People get greedy with the redline and lax with the cooling?
If you're going to swap, I'd go with something more oddball and more reliable. This car shouldn't be about crazy mid-race engine swaps (I've been there). I suggest a look at the following:
Ford 4.6 Mod Motor
Rover V8??
Dodge /6
GMC twin six (I recommend this for each and every lemons engine ever)
Rotary for the sheer irony, and they also tend to be quite reliable in Lemons
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