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May 03, 2009 9:29 pm
May 03, 2009 9:29 pm
Subject: Re: 2 Litre camshaft/valve timing manual
I would like to add to what Oakley has said about conflicting opinions on various technical aspects of 2 Litres. I write this from my background of having worked in industrial research for the last 40 years in the ICT field. One of the fascinations with Lagondas in general, and 2 Litres in particular is that there is a no right or wrong answer and NOBODY is the BEST expert - IMHO there are just shades of opinion that deserve respect more than others.
This is perfectly normal in academic and industrial research where respect is earned by peer review. I used to work with a gentleman called Phil Ridout who died a few years ago. He was a very precise and hugely respected industrial researcher who happened to have a lifelong passion - 2 Litre Lagondas - both blown and unblown ones. Many of you may have known him. For some 35 years, Peter Jones and I together shared the incredible fund of knowledge that Phil amassed regarding 2 Litres - and gave it freely and with great enthusiasm. Peter and I have both enjoyed adding to this fund of knowledge by sharing our own discoveries as well.
One of the first fruits of Phil's retirement was the design of the 2 Litre downdraft cylinder head. I bought one of the first batch some 15 years ago from Wessex workshops. Before he died, Phil, with Peter, then went on to consider camshaft timing and remember, this is a complex topic without a right or wrong answer. I would therefore always respect advice from this quarter and my camshafts (standard profile) are timed to Peters suggestions, and the car goes really well.
However, Phil was quite a modest man - as many respected researchers were - and he was the first to get excited about new thinking - so he was the ideal person to peer review other people's opinions and ideas. There are bound to be conflicting opinions - often passed out as 'information', and I learnt from him that sharing knowledge can help us all of us form an opinion about what is the best answer to help us to enjoy our hobby more.
For this reason so I look forward to reading Oakley's contribution to the body of knowledge on Lagonda 2 Litre engine and will value it highly as an addition to my own fund of knowledge. Much of this, like Peter's, was derived from enjoyable time spent with Phil, bless his memory.
Readers might like to note that the Club is making new 2 Litre timing sprockets, to go with the camshaft spiders and bushes already in production, so accurate timing can be done with good new components.
Colin M34
ps. This forum is a very good place to air this topic and others like it.
I would like to add to what Oakley has said about conflicting opinions on various technical aspects of 2 Litres. I write this from my background of having worked in industrial research for the last 40 years in the ICT field. One of the fascinations with Lagondas in general, and 2 Litres in particular is that there is a no right or wrong answer and NOBODY is the BEST expert - IMHO there are just shades of opinion that deserve respect more than others.
This is perfectly normal in academic and industrial research where respect is earned by peer review. I used to work with a gentleman called Phil Ridout who died a few years ago. He was a very precise and hugely respected industrial researcher who happened to have a lifelong passion - 2 Litre Lagondas - both blown and unblown ones. Many of you may have known him. For some 35 years, Peter Jones and I together shared the incredible fund of knowledge that Phil amassed regarding 2 Litres - and gave it freely and with great enthusiasm. Peter and I have both enjoyed adding to this fund of knowledge by sharing our own discoveries as well.
One of the first fruits of Phil's retirement was the design of the 2 Litre downdraft cylinder head. I bought one of the first batch some 15 years ago from Wessex workshops. Before he died, Phil, with Peter, then went on to consider camshaft timing and remember, this is a complex topic without a right or wrong answer. I would therefore always respect advice from this quarter and my camshafts (standard profile) are timed to Peters suggestions, and the car goes really well.
However, Phil was quite a modest man - as many respected researchers were - and he was the first to get excited about new thinking - so he was the ideal person to peer review other people's opinions and ideas. There are bound to be conflicting opinions - often passed out as 'information', and I learnt from him that sharing knowledge can help us all of us form an opinion about what is the best answer to help us to enjoy our hobby more.
For this reason so I look forward to reading Oakley's contribution to the body of knowledge on Lagonda 2 Litre engine and will value it highly as an addition to my own fund of knowledge. Much of this, like Peter's, was derived from enjoyable time spent with Phil, bless his memory.
Readers might like to note that the Club is making new 2 Litre timing sprockets, to go with the camshaft spiders and bushes already in production, so accurate timing can be done with good new components.
Colin M34
ps. This forum is a very good place to air this topic and others like it.