1927 Sunbeam 20.9 restoration (2)
Spring 2003
I have recently decided to bolt the main components together to see if they fit. The engine, gearbox and torque tube were sourced independently to the chassis and axles which were found in a field.
Here's a main view of the components. I also wanted to be sure that the torque tube was the correct type for the car, had been sourced seperately. The rear suspension was not ready for fixing so there are wooden blocks between the chassis and axle. However, the alignment of the back axle appeared perfectly okay.
The chassis is a conventional mid 1920's chassis with semi-elliptic springs at
front, with cantilever springs at the back. This was more the mark of a touring
or luxury car than a sports car. However, Kensington Moir used to race a
Straker-Squire at Brooklands which had a very similar chassis layout to the
20hp Sunbeam, with rear cantilevers.
My torque tube seems unique for the 20hp: it is the only two-bearing shaft I know of: early ones are no-bearing (one piece tube carrying a tubular propshaft) followed by one-bearing (two piece tube with a solid propshaft ). This is a one-piece tube, but with two bearing housings. Unfortunately there is not a complete propshaft yet (could you help?)
I have since taken the components apart so I can rebuild the engine.
