1964 Alvis Stalwart
Discussion
The starter motors were always "problematic"
Carb is just a bigger version of the Ferret (Twin choke solex)
With the Fuel .all the British Army Petrol engined vehicles at this time used CombatGas ( Think 1-2 star but rougher) the Holy Grail was CivGas (4 star) ran so much smoother.
Transmission wind up......
Of BIBLICAL proportions.
3 hairy arsed squaddies on the steering wheel and it won't turn proportions!
What caused it, the design was predisposed, the cause......
British Army Officers, It has wheels, B Vehicle documentation, it can do the Convoy Road move to the Exercise area!
Despite the pleas of the REME.
Broken Bevel Boxes, destroyed planet gear hubs, snapped propshafts were the result.
Carb is just a bigger version of the Ferret (Twin choke solex)
With the Fuel .all the British Army Petrol engined vehicles at this time used CombatGas ( Think 1-2 star but rougher) the Holy Grail was CivGas (4 star) ran so much smoother.
Transmission wind up......
Of BIBLICAL proportions.
3 hairy arsed squaddies on the steering wheel and it won't turn proportions!
What caused it, the design was predisposed, the cause......
British Army Officers, It has wheels, B Vehicle documentation, it can do the Convoy Road move to the Exercise area!
Despite the pleas of the REME.
Broken Bevel Boxes, destroyed planet gear hubs, snapped propshafts were the result.
Fantastic, who else grew up with the London Motor Club vs Army Autopoints on Saturday Grandstand BBC tv. Stolly just going straight line routes cross country.
Nice one OP, envious, used to drive past one in a field near Chaddesley Corbett (Worcestershire) everyday on the way to the UK office. Just like you, one day it had disappeared.
Nice one OP, envious, used to drive past one in a field near Chaddesley Corbett (Worcestershire) everyday on the way to the UK office. Just like you, one day it had disappeared.
wolfracesonic said:
You are hereby declared official technical consultant on this thread Aaron.
Wouldn't class my self as a Consultant, more as someone who has a bookfull of memories from being wet, cold, tired covered in oil and grease, somewhere in the back of beyond trying to "fix" something.I went out to Germany in 1988 as a "wet behind the ears" sprog just as Stollys, Ferrets and Centurions were coming to the end of their Service lives. Proper "Engineering Ingenuity" was required at times to keep them rolling as in typical Army Logic the spares were disposed of first!
My "ex-wife" threw out all my Course books from my time in the Army. One of which was Stalwart, I'd of gladly donated them to the cause of getting this one up and running as IMHO it is an example of Great British engineering alongside Concorde and the Hovercraft.
Could not agree more, it is one if the all time greats of British engineering, the level of thought and expertise put into it for the time is incredible. At no point was it a lorry then made to float, it was designed to do exactly all that was asked of it from the very beginning.
Today I've been draining fluids and pretty it ain't! Currently fiddling around with getting the dash panel out. When people say they're not nice to work on they're not lying
Today I've been draining fluids and pretty it ain't! Currently fiddling around with getting the dash panel out. When people say they're not nice to work on they're not lying
). Guess it would be allot of work probably would be more trouble than its worth.Well done for saving her/him/it! I'm a civvie but have two Stolly memories - my in-laws previous next door neighbour used to look after the one that ran on Windermere (think it got banned eventually), & I got to drive one & get it wet on a tank driving experience day, it was the absolute highlight.
I recall the Salvage Squad guys rebuilt one, years back, might be worth youtubing?
I recall the Salvage Squad guys rebuilt one, years back, might be worth youtubing?
Cheers guys, the full Salvage Squad episode with the Stolly is still on YouTube, link here:
https://youtu.be/h8dzEX3pCNE
I remember getting all excited back then and taping it so I had a copy not many 10 year olds you'd get doing that
Strange about the diesel thing, I suppose the easiest option would be on a diesel with more torque just change the gearing inside the power take off box so it drives the impellers at the same speed but lower engine revs.
If anyone is local to Bedfordshire and fancies a look round it and the other junk in the 'collection' they're more than welcome, there's nothing better than showing folk a new toy
https://youtu.be/h8dzEX3pCNE
I remember getting all excited back then and taping it so I had a copy
not many 10 year olds you'd get doing thatStrange about the diesel thing, I suppose the easiest option would be on a diesel with more torque just change the gearing inside the power take off box so it drives the impellers at the same speed but lower engine revs.
If anyone is local to Bedfordshire and fancies a look round it and the other junk in the 'collection' they're more than welcome, there's nothing better than showing folk a new toy
Ggeo1uk said:
Superb. That's going to be Mega when it's up and running. Here's my slightly smaller and lighter project, also sadly neglected and needing a home. Now up and running and just had it's picture taken 
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/CiZP7A3k.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/FlH5ZUho" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/FlH5ZUho.jpg)
Sorry, I'd have the Stolly! LewG said:
Cheers guys, the full Salvage Squad episode with the Stolly is still on YouTube, link here:
https://youtu.be/h8dzEX3pCNE
I remember getting all excited back then and taping it so I had a copy not many 10 year olds you'd get doing that
https://youtu.be/h8dzEX3pCNE
I remember getting all excited back then and taping it so I had a copy
not many 10 year olds you'd get doing that- shamefully raises hand
As I've said before one of the main aims is to get the engine cranking over but at the moment with master on we're getting instrument lights, but nothing on swinging the starter lever.
I know from my experiences with the Ferret that they have these troublesome plug blocks behind the dash as they're the same universal switchboard. Every wire is either white or brown and has a small yellow tag with writing on to tell you what wire it is. Unfortunately the writing is a lot more faded than it was in 1964 nowadays so a lot of it is a bit of a guessing game!
Took the clocks out for better access as getting the dash out was proving a royal pain in the arse, the rear studs holding it in were spinning but slotted on the ends for a screwdriver to hold them steady whilst you undo the nut. Naturally they were rusted solid and inaccessible with a grinder etc so I soaked them in Plus Gas and tried a different method.
Here is the plug block behind the dash, they are effectively rubber boots that push together with pins either side and make contact, and go pretty crusty over time. Surprising most of the connections were in pretty good condition. I'm waiting on a wiring diagram for the board so that I can see if I'm getting power out of it on the appropriate wire when the starter switch is actuated. At least then it'll give me a clue as to whether it is the switch or not. I do have a spare switchboard in the shed so if this proves to be the case it may be as easy as just swapping them over as they are a right pain to get apart, and more crucially back together!
Before this I cracked off all the fluid drains and let them flow out, the radiator first. I came equipped with the Mapp Gas expecting a battle in getting the plugs out but surprisingly they all came undone easily.
20170624_132006 by Lew Garner
Unfortunately someone appears to have filled the gearbox with Baileys. Much to my disappointment about a pint of water flowed out first. The transfer box wasn't much better!
20170624_131217 by Lew Garner
20170624_131934 by Lew Garner
Engine oil clearly oxidised but not awful, only about 3 litres came out as opposed to the 5 gallons or so that it should have, as the engine is dry sump and the pipes run right from front of the vehicle to the rear I should think there's a lot of it still languishing in there.
Other half came over unexpectedly last night and saw the Stolly for the first time, the look of utter despair on her face was one I will not forget for a long time
On the plus side I remain optimistic
20170624_190252 by Lew Garner
I know from my experiences with the Ferret that they have these troublesome plug blocks behind the dash as they're the same universal switchboard. Every wire is either white or brown and has a small yellow tag with writing on to tell you what wire it is. Unfortunately the writing is a lot more faded than it was in 1964 nowadays so a lot of it is a bit of a guessing game!
Took the clocks out for better access as getting the dash out was proving a royal pain in the arse, the rear studs holding it in were spinning but slotted on the ends for a screwdriver to hold them steady whilst you undo the nut. Naturally they were rusted solid and inaccessible with a grinder etc so I soaked them in Plus Gas and tried a different method.
Here is the plug block behind the dash, they are effectively rubber boots that push together with pins either side and make contact, and go pretty crusty over time. Surprising most of the connections were in pretty good condition. I'm waiting on a wiring diagram for the board so that I can see if I'm getting power out of it on the appropriate wire when the starter switch is actuated. At least then it'll give me a clue as to whether it is the switch or not. I do have a spare switchboard in the shed so if this proves to be the case it may be as easy as just swapping them over as they are a right pain to get apart, and more crucially back together!
Before this I cracked off all the fluid drains and let them flow out, the radiator first. I came equipped with the Mapp Gas expecting a battle in getting the plugs out but surprisingly they all came undone easily.
20170624_132006 by Lew GarnerUnfortunately someone appears to have filled the gearbox with Baileys. Much to my disappointment about a pint of water flowed out first. The transfer box wasn't much better!
20170624_131217 by Lew Garner20170624_131934 by Lew GarnerEngine oil clearly oxidised but not awful, only about 3 litres came out as opposed to the 5 gallons or so that it should have, as the engine is dry sump and the pipes run right from front of the vehicle to the rear I should think there's a lot of it still languishing in there.
Other half came over unexpectedly last night and saw the Stolly for the first time, the look of utter despair on her face was one I will not forget for a long time
On the plus side I remain optimistic
20170624_190252 by Lew GarnerEdited by LewG on Thursday 20th July 00:16
LewG
IIRC go tothe starter motor solenoid on the starter motor itself. Should be a 2 pin plug. Put a 24v test lamp on the plug, flip the switch to start, if the bulb lights up at full brilliance all the wiring is fine.
Most likely is the solenoid as they get excessively hot and stick easily , more so after long periods of no use.
I'm not trying to teach you how to suck eggs, just trying to help.
Would love to see the Beast but I live in Germany now.
I am trying to get hold of the course books from various sources for you.
IIRC go tothe starter motor solenoid on the starter motor itself. Should be a 2 pin plug. Put a 24v test lamp on the plug, flip the switch to start, if the bulb lights up at full brilliance all the wiring is fine.
Most likely is the solenoid as they get excessively hot and stick easily , more so after long periods of no use.
I'm not trying to teach you how to suck eggs, just trying to help.
Would love to see the Beast but I live in Germany now.
I am trying to get hold of the course books from various sources for you.
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