1964 Alvis Stalwart
Discussion
hidetheelephants said:
LewG said:
Proper job, that's epic! Where on earth did he get one of those from?!
It's most likely one of the portable fire pumps, the RN bought a load in the 1960/70s. They were also marketed as generators, IIRC the SRN4 hovercraft had them as auxiliary generators.normalbloke said:
The fire pumps were hand cranked to start if I remember correctly. I bought one of the Vulcan APUs years ago to do as a side project, but moved it on due to too many other projects! At least the Rover turbine in the Vulcan was electric start!
Heavily criticised by the board of inquiry into at least one sinking during the Falklands War as being impossible to start, although I forget whether they were attempting to put a fire out or remove water from compartments, feasibly both.
That is rather interesting, I never knew that! Seen the turbine powered Rovers at Gaydon Motor Museum but I assumed the idea had stopped at cars. Can you imagine a guy hand cranking a 2CV and expecting to hear that classic clatter and hearing a jet noise emerge from it instead? 
Or not as was often the case it seems!
Or not as was often the case it seems! LewG said:
Proper job, that's epic! Where on earth did he get one of those from?!
That sounds like a most enjoyable time MD. Hopefully 2024 shall bring a lot more in the way of decent progress.
Old lady was dragged out today with the mighty Rangey, and turned around ready to start again on the other side. Finishing touches on the 'done' side can wait til later, I really am looking forward to getting the bare bones in with the hull interior painted so we can think about putting engine and box back in
after all, who needs brakes?
Safely tucked back in the shed now after a lot of shunting. Of course it had to start raining sideways before we were under cover!
Looking good Lew.That sounds like a most enjoyable time MD. Hopefully 2024 shall bring a lot more in the way of decent progress.
Old lady was dragged out today with the mighty Rangey, and turned around ready to start again on the other side. Finishing touches on the 'done' side can wait til later, I really am looking forward to getting the bare bones in with the hull interior painted so we can think about putting engine and box back in
after all, who needs brakes? Safely tucked back in the shed now after a lot of shunting. Of course it had to start raining sideways before we were under cover!
In fact have you created the world's first air portable Stalwart?
Stick it on a pallet with a couple of parachutes and drop it out of the back of a C130, what could possibly go wrong?
Ouch! That cost the US taxpayer some pennies! I know back in the day they used to air drop Ferrets as in one of my books there's a pic of one that failed much like those Humvees and flat packed itself IKEA style when it met terra firma 
Not sure if Stollies were ever dropped but they were designed to be transported by Beverley and Argosy aircraft I believe it was. This was part of the reason they weren't ever re-engined to diesel as it'd add weight and that was considered prohibitive for air portability.
She wasn't sat on all six for long. We simply couldn't help ourselves and was immediately out with the hammers and spanners this afternoon.
Adjuster pivot decided to be seized up. Once glowing that was quickly sorted
We did have a big fight trying to get the drive chalice out of the bevel box housing. This was mostly just the rusty remains of what was once there, if you've read the thread from the start you may remember I had to gas axe half the transfer box to bits to disconnect it from the centre bevel box drive couplings, as they were all destroyed through water ingress thanks to the previous owner.
This was very tight so in the end we decided to try and remove the nuts holding the whole gearbox and drive into the hull and bash it out with the largest of hammers available! At that point I had to leave as needed to get back and see family, but good old Tyler persevered and heroically ended up with yet another pile of scrap on the floor ready to be rejuvenated.
Good head start into 2024 I'd say.
Happy New Year everyone, thanks all very much for the kind words of support and rooting for us this last year as I think it's fair to say it's been a bit of a whirlwind this end!
Not sure if Stollies were ever dropped but they were designed to be transported by Beverley and Argosy aircraft I believe it was. This was part of the reason they weren't ever re-engined to diesel as it'd add weight and that was considered prohibitive for air portability.
She wasn't sat on all six for long. We simply couldn't help ourselves and was immediately out with the hammers and spanners this afternoon.
Adjuster pivot decided to be seized up. Once glowing that was quickly sorted
We did have a big fight trying to get the drive chalice out of the bevel box housing. This was mostly just the rusty remains of what was once there, if you've read the thread from the start you may remember I had to gas axe half the transfer box to bits to disconnect it from the centre bevel box drive couplings, as they were all destroyed through water ingress thanks to the previous owner.
This was very tight so in the end we decided to try and remove the nuts holding the whole gearbox and drive into the hull and bash it out with the largest of hammers available! At that point I had to leave as needed to get back and see family, but good old Tyler persevered and heroically ended up with yet another pile of scrap on the floor ready to be rejuvenated.
Good head start into 2024 I'd say.
Happy New Year everyone, thanks all very much for the kind words of support and rooting for us this last year as I think it's fair to say it's been a bit of a whirlwind this end!
mercedeslimos said:
Saw the New Year in reading that thinking 'I should really go to bed' some seriously impressive engineering LewG said:
mercedeslimos said:
Saw the New Year in reading that thinking 'I should really go to bed' some seriously impressive engineering LewG said:
Too right! I really enjoy engines so it should be a good project within the project as it were. I am going more for the if it ain't broke don't fix it approach with that so will compression test it as a start and if it comes back looking healthy will probably just have the sump off and clean it all out, ensure strainer are clear and set valve clearances etc.
It could be possible but I would say unlikely! I did see your ZT-T and it looked cracking, very much enjoyed reading the thread. I keep hankering after having another daft car on the drive again too but really can't justify the expense and time spent on maintenance etc, much as I do miss those days of blasting around in a thirsty V8!
Old Lady touched tyres back onto the concrete for the first time in probably 4 or 5 years this afternoon which was absolutely smashing. Tyler dragged it forward with his RRC and it was a surreal feeling hearing everything creak and groan as she moved off! Mrs G even had the pleasure of reversing her back into place
Nice to see that Ex SAS RR being put to good use.It could be possible but I would say unlikely! I did see your ZT-T and it looked cracking, very much enjoyed reading the thread. I keep hankering after having another daft car on the drive again too but really can't justify the expense and time spent on maintenance etc, much as I do miss those days of blasting around in a thirsty V8!
Old Lady touched tyres back onto the concrete for the first time in probably 4 or 5 years this afternoon which was absolutely smashing. Tyler dragged it forward with his RRC and it was a surreal feeling hearing everything creak and groan as she moved off! Mrs G even had the pleasure of reversing her back into place
Paw
Well spotted Paw, ex 22 SAS with the roll bar and dog cage in the back.
I haven't seen that MD, haven't had much time on the old lady recently, took some of the swim linkage apart and had another set of tidy tyres delivered last weekend for an absolute bargain price. I have spoken to a guy in the yard about sand blasting down the other side so really that's the next major step, and get the now removed wheel station done up and ready to refit
I haven't seen that MD, haven't had much time on the old lady recently, took some of the swim linkage apart and had another set of tidy tyres delivered last weekend for an absolute bargain price. I have spoken to a guy in the yard about sand blasting down the other side so really that's the next major step, and get the now removed wheel station done up and ready to refit
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