The stalwart had to use the existing production line of the armoured Saracen/Saladin/ and Salamander fire fighter
(the government of the day paid for the tooling and production equiptment of the production line and was the main purchaser of the stalwart)
The unusual drive line layout is needed in these vehicles, especially the Stalwart as it maximises the space inside the hull.
It was a follow on of a driveline and suspension set up from British armoured scout cars of WW2 which was very successful.
The useful amount of room inside the Stalwarts hull is something like 3 ft wide, 3ft high and 20 ft long.
It has in that space.....Large radiator and twin fan assy,straight 8 motor, dual plate clutch, gearbox, transfercase/diff, near 500 litre petrol tank, engine oil tank...20lts, a decent size hydraulic winch.
Add 2 water jets which are large and take up a lot of space, twin large Volks oil bath air filters, drive train for water jets of 2 large bevel boxes and a single PTO, large hydraulic pump, bilge pump, cross hull 20 plus litre oil tank for central lube system ,mountings for a truck crane,engine driven air compressor and 1.5 mtr long drive shaft , 2 large air over hydraulic brake servos, large across the hull hydraulic steering cylinder/recirulating ball steering set up,radiator air blast outlet, enough room for cool air to pass though the whole hull, the maze of wiring, hydraulic, air pipes and linkages, extremely large altenator, four bevel drive boxes for rear and front wheels with drive shafts.
All that fits in under the floor of the cargo area and cabin.
I wonder if it would be possible to do that with a normal drive train.
It is the engineering in the stalwart is the reason why they are worth restoring and preserving for the future and for the most part it all works well.
There will be no other vehicle like the stalwart made again.
The markings on the hubs are dual purpose....yes to indicate where the fill/drain plugs are as the vehicle must be driven with the plugs to top or bottom if you want to fill or drain.
They are a quick and easy indicator of drive line problems if the marks get out of step to each other.
My current status is I am leaving the Stalwart mobile and running for a little while as I have other things going on and I am having a little bit of needed fun driving it around.
The spare wheel has been needle gunned and painted and done a bit more of the same on the LHS of the hull.
This thread is giving the drive to keep chipping away restoring the stalwart and the support you blokes give me.
As I said in early pages of this thread, I don't have a big cheque book which makes it harder
Thanks.
It is a recording of what will be my last big restoration and a possible guide to others who may own a stalwart.
Ron
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