High Speed Stalwart

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Ron King

I know the Saracens used by the Australian army topped out at 72 kph with the preselector gearbox and different bevelbox ratios.(tyre size too)
I have no idea if the Salamander used a manual or preselector gearbox and ratios.

I was thinking if fittting Sarasen components could give a wider spread of ratios on a Stalwart gearbox.
Do you have any idea of what Salamander/Sarasen bevel box/hub reduction/ preselector box ratios are .

Hi Ron,

The Salamander had a preselect gearbox and fluid flywheel, as the Saracen and Saladin, and this set up could make driving of a Stalwart on long road trips, better. I do not have much info on the Salamander, but can give you Saracen and Saladin ratios. I guess you have the manuals on the Stalwart and will already know them?

Saracen
ratio of a separate bevel box 1.77:1
hub reduction 4.125:1
pre-selector g/box ratios;
1st 10.27:1
2nd 4.73:1
3rd 2.64:1
4th 1.61:1
5th 1.00:1

overal ratios engine to wheels;
1st 103.2:1
2nd 47.5:1
3rd 26.60:1
4th 16.20:1
5th 10.05:1 (this gave a Saracen on 11.00 tyres, a top speed of 43 mph or 69.2 kph)

If you need any more info let me know.

regards Richard

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Hi Ron,
Can I be in the front of the queue when you bring it down??
They are an awseome bit of machinery.
Rich.

[Ron King]

One day I may need help to fuel it.
It is a rich mans toy and I am only a humble motor mechanic.
My stolly is on historic plates and drivable, but I have much to do to get it to a standard I am happy with and reliable, let alone swimming it.
Treating rust and painting is a huge job on this sort of vehicle.
Its off road performance and especially suspension is good so far.
I have not had the vehicle long so I am still learning.
The preselect gearbox has a lower first gear ratio and is the reason why the saracen etc can run a higher transfercase ratio.(ie more top speed)
The preselect box cannot be used with the stalwart because of the need the drive the water jets from the top of the box.
The alvis manual gearbox used has a crawler ratio of 8 to 1 which I believe is limited of being a lower ratio by the need of the gearbox to be flat and compact.( ie a bigger gear will not fit )
The only other options for a wider spread of gear ratios is the transfercase, which is a very special item too and can not be replaced with another type.
I think a two speed transfercase ,may be possible at great cost by reworking the standard design and fabricating various new gears and housing etc ......far ,far beyond my means.
ideal tranfercase reduction of 2 to 1 for road use and 4 to 1 for off road.
The stolly is somewhere in the middle.
Thanks for the information Richard.