Collecting A Chieftain Battle Tank Engine and Alvis Stalwart Ready for us to restore!

[@dickdastardly635]

Wow, as a young Soldier in the late 70s & early 80s , I drove these . I always remember the British Soldier that stole one of these and tried to cross the Channel with it . He got Courts Martialed of course and thrown out , but the manufacture of these vehicles were so impressed with his confidence in their vehicle , they offered him a Job .

[@dickdastardly635]

@Big Red I stand corrected , but still, a 400 mile drive in a Stalwart. Don't we all do silly things when we are 20 years old.

[@gordonpayne4220]

If it is the REME version that Stalwart was built to support tank opperations with the Cheiftan being capable of carrying anf craning a spare power pack in and out, might be worth keeping it!

[@Slaktrax]

REME attached to the Armoured Regiments used a 434 not a Stalwart. 🙂

[@rocket3man]

I really love these Stalwart’s so “Thunderbirds” at the time.

[@abbycottage1295]

Overlander in Terrahawks uses Stolly engine noise!

[@mattcartwright8272]

I was a 432 driver/fitter in the RE's and each troop had a 'Stolly'. Great bit of kit. It was mainly used as a support vehicle for carrying mines and doing PAC lifts in the field. Each year we would take it for a swim which was fun. The vehicle was also pretty good over rough ground and fun to drive.

[@michaelingledew]

When my dad was stationed in Germany I went to Kings School Gutersloh. We used to go bunk off and hide in the Stallies… happy days.

[@nriqueog]

That Stalwart looked like it rolled out of the old TV shows "UFO" or "Space 1999" !

[@rayjennings3637]

That pack stand must be made of extra heavy steel, if, as you say, the assembly weighs 4 tons! When I did my conversion training from 'B' Vehicles to 'A' Vehicles and my 1st Class course in 1970, I was taught that the pack's all up weight was 2½ tons. In any case, from memory, the Hiab on a 434 was only capable of lifting 3 tons and of the many dozen packs I lifted, I never had a Hiab give me any problems.

[@dugstar7970]

Love to see you swim test the Stalwart like the Norwegian chap did.

[@fittermat]

It needs a bit of attention from the hot metal glue gun first then we can have a go

[@legbreaker2762]

@@fittermat bit of bog, it'll be fiiiiiiine

[@liamhowarth8354]

I think you guys deffo need that crane just imagine how handy it would be for then you have to remove engines, gearboxes or any part of the drive train of any of the tanks you guys are working on

[@Slaktrax]

Fitter Mat, the early L60's were definitely unreliable, but everything was cured when they brought out the L60 No 4 Mark 13A. They were finished in a lime colour and gave a reliable 840hp. That is the one to have.

[@ml9219]

Hands down my favourite channel right now! Keep up the good work lads!

[@davidwelch6796]

It is always good to see what the rufty-tufty branch of the Alvis Owners Club is up to.

[@patchmack4469]

love you guys - the pride in the British Army mechaniacs that used electric glue to stick the rear box around the exhaust section - its better than i have seen mate, pure magical bodging, made to let water in and out we (at our workshop) purchased an apparent Landy 110 (as sold as) with 24v radio hard top fully winterised etc - but i knew better and there started a raw with my boss, so for one i burnt off the layers of paint on the rear right side tub, as there was no sign of a Landy badge so my thought was a much later transfer version (cheap n nasty) and sure enough there it was, that utterly peed off the boss that i was right in my assumptions, also under engine gearbox bell housing the removable cross member was square unlike the standard civi tubular section, so this heap was built to mil spec by origin, or in other fecking expensive the vehicle had also collided with something substantial (like a tank) causing damage across the front and even bending the windscreen frame braking the windscreen glass - the wings needed replacing again along with bumper, simples, but what i loved was the fact that some squaddie hooligan had been there before and replaced the right side possibly from an earlier collision with another tank, replacing with a standard 109 heavier gauge ally style wing which as most anoraks will know has no repeater indicator flasher - so the other side was the original 110 lighter gauge ally wing, but where was the repeater ? AHHA ! there it is - remember boys and girls, if it don't match simply use a hammer and smash the other bugger in and fill it over, and paint very fast so no one notices, no attempt at disconnecting the wires because this takes too long to fix you have to love the British Army

[@truckyluv7592]

Gees fellas I'm definitely jealous now. Good stuff thanks.

[@gagasmancave8859]

That stally burble brought back memories of A Sqn fitter sect 9 / 12 lancers lad. Crane was great for cvrt engine changes. Back was enclosed with besd and beer storage.. Being a sparky I did not do much on it but I did change a front left drive shaft when the b mechs were too busy

[@bullet-catcherhohoho250]

We had a troop of Stally's when i was in the army in the late 80s. RCT based in Germany, B troop 21 Squadron. They were that knackered that if we went on any type of training exercise, they would have to be transported by a tank transporter to get there and they were not allowed to be taken in to any water, where they would sink. And yes it was a B Troop lad who stole one and decided to drive to the boarder with Holland and crash through the boarder checkpoint with the police shooting at him.

[@johnbarclay8951]

I was in B troop 21 sqn from 1979 till 1983 we had 24 stollys at that time the one I drove was 17ET46 they were still in fairly good condition then loved Duisburg best posting ever

[@gafrers]

So much stuff 👍👏

[@alwaysforward.9222]

Late L60 engine are good and strong if you look after them. 11- 13a later the number the better. Early ones were unreliable, but that's progress. Ran a Chieftain for years one pack. Good luck with the hard work.👍😊

[@johncook3817]

Great video!! I love post war British military vehicles especially stalwart. Loading by committee!!!!! They say that if a committee designed a horse it would come out looking like a camel so what can possibly go wrong!!!!!!!!!!

[@nigesmith4394]

The Stalwart is probably a RA support vehicle. Usually to support the 105 pallet ammunition.

[@mantg390]

Great you guys have got another chieftain my dad was a tankie back in the 70/80s in 4RTR he was saying when staring them your best starting the donkey engine first let her run for about 10 minutes then start the main engine great videos guys 👍

[@stevehall8661]

Hey Jay, your dad probably let me have a cabbie ( a drive ) around Sennelargher training area, back in the day. 😂

[@mantg390]

@@stevehall8661 lol maybe so sure was happy days in Munster loved every minute of it

[@davedickinson822]

I might have known your dad. I was in B Sqn fitters troop 78-80.

[@robinlander1158]

Yes deffo start tge donkey engine (GUE) first. Didn't need ten minutes, but very rarely started the main engine from batteries. Ex 3 RTR.

[@KHGrinderboy]

Your going to need to pick up more bulbs for the lunacy light, you keep popping them! ...... Cracking :-) nice one fellas!

[@mattrooke3210]

My most favourite vehicle the ‘ol Stolly.

[@biker6991]

Charge bins and projectile racks. Nice.

[@tambrath]

They rebuilt one on tv and had to track down the parts to make it swim as the army took them off . Be good if it did swim again

[@jonathangriffin1120]

Yeah, I remember that, 'Salvage Squad' on Channel 4, back when C4 made good programmes.........

[@unanonymousperson2555]

You can get the swim gear from a place told when BBC were renovating one . You will have to watch the episode to get the name of the place .

[@burville100]

Just noticed your comment. I have placed a link in my post above.

[@peterwall9896]

Top content again boys 😎❤️👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@stevehall8661]

Your going to have your own battle group, I used to drive the Stallie in Germany in the 70/80s shall have to find the reg number.

[@davidganning8699]

Coles crane made in Sunderland

[@silverfox57]

We in RAOC used to call the small engine for a Chieftain the aux gunny. It was used to start the main engine from cold.

[@crazycrab8578]

lovey things, considering the engine was made in the 40s, was sittting in the back going across country, when one of the spark plugs went bang, scared the shit out of use,

[@ukrocketstoves]

It looks like the hydraulic starter motor is missing from the GUE. At 11.56, you can see where the motor fitted, behind the chain. It pushed onto the studs then was secured with four nylock nuts - 9/16" spanner if my memory serves me right. To adjust the hydraulic starter, remember "Milling - mil out" or was it screw out? I'll have to check my notes from Bordon out in the shed.

[@mozki1]

Always seem to shortened to "stolly" in civilian life we always called them "stallys". Make sure before take on a longish drive that you top up brake actuators. O/S for o/s middle/ front and rear n/s wheel stations. N/S for n/s middle/ front and rear o/s wheel stations

[@biker6991]

L60 was a great engine. Only faults I used to have was the gearbox or the twyflex coupling.

[@crazycrab8578]

plus the radiator, was told it kept leaking

[@Slaktrax]

@@crazycrab8578 Never had any problem with radiators among the 50 tanks we had in our unit.

[@Slaktrax]

@Darren Thomas You must be joking! The L60 only became ''adequate'' after about 20 years of unreliability.

[@getthebrewsin6258]

Nice to see Bluto turned up to help

[@stallionlp6633]

love watching your videos, how do you guys afford all this stuff !

[@davidbarnsley8486]

I was wondering why the forklift was towing the engine I didn’t expect it to be 4 tonne ,I was only think 1,5 It is a very nice crane I would buy it as well with all your big heavy stuff 👍👍

[@angelsone-five7912]

I have always liked the Alvis, it`s a nice chunky vehicle of the "go anywhere" variety. Seeing this made me subscribe. Alongside the M6 just outside Birmingham is an off-road course and they used to have a static Stalwart there alongside a jet of some kind, but recently it has gone! I wonder where?

[@mgstu]

Listen to Joe, Matt, the 624 I had off you has air fittings : ) : )

[@wilkybarkid]

Man directing crane - camouflaged Everyone else- hi vis Does he want to be seen or not.. :p

[@marknewell7355]

Some nice tyres on that stally too like the crane has on and new mans. Should diesel swap that thing too I'd love to come muck about with all that kit

[@Unknown1880]

A rusty tank is perfect for a battle in the scrap yard. Blends right in.

[@mistag3860]

1/2 a swearword in each sentence, progress of a kind.🤣🤣

[@peterbrown1012]

We used to travel in the cage at the back and you could light your cigarette on the exhaust. We also thought it funny when they were travelling in water and the driver would hit the brakes.

[@NUTTER8291]

Think we should re name you guys " Matt & Joe restoration " Are you guys just making up a small(ish) collection or restoration and selling them ? I must admit ww2 equipment has an amazing smell .... could smell it as you walked into the workshop sheds at Duxford ! APART FROM EP90 ...THAT JUST MAKES YOU WANNA HEAVE !! 🤑

[@michaelbottomley2520]

I used to work in the factory what made those cranes at Grantham

[@dimievers5573]

What you need is a bespoke leopard recovery vehicle that has a purpose build crane for engine swaps . That would be the dog's bullocks you lads

[@aytonbob]

No you need a Chieftain recovery vehicle.

[@dimievers5573]

@@aytonbob lol if you want reliability you'll go for a leopard. Those units are indestructible

[@karlg5806]

Gonna need a bigger shed…..

[@fittermat]

Working on it!

[@davidrussell8689]

With an overhead crane 😂

[@101_skeleton6]

I want this 2x3 vic

[@markellis7819]

The Stolly's On-road mud flaps are on the wrong sides. Supposed to slope backwards

[@legbreaker2762]

Was not expecting the Stalwart to be a runner when we first saw it! :o

[@ianatkinson8464]

😎👍

[@alanpearson1844]

We're any of you on the tv show combat dealers??

[@carlkinsey8736]

Cmon matt. We all know you're all busy working but get busy uploading more videos for us. Oh, and your constant comments on going for a gregs hasn't worked on me going to get one......YET!!!🤣🤣😂😂 hopeful be seeing thee shortly as you norveners like to say 🤣

[@davidrussell8689]

Hi guys , great video as always . Question ; when driving the Stolly on road does it suffer from diff wind up because of its transmission? All the best .

[@Slaktrax]

Yes they do if you do a lot of turning. That's why there are witness marks painted on the wheel hubs to check for this (they need to all line up). If this happens the vehicle needs to be jacked up off the ground and the wheels turned a few revolutions to stop any damage occurring.

[@stuarttempleton6009]

Hammer it off road bounce the wheels of the ground and it will unwind

[@davidrussell8689]

@@Slaktrax thanks for the info . Spot on .

[@paulwestlake4278]

When the wheels are correctly inflated, measure the circumference; max 2cm difference between left and right, and adjacent tyres on each side. A right pfaff to get done, but it should make all the difference.

[@paulwilliams-ob1py]

Gooday from Tasmania, I have a question for you as know nowt about what stuff for there as lived in Australia/Tasmania since leaving England in 1966.. my father ex ta tankie . so my question is what do you do with the tanks and Military vehicles you do up??? are you starting your own museum?? or what?

[@marknewell7355]

Would love to see you swap out that Leyland bag of death lol see if you can get a cv12 in her or scanny V8 lol anything 650hp and over lol owt is better than that l60

[@fredtedstedman]

I would love one of these - can you imagine parking it in Morrissons ?? like that old joke about where does an 8 ft gorilla sleep ??? ( Anywhere he b****y well likes !)

[@pattonm4753]

could you take those two Chieftains a fit them with an infrared battle system like on the RC tanks?

[@spacewalrus999]

Now THAT would be cool, tank laser tag

[@pattonm4753]

@@spacewalrus999 I would pay to do it

[@spacewalrus999]

As would I. You hear that Joe? I reckon you've got a new business

[@acrchy]

dickys got a manual ,,,, lol we just done an engine pack remember wink wink

[@staffs964]

Two interesting MOD videos here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6SqhqKwp8d5hac

[@heyabusa1]

Im new to this site so could someone tell me what the plan is because they/you seem to be buying substantial bits of kit every week. Are you rich, got big financial backers starting a museum or something. Whats the agenda. Not knocking in any way in fact would love to do what youre doing. Thanks.

[@spacewalrus999]

The videos aren’t always released chronologically, but they restore the kit and sell it for profit

[@MrHewes]

@@spacewalrus999 hit the nail on the head! We also only buy broken to keep costs down

[@legbreaker2762]

You assume they have a plan? That's cute! ;)

[@JimWhitaker]

That master link is too small for the crane hook. Not resting on the bottom of the hook and the hook is applying a sideways force to the link.

[@fittermat]

Not our crane (yet 😂) so we let the lads who use it regularly do their thing

[@paulwestlake4278]

P.S., there is a Haynes manual for the Chieftain, but it doesn't tell you how to get the engine in...🤣🤣🤣

[@fittermat]

Joe got it for Christmas so we may have a chance now! 😂

[@burville100]

Wonder if the Stalwart in the tv series Salvage Squad is still running? Here's a link to the episode kzbin.info/www/bejne/inu6dZxomK-Xmqc

[@fittermat]

Used to love that show!

[@burville100]

@@fittermat Yeah me too. Favourite one was the Centurion that served in the Suez Crisis and in the Gulf.

[@robinlander1158]

"Chatty" the chap from the tank museum who they went to for some advice was my commander in Fallingbostle. I was his loader, he was a legend in the regiment. Sadly, hepassed to the Green fields a few years ago.

[@steinelgaaen]

Max rpm crane driver 🤔

[@calummacleod7129]

A

[@ScienceChap]

Been on EBay while drunk again...?

[@rhydtuned]

Can't believe you missed the opportunity for some erection jokes with that crane 😂 Nice that Stalwart 😎

[@martinwillis9601]

Wrong! It's 3 ton.

[@ditzydoo4378]

Hope that's a 13-series Leyland engine. otherwise, why bother.

[@thesimulatorguy4248]

I love how health and safety is used... but not as much as the clipboard wankers want you too 😂

[@ChullsterOG]

Young people and their wispy porn 'tashes are so cute.

[@orsotoro2011]

Mr Hewes does it better. Stop being so polemic. calm down and chill out.

[@pattonm4753]

what kind of drugs do you guys sell?....

[@MrHewes]

Green and black heavy ones

[@pattonm4753]

@@MrHewes lol