Original Posted By: "Christian Bobka"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Cuy-Piet VideoMike, As a long time admirer of your interpretation of Bernie's Classic, I would also like to obtain a copy. Please post the particulars if the vid is still available. Thanx! :>) Don Cooley________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Cuy-Piet Video
Re: Pietenpol-List: 65 Cont. vs. others ?
Original Posted By: "Alan Swanson"
Mac, Al and othersI am still impressed with what Bernard Pietenpol, Henry and Edsel Fordaccomplished so many years ago! The Fords for building the remarkable A andBernard for using its engine to give us so much fun.The technologies available to us today allow one to do the research and makethe changes to the A or B engine and have a VERY reliable fun powerplant. None of us, I hope, would take an aviation engine of what is becoming anelderly design itself and just bolt it onto the airframe and go flying. Wewouldn't do that with a Continental or Lycoming. Don't do it with anyalternative engine either.If using the Ford engines, be sure to use the best pistons available. Makethe changes to the oiling and cooling systems.Add carb heat. Have you ever looked at the condensation on the intake of aflying Ford A? If it is that cold on the outside, what is happening inside?Be sure your cam lift and timing is right too. The old cams tend to sufferfrom poor lube and age.Aside from being very slightly heavier 20 to 40 pounds depending on themods. The 200 cubic inch Ford fours can be a very dependable engine. Justbuild it right! Go back and look at Grant Maclaren's website. lots of goodsolid information on the Ford engines.Don't forget to use your local antique car guys for a resource too.John> I just wanted to put in another comment about some folks having the> impression that the model A engine is an "insane" choice for our> Piets--anyone that goes to Brodhead each year would know that the model A> powered Piets not only fly well, but quite a number of them are there> regularly. That is, they haven't fallen out of the sky during theprevious> year, or during their trip to Brodhead, etc. Bernie figured out a very> simple system that still works today.>> Cordially, Mac in Oregon> >> >>From some of the comments that have been posted, it might sound like> putting> >a Model A on a Piet is insane. My Dad has questioned my sanity. But I> >would second Mike's comments below about using experts to rebuild the> >engine. I am using an old guy here in Minnesota who has been rebuilding> >Model A's for 60 years, along with other engines of the era. I got hisname> >from Vi Kapler, who also has an engine in this guy's shop. He has picked> out> >others who specialize in some of the work, such as pouring new babbit> >bearings, who he has confidence in. What has given me some confidence in> >him is he has made several recommendations. For example, he insists onnew> >pistons, slightly undersize so if there is an oiling failure there willbe> >extra time before the engine seizes. And we will be putting a temporary> >Plexiglas cover over the valves to watch the oiling system during the> ground> >break-in period to be sure the bearings are getting sufficient oil. Hehad> >the engine magnafluxed and determined there were no cracks in the water> >jacket. And he also swapped the crank that came with my engine with> another> >that was a heavier casting.> >> >I guess what I am saying is that flying behind any engine is a risk, anda> >poor rebuild job on an aircraft engine is always a problem. But if youdo> >careful research, and farm out the parts of the project that you are not> >competent to do (in my case the engine), the risks can be minimized. The> >Model A is an inherently strong engine, and is simple. Many are still in> >daily use in out of the way places for irrigation pumps.> >> >I have this strange burning desire to build this as original as I can> >consistent with modern building practices, and fly it to Brodhead.> >> >Call me crazy, but don't call me late for dinner.> >> >Al Swanson________________________________________________________________________________
Mac, Al and othersI am still impressed with what Bernard Pietenpol, Henry and Edsel Fordaccomplished so many years ago! The Fords for building the remarkable A andBernard for using its engine to give us so much fun.The technologies available to us today allow one to do the research and makethe changes to the A or B engine and have a VERY reliable fun powerplant. None of us, I hope, would take an aviation engine of what is becoming anelderly design itself and just bolt it onto the airframe and go flying. Wewouldn't do that with a Continental or Lycoming. Don't do it with anyalternative engine either.If using the Ford engines, be sure to use the best pistons available. Makethe changes to the oiling and cooling systems.Add carb heat. Have you ever looked at the condensation on the intake of aflying Ford A? If it is that cold on the outside, what is happening inside?Be sure your cam lift and timing is right too. The old cams tend to sufferfrom poor lube and age.Aside from being very slightly heavier 20 to 40 pounds depending on themods. The 200 cubic inch Ford fours can be a very dependable engine. Justbuild it right! Go back and look at Grant Maclaren's website. lots of goodsolid information on the Ford engines.Don't forget to use your local antique car guys for a resource too.John> I just wanted to put in another comment about some folks having the> impression that the model A engine is an "insane" choice for our> Piets--anyone that goes to Brodhead each year would know that the model A> powered Piets not only fly well, but quite a number of them are there> regularly. That is, they haven't fallen out of the sky during theprevious> year, or during their trip to Brodhead, etc. Bernie figured out a very> simple system that still works today.>> Cordially, Mac in Oregon> >> >>From some of the comments that have been posted, it might sound like> putting> >a Model A on a Piet is insane. My Dad has questioned my sanity. But I> >would second Mike's comments below about using experts to rebuild the> >engine. I am using an old guy here in Minnesota who has been rebuilding> >Model A's for 60 years, along with other engines of the era. I got hisname> >from Vi Kapler, who also has an engine in this guy's shop. He has picked> out> >others who specialize in some of the work, such as pouring new babbit> >bearings, who he has confidence in. What has given me some confidence in> >him is he has made several recommendations. For example, he insists onnew> >pistons, slightly undersize so if there is an oiling failure there willbe> >extra time before the engine seizes. And we will be putting a temporary> >Plexiglas cover over the valves to watch the oiling system during the> ground> >break-in period to be sure the bearings are getting sufficient oil. Hehad> >the engine magnafluxed and determined there were no cracks in the water> >jacket. And he also swapped the crank that came with my engine with> another> >that was a heavier casting.> >> >I guess what I am saying is that flying behind any engine is a risk, anda> >poor rebuild job on an aircraft engine is always a problem. But if youdo> >careful research, and farm out the parts of the project that you are not> >competent to do (in my case the engine), the risks can be minimized. The> >Model A is an inherently strong engine, and is simple. Many are still in> >daily use in out of the way places for irrigation pumps.> >> >I have this strange burning desire to build this as original as I can> >consistent with modern building practices, and fly it to Brodhead.> >> >Call me crazy, but don't call me late for dinner.> >> >Al Swanson________________________________________________________________________________