Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Galen Hutcheson
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Model A coolingWhen Frank Pavliga did the old Buckeye Piet. Newsletter, he use to writea lot about the model A. (Sky Gypsy had an A in it at the time) He saidnot to use a thermostat. They sometimes stick. If it sticks open it's nobig deal, but if t sticks closed "she'll boil and down you go." Ibought an already converted engine with a nice copper/brass radiator.It's nice but it weighs 18 lbs!!! That's HEAVY!! I'm going to use a24in radiator that I bought from Leading Edge Airfoils.( all of theultra light places sell it) Its for a VW Golf diesel and weighs only 4lbs. Lowell Frank used this rad. in his hopped up model B Piet.(now withthe Warner radial engine) It cooled it just fine. I talked to a customradiator manufacture at a large car show a while back and he said thathe could make up anything I want out of aluminum. Shiny brass surelooks good, but I would rater have a nicely painted aluminum rad anytime for half or less the weight....or, what would you give me for anice new unused copper brass Pietenpol radiator? Leon Stefan NickersonKs.________________________________________________________________________________Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2004 06:46:15 -0800 (PST)

Original Posted By: "Douwe Blumberg"
My Piet is going to be "A" powered, and the comments re the VW radiator are completelycorrect in my experience. Larry Williams, who is often in this chat group,flies a beautiful "A" piet and I think his radiator is a Golf radiator.It sure is light and cheap.I myself purchased a brass Forrest Lovly radiator and it sure is heavy and expensive,BUT it'll be worth it to me for the appearance and nostalgia. At leastit's forward of the CG.Everything I've ever read says do NOT use a thermostat because of the stickingpossisiblities. I used to run british sports cars and can't tell you how manystuck thermostats I saw or experienced.Also, there is a lot of debate re a pressurized cooling system or an open one.It is probably true that running a little bit of pressure, say 2 or 3 poundswould improve the cooling a bit, I am going with an unpressurized system becauseI've heard of too many people loosing gaskets or seals somewhere in the coolingsystem. I just drilled two small holes in my radiator cap. This iswhat Forrest Lovly suggests and he's been around a lot of them. The alternativewould be to find a light safety valve that releases at 2 or 3 pounds and letit into the radiator cap, but I'd sure shy away from any more pressure than that.Also, seriously consider using a model "T" type water pump which mounts low downon the side of the engine rather than the "A" type which mounts up top at the"rear". One pushes hot liquid and one pulls it. Pushing is much more efficientand will result in lower coolant temps. It is also nice because you canplump a small water cock in the line coming from the "T" pump at the lowest pointof the system and use it to drain your coolant in the winter if you use water.Syders sells two types of "T" pumps.$ .02Douwe________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Douwe Blumberg
Thanks, Douwe to you and to all the other members for their inputs. I will notbe using a thermostat.Best Regards,John S ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Carl D. Vought"

Original Posted By: Galen Hutcheson