On May 20, 8:11*am, "vaughn"
wrote:

* *Do you think that a new-build Pobjoy radial would cost any less?
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No. In fact, I think I said it's day had already come and gone. I
described it for those who were not familiar with it. I tend to not
re-read what I've posted (which can be dangrous at tmes) but I had the
impression that the Pobjoy was a good candidate for kitting.

But the main purpose for creating this topic was sparked by Stealth
Pilot's proposal about a universally available 40 hp engine NOT based
on VW after-market components, which I'll address in a moment. The
stated problem was that VW engines were becoming too expensive... with
the implication he was speaking with regard to Australian home-
builders. Which means the same is probably true for home-builders in
South Africa, although they seem to have a higher percentage of Type
IV engines.

What's probably needed here is a more direct link to the Brazilian VW
after-market manufacturers, especially with regard to the crankcase
and heads. Being cast iron, I assume the Australians could either
make their own jugs, or establish links to the Chinese manufacturers,
which they would need to do in any case in order to obtain VW after-
market stroker crankshafts.

As for the 'links,' I am referring to import/export agents on both
ends of the system. These 'native' agents earn their piece of the pie
by identifying manufacturers in their own countries who are producing
a product for which there is a market in a foreign country. In most
cases, all it takes is an inquiry on letter-head stationary.

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Getting back to the real purpose of this topic -- the universally
available 40hp engine -- We have the Continental A-40 to use as a
starting point... but one I hope will be used only for that. Despite
claims to the contrary, the A-40 was NOT a very good engine, although
it's last models were better than the first versions by an order of
magnitude. Even so, there were significant aspects begging for
improvement, such as the valve train and the L-head combustion
chamber. But even as it stands -- without any improvements -- it is an
STC'd aviation power-plant and a FACSIMILE should have no trouble with
local CAA officials.

What I'd hoped to engender was discussion regarding my comments about
how an existing water-cooled in-line 4-cylinder engine could be used
to produce an engine MORE SUITABLE for use in a home-built airplane.

Unspoken here was the assumption that home-builders of the future will
be coming from India and China. I base this assumption on the mail
I've received from those countries. I've taken that as meaning we are
going to see the need for Stealth's 40hp engine... but an EFFICIENT
40hp -- an engine that can be cobbled-up by a home-builder having an
income of less than 5k U.S.dollars per year. (Adjusted for local
prices [ie China & India] that level of income has approximately 3x
the buying power. But even 15k is a pretty small amount.)

The odds are overwhelmingly in favor for the existence of a suitable
base-engine (ie, 1.8 to 2.0l) already existing in those countries.
All we need to do is to show how such an engine can be turned into the
home-made equivalent of a de Havilland. (Easy, eh? :-)

-R.S.Hoover

-PS -- I'm doing the mail as I work my way thourgh my 'morning pills,'
some of which make me silly, others of which make me want to barf...
unless taken in the proper sequence. You can almost tell where I'm at
in the 'pilling' sequence by just reading what I've written :-)