Moley says...

YOU KNOW what David? I’m absolutely amazed at the number of people who share my enthusiasm for the noise made by a two-stroke diesel. It was almost a throw-away line when I casually mentioned it a couple of issues ago, but the subject has really struck a chord with many of you lot. As a result I’m learning heaps about these fabulous old monsters.

Now, I hadn’t heard about the things running backwards until about a month or so ago, either. But Eric Waples up in NSW – who’s a serial contributor to this column – pointed out that the GM two-strokes were not only an early modular form of engine (they could be built to a variety of capacities and layouts by using the same pistons and rods and such) they were also what Eric called `symmetrical’ meaning they’d turn over and, presumably, run backwards or forwards. Seems like he’s right based on your experience.

Your soggy HQ experience mirrors mine, too, David. The last roadregistered HQ I had was a wagon which was either rusted out in the plenum or had all its plenum drain-holes bunged up with dead leaves and possum tuds. Or both. Park it in the rain overnight and the first time you accelerated, about 20 litres of possumysmelling water would slosh out from under the dash and even out the air vents. In desperation, I kept a dedicated pair of gum boots in the car for wet mornings. Like your HQ, a series of strategically placed holes in the floor sorted things out by the first traffic light, but not before you’d been drenched from the waist down.

Now as for this aeroplane idea: Have you really thought this through. I’m all for a bloke following his dreams, but a Model A engine in a flying machine? And that’s before we even get to the bit about making it from wood. Again, I’m not trying to discourage you, but I’ve never seen a tree fly.

I’m thinking there are probably a thousand more powerful, lighter, and more reliable engines out there to choose from. So what’s driving the ancient-Ford decision? And fergawdsake send us a pic or two as work progresses. From what I can gather, a popular engine choice for home-made goony-birds is (or was) the humble Volkswagen air-cooled four-banger. It’s light, easy enough to twin-plug and, provided you don’t tune it beyond the limits of sanity, it’s reliable... something that’s pretty important in the aeroplane world, I’m told.

“THE FIRST TIME YOU ACCELERATED, ABOUT 20 LITRES OF WATER WOULD SLOSH OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH”

ABOVE Holden utes, mates, guns, the Aussie bush – it’s a died-andgone-to-heaven moment for these true-blue blokes.OPPOSITE PAGE David, mate, be careful you don’t snag any overhead power cables.