Having built a four wheel Reliant Bug replica. I was astonished to see its 850cc engine about to take flight! (In the Feb mag) My Bug has no doors, is very light, and handles like a demented go cart with the power available from its alloy engine. So congratulations on what looks like a really viable aircraft conversion. A word of warning however, as I suffered the Bug equivalent of an EFATO when the large cylinder head core plug (very prominent in the main picture) blew out suddenly at speed. There was no previous indication of imminent failure, like small leaks, or external corrosion, and the total loss of coolant took only a couple of secs! The only way to be sure this plug is not corroded is to renew it.
My Bug is currently off the road due ethanol petrol which has melted the fuel pipes, and makes warm starts difficult due vapour lock in the SU carburettor. After a long run in hot weather I can hear the fuel boiling in the carb float bowl as it is heated from residual heat in the engine bay. Current fix for this is to replace the SU carb with Weber (much bigger float chamber), and fit an electric fuel pump to prime the hot carb with cool fuel.
