Above -- Terry Oberer, Charlie Gavask and Howard Henderson in Sadie Hawkin's hangar at Creve Coeur Airport near St. Louis. Pietenpol "A" engines are mounted "backwards" in the Piet. See the airplane's wing above and behind the engine? Ford "A" aficionados will notice the rear main on the front of the four-banger.

I don't remember a vacuum cleaner used to keep waste material out of the block, but certainly we had one. Also, the tape that was helpful to that end.

Here's the tool Charlie used to cut the "pockets" into which the hardened seats were driven.

Notice the "original" seat this side of the cutter.

Charlie drives a new seat into the block. No heating, no cooling; just a big hammer. The newly-cut "pocket" (on the nearest valve hole), is ready to receive a new hardened seat.

Hardened seats installed:

The new seats were faced with a stone grinding wheel -- centered on a shaft supported by the valve guides.

Valves were lapped into their new seats.

These photos were made by Grant MacLaren -- before digital cameras became easily available. They were intended to be used in a BPA Newsletter story, but Grant never got around to writing it. He also wanted to document Charlie Gavask's babbitt-pouring, but Charlie passed on before that goal was reached. Charlie never did agree to Grant photographing his babbitt work, saying that he had to give 100% of his attention to the pouring; having someone watching would be too disruptive.