This story begins back in October, 2007, when I was at a mate’s workshop and yard in Kilmore, Vic, where he was showing me his vast vintage engine collection. The engines had been exposed to the weather, rusting away. Behind his workshop, lying in the dirt, was a small engine block with the piston seized tight and the head hanging off. He suggested it be thrown in the scrap bin, as he was involved in cleaning up his yard, and taking advantage of the then, good price scrapmetal was bringing.

 I insisted he let me take the engine block home to put in my electrol