Tuesday Torque: Miami Sideshaft Engine

One of these Miami engines was featured in Gas Engine Magazine recently.  A fellow found one that had been butchered by having the end of the cylinder cut off, a wedge installed on the piston; and then it was used as a wood splitter.  The parts were all there, but the cylinder was worthless.  The dedicated hobbyist made a pattern and associated cores for casting, and had a new cylinder made.  It was not easy to find a foundry capable of making the intricate casting, but he succeeded. He then had the machining done and built his partly new Miami engine.  It's an intricate piece of machinery, and it could be called a work of art; at least in my book.