I suspect the Greeks never built a true steam engine—what we see in the myths is more metaphor than mechanism. Still, their ingenuity with water wheels and the Archimedean screw shows a knack for harnessing fluid power. If you’re restoring a classic, you might borrow the principle of a simple piston from their water pump designs, just to give the machine a touch of ancient elegance. It’s a modest trick, but it reminds us that the Greeks were, after all, pioneers of moving parts.

Sounds like a clever blend of old and new. Just make sure the piston’s weight and the screw’s pitch match; otherwise the motion might get sluggish. A quick test run on a small scale should give you a good sense of the balance before you slide it into the car’s restoration. Good luck, and I’ll be curious to see the final reveal at the club.