For my undergraduate physics thesis, I elevated a simple, desktop model of a gamma-type Stirling engine into a refined, highly-adjustable test rig. I machined brass flywheels, a new crankshaft, and lightweight connecting rods to enable manipulation of the piston phase angle and swept volume ratio. I built a miniature Prony brake to measure the power output of the engine, and by comparing this real-world data to the predictions given by thermodynamic models, could optimize the performance of my little engine that could.