An interesting take on the 1/2 VW.
Hope I'm not reposting something, but I stumbled across this on YouTube. A fellow in Argentina has built a "1/2 VW" using a case/block from an Argentinian made Gurjel engine. It is really interesting. The Gurjel case is already two apposed cylinders only. No cutting.
I sure wish I understood Portuguese.
Here's the link to the first vid in the series.