More Squish Info

It's possible to run a super tight squish clearance as long as the squish velocity is still designed correctly. Obviously, the bottom and top end components have to be in tip top condition or metal will find metal, but it can be done - especially on a smaller motor. And it's free power. If you consider that the normal squish area traps a considerable amount of mixture that never becomes part of the power making process, then turning any of that unburned mixture into power is good. Suppose you can release 1 cc or 2 cc's or 3 cc's. Suddenly the amount of mixture that's being compressed is equal to that of a somewhat larger engine. The 20 cc's I used to burn has been replaced by 22 cc's. Not accounting for losses to friction and heat the gain of a 10% increase in burned mixture at the same compression ratio will release 10% more power. Take friction and heat losses from it and there's still several percent there - for free.