Well, I'm no engine expert, but lets start here: An engine is essentially an air pump. The more efficiently you can move air in and out the more HP it will make. But there are limits, so everything must be balanced to work together.

An example would be taking a stock engine and putting a 1000 cfm carb on it. It would seem that since it passes more air it MUST be a better producer of HP. But we all know that isn't true, because the rest of the components are not set up to take advantage of that carb.

That is why the carb, heads, pistons, cam and exhaust system must be all tuned to one another so that no one component restricts the other parts from doing their intended job. Some companies, like Edelbrock, sell a line of matched parts (I think under the Performer series) that are tested and proven to compliment each other, and when put on as a system provide good performance gains.

Now we'll let the guys who really know motors tell us the straight scoop.

Don