On the diameter change of crankshaft journals, that's not a new idea, either. The 85 HP 1932-39 flathead Fords ran a smaller rod journal than the 100 HP 1942-53 Ford engines and the 1949-53 Mercury engines. By offest-grinding the 4" stroke Mercury shaft by 1/16" and taking the size down to the 85 HP journal, the crankshaft became a 4 1/8" stroker without any welding being done. Dad ran bunches of those engines in the early 1950's, and also bored them 1/4" oversize to get almost 300 cubic inches from a 239 Ford flathead V8. They also ran 11:1 compression and used an alcohol/Hydrogen Peroxide fuel mixture. 30-something years later, I was making 3 9/16" stroker Chevy 350's, using 2.00" bearings and rods from a 283, and offset-grinding the 350 crankshaft with the 2.100" rod journal. Some things never change- - - - -new generations of hotrodders just rediscover stuff their grandfathers were doing decades ago!
Jerry

"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!