If you want a laugh, pop over to uk.radio.amateur where there's a guy called Chris Street who apparently has a degree in electronics, astronomy and chemistry who claims that older engines weren't built stronger than today and you can't modify a 70 year old engine because the metal isn't up to coping with the engineering.
Message-ID:
" You do not just machine 70-100 year old cast iron and hope for the best. It is a tricky and skilled operation and far better usually to just use TEL instead... "
Better tell that to the Bonneville drag racers....