many people cannot get in their mind the cubic inch theory and thats cool..we have all been there..some of us still are...lol
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when i was starting out..it was desrcibed to me this way.....
think of a cylinder as a coffee can.....the bigger ( bore/stroke) you make the coffee can the more contents it will hold...
contents = air and fuel..
which causes a larger explosion = equals more power..
this is how i would explain the cubic inch theory to anyone starting out..
a rule of thumb i have always been told is 1.5 hp per cubic inch...a good engine builder with top of line parts has seen 1.75/ 2hp per cubic inch. ( naturally aspirated)
the old saying is has always been ( no replacement for displacment)
this only holds true if your engine is naturally aspirated,,turbo's, nos,blowers will make a 355ci think its a 632ci..