RE: O.S. .46 AX Shims
I think the blueprinting that was mentioned was in reference to swapping out parts from one engine to another for the best fit. I would not call this cheating, if the parts were all stock parts. Never tried it with an O.S., but have swapped heads, pistons, and cranks in a nelson. You would be suprised by the difference this makes if you find the right combination.
Takes some time and practice, but not cheating by any means.