Matthew,

a couple of things. The engines specs give you the theoritical maximum performance. It does not mean you engine will turn that fast or deliver that horsepower, it just means that it might under most ideal circumstances. So do not be concerned about those numbers, but do follow the instructions and advice given. Your engine may peak at say 11,000 RPM on the ground, and it may peak in flight at 12,000 or so RPM. That is the reason why one must always run his engine on the slightly rich side to ensure that there is not a lean run which gets very hot.

When dealing with a cowled engine, one must make sure that there is an ample exhaust path for the cooling air out of the cowl. It is not so much the intake, it is where it will go after entering the cowl and cooling the engine. If there is not complete path, the cool air will stagnate in the cowl and the engine will overheat for a lack of cooling air. So the openings in the rear, around the cowl, etc. need to be equal to the intakes and if you can, make them a little bigger so that there is always positive flow out of the cowl.

Read up on all the threads. Follow the advice. Provide cooling paths and you will do just fine.

Cheers,

Chip