Many thanks for this, Dave. You've dispelled a couple of myths. I marvel at the effort Cox and the guys who worked there put in to deliver superior quality and support.

That Cox did much that we know little about is evident. I have a light, .049 piston with an aluminum rod. I can't recall where I got it but I assume that it wouldn't hold up under huge RPMs. For my part, it ran stronger than stock pistons.

Some things I've often wondered about. What if you made a chromed, brass cylinder to take a high silicon piston? What if you cut the cylinder with ONE exhaust port and three transfer ports? What if you made the cylinder a bolt on affair allowing for normal orientation of the exhaust port? Were some of these ideas tried and sent 'upstairs"?