It's been mentioned in this thread numerous times that it's to help compression, but it surely doesn't. And the angle the rod pushes on the crank changes throughout the stroke, so I doubt that amounts to anything either
yeah, really it would have to be put to rest by a dyno test. Somebody, somewhere, that has a dyno will get a million of views on youtube for doing this experiment!!! Calling Nick's Garage..... LOL
