This has given me a project idea, only I'll use a Griffon Sea Fury spinner and blend it into the cowling. That should have a few scratching their heads ---
There was a fellow who's name was Stewart Tresilian, worked on & off for RR, Bristol, AW and others during the war, his pet theory was to short-stroke/over-bore everything and bump up the RPM to get the airflow through the engine. This could go along the lines that he got hold of the Merlin, worked his magic, kept the same bore but shortened the stroke and to keep the Cubic Inches the same, added four more cylinders to it. With the engine spinning at 6000-7000 rpm, should bump up the hp quite well I think --- Of course, this would mean bigger tail surfaces --- etc --