Bfan,
I like the way you are thinking about this. Trying to understand and learn but also putting your ideas to the test and living with a possibly bad result - but learning in the process.
You might enjoy this from the Machinist I use locally:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-k1GqIFP1g
and this for con rod balancing/lightening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLpiF0E0EJU