I have a 555 700 850 and they all have the 44a SDC carb. Seems the 125's have a similar cube carb too. Clearly McCulloch's development team found this single carb good across a wide range of displacements. Naturally some sort of thought process has go into the number of step changes needed to "improve" the good work of a highly skilled R&D team which undoubtedly McCulloch had at the height of its empire some 50 years ago now when these saws were leading the field.Your correct on them being used across the board . The 44a was used on just about everything. The only thing I'm unsure of are the diameters of the transition holes, so just with out modifications it would be safe to use any of the larger sdcs (44a) on an 88cc saw.
However progress marches on, and production techniques available today etc of course mean the new saw you buy today is more powerful, less polluting and use less fuel doing so etc. Its the same for everything.
So as interested enthusiast, I hope some reasonably thought out steps will combine to reach the goal of more high RPM power at the risk of less torque at lower speed. If the 700 responds in similar fashion to my previously altered 555. I will happy.
Of course if this was a more serious effort then at a minimum a dynamometer and a flow bench are the most basic and fundamental tools of a traditional performance shop, but simulation software is now very affordable, and can save a lot of time on a moderately serious performance project, as it all ties in to modern prototyping and even pattern making etc.
I really don't want to step down this rabbit hole for my personal cutting needs and accept the deficiencies of my suck it and see approach.
Roland.