Right, SJ. Only mine faced the other way. Seems to be a symetrical rod, seems to have done no harm in that regard. One rod was bent and it was not under the wasted piston. I have to come to the conclusion that a bent rod was reinstalled when they overhauled the engine, before it blew up a second time. Some folks just don't look close at all the pieces and they sure didn't put the rods back in the way they came from Peoria.

I just heard from my supplier today; he has everything I need on the parts list except one rod bearing and an intake valve. We'll get into this job pretty soon. I'll be here with pics and description and you guys can have some fun stopping me if I screw up.

Jack, most if not all in line engine rods are the same either way when put in the engine but the numbers have to go together to make a pair and it,s always correct to put the rod numbers toward the side plate openings. Now "V" engines is a different story as they have to be installed correctly and paired up right on the crank throw.

It's just habit. One of the first engines I ever did was a four-cylinder flat head Continental that had offset big ends. Boy, that was a long time ago! You could put the whole set in backward, as in back to front (It was a marine application) and they would fit but the bleed hole in the rod wouldn't shoot at the cam shaft anymore. Not so good.