We drove a 1965 scrubelle with a bent rod for 117,000 miles. We bought the car with 13k on it. I assumed it was hydrauliced on the starting line when new. That cylinder was always 15# less when doing a comp check. Other problems necessated a tear down when it was found. The engine always ran good. Make sure to balance the new rod to the rest of them. Good luck.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

I have seen connecting rods bent as result of fuel leaking into a cylinder while the engine sits and then the rod compression locks when the engine is attempted to be started.  In rare cases, the cylinder wall cracks as a result and in other cases, the engine simply cranks up without the owner knowing anything ever happened until the engine is torn down for other reasons.  I did see a 428 Ford with the rod bent enough that it was making a light rattling noise as a result of the rod contacting the lower edge of the cylinder wall.  The engine was running fine otherwise.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Warren, I am with you on this. The only other thing I can think of is that sometime in the past that particular cylinder had water in it for whatever reason and upon cranking it had a hydraulic lock to stop the piston from moving up and bending the rod. This would NOT leave any visible traces on the piston head. I would dismiss the misfiring issues? This was a running engine and is baffling to me. Hope someone can add to this mystery - Bob

AKA   Bob-93021

I've taken a lot of motors apart in my days but have never seen a con' rod bent, seen easily with bare eyesight, it was BENT into an easily seen S shape, this was a running engine, the piston and crank none the worse for wear because of this.  My only option was to get a reconditioned rod, it came with a new bushing, I had this reamed to fit my pin.  Since everything else seemed fine, we'll use the same piston, do a ring job and put it back together.  This is a '54 239 EUB, it will replace the engine in my car now.  There is no sign of any damage whatever, top of piston is smooth, head is fine.  Only thing I can think of would be bad wires or cap, causing incorrect firing or something, who knows, doesn't make sense to me.

warren