'51 A - #'s facing up on connecting rod

[Clint Skarovsky]

I'm re-assembling my '51 A after it dropped a valve last summer. I just put together cylinder #2 and realized that I put it in with the numbers facing down (the numbers are lined up and the bearing halves are aligned tang to tang).
Do I need to break this back down and flip it over...I really hope not.

Thanks
 

[Clint Skarovsky]

Well, a trusted source told me it wouldn't hurt anything. I'm torquing the cylinder head so there's no turning back now.
 

[Jason S.]

Although the book says the numbers go up, I have heard of the numbers being up, down and one of each from the factory. That video they sell here on YT says to turn the numbers down. I think it will be fine, only one way to tell.
 

[Mike M]

The rod should be fine either way. The piston however will not if you happen to of flipped it around. Look through both your spark plug holes and make sure the notch in the piston is correct to leave plenty of room for the plug. I bought a B once that had one flipped around. Noticed it thr the plug hole. Rotated the rod over,numbers now on bottom,and it was fine. Previous owner did mention of a rare problem he had of crankcase explosion that blew out the valve cover gasket. I think that upside down piston may of been problem all along ?
 

[Fred from MO]

Fwiw my 60 had numbers on both sides that contradicted what the book said. Obviously it had different rods put in it somewhere in its past.