If by accident, I were to put my pistons in my block and they were put in wrong(exhaust valve pockets facing intake side), can I still re-use my bearings? Or do I have to buy new ones again?

 

re-use the same bearings, they should be fine, if installed correctly! did you just put the piston on the rod backwards, or is the rod and piston both backwards, anyways tabs on rods & bearings go toward the exhaust side, so make sure that the piston isnt on the rod backwards....

 

I believe the rod and the pistons are backwards. How do I know if the rod is in the piston correctly? Will the rod hit the block somehow if it is backwards? Thanks.

 

with the piston installed correctly in block, does the tabs on the bearings, in the rod ends face exhaust side of engine? if not, rod is on piston backwards...