engine wrist pins

[Tom Endy]

I have an engine that has not been apart in 50-60 years. When I tore it down I found the bore and crank were the standard size. The pistons and rods have Ford script on them.

My question concerns the manner in which the wrist pins were secured. The wrist pin end of the rods appear to have split bushings installed in them. In the center is a "C" clip of some sort that snaps into a groove in the middle of the wrist pin. In order to remove the pins I pressed them out on a press. It took only slight pressure to move the "C" clip out of the wrist pin groove. The pin then slid out with much less interference.

This appears to be a much better way to secure a wrist pin than the clips at each end that want to come loose and score a cylinder wall.

The questions:

Was this the way the engines were built at the factory?

Was this method used by repair agencies during the era?

Can it still be done today?

Since I have never seen this type of wrist pin arrangement before I would appreciate any enlightenment anyone can offer.

Each of the pistons in this engine had a strange looking piston skirt expander installed in each. The engine will have to be overhauled as the pistons and cylinder walls are badly pitted, as were the crank main bearings. The cylinders will be bored 20-40 over and the crank 10 under.

The engine block number put it at early 1931

Tom Endy