That is very posible, my engine was the old style engine with box section motor mount and thinner engine mount ears, it may have also been as you say rejects of some sort?. I would not bie a engine from over seas now but at the time there were no sellers in Australia, now there is several. I also contacted the Hong Kong seller but he never replyed to me so thats it for him. Apart from the outside changes to the engine I suspect that there are inside changes to the engine as well, when I get my new conecting rod I will no for sure but from the picture of the new part the connecting rod does not look to have any or as big a slot in it and as the rollers were cracked in between the slot maybe they realised the problem and changed the design so the later engines may never have this problem. When I get my new parts I will compare the new and old and put a picture up here and also if there is any problems with the rebuild if the parts are slightly different. I am looking forward to getting this engine going again and having many happy hours flying.

OK ------ now the new parts have arrived and some comparison pictures, there is indeed a slot at either end of the new connecting rod and it apears to be exactly the same in shape and size. the only difference that I can see is that they have lightened the conecting rod by removing metal and on my old rod at each end there was no machining accept for inside and on the new rod they have machined the outside as well and they have put a peval on the outside lip at either end.