con rod offsets and big end dimensions

[Incorrigible]

Please don't ask why, but I was wondering about the possibility of marrying a bottom end I have lying round, with some considerably more modern barrels/block/liners (that I also have lying around). The problem is that the crank is longer than the block. Although the piston centre to big end centre is only 8mm (either end)

I seriously doubt it'll go anywhere but it did get me thinking. Is there a maximum offset you can run a conrod ? Or a minimum width ? Even very small capacity engines seem to run a big end width of about an inch.

It's an element of engine design that I freely admit I know nothing about. So even a good recommendation for background reading would be good

TIA

[garagewidow]

this only my opinion,

the more offset you have the more there is a tendancy for the bearing shell to wear in a tapered fashion because the forces of combustion will 'push' the big end axially against the crank web.plus the rod beam would still have to clear the crank counterweights/webs.

bearing size is a trade off between efficiency and engine life(not to mention the characteristics and lubricative properties of the chosen lubricant)
eg,an F1 engine has only one purpose and that is to produce as much power as possible without destroying itself for the duration of a race.
your average family saloon has to last anything up to 150k miles and be reliable.