Rear main in wrong? (Pictures)

RustyRatRod said
I cannot begin to count the number of rear main seals I have installed through the years, be it in new builds, or maintenance repairs, but I have never one time offset the rear main seal. I think that is some bullshit magazine myth. If the rear seal joint is going to leak, it's going to leak no matter where the joint is clocked. Also, I always put a small dab of high temp RTV on the ends of the seal and along the mating surface of the block where rear main bearing cap meets it. Has always worked and been leak free for me.

There is nothing wrong with installing them flush, and tons of people have done it that way for years as well as the manufacturers.
Offset ends is just an extra measure to be sure the lip of the seal halves is exactly lined up with each other.
If the seal ends are at the parting line of the block and cap there is a chance that parting line may not hold the seal ends exactly lined up.
It's just one of those (just in case measures).