To answer the other question, yes a starter has enough nuts to bend a rod, and I've even seen a cracked LS aluminum block because of this.
Friend of mine had a leaky fuel injector o-ring on his LS1 and it let water into the cylinder. Cranked the engine and boom. Bent the rod and cracked the side of the block.
Bent another rod in a 427 nova years back from water entering the carb while towing it (through the scoop). Turned it over and bent a rod. Didn't hurt anything else though.
Hope this isn't scaring you
