Head Gasket Replacement, Better or worse MPG or whammy bent rod

For those of you who replaced a head gasket and later found you also had a bent rod what were the symptoms of the bent rod?
For those of you who replaced your head gasket without a bent rod did you get better MPG or worse?

 

I replaced mine having cold start shake happen only couple of times and noticing coolant being low. I checked piston height travle after I took the head off. I have never done it before and was unaware of hydro lock. In any case I figured if I mess it up i only lose a haed gasket and was prepared financial for a new engine swap. I successfully changed the head gasket but still had issues with the engine. It turned out after all the work somehow a fuel injector got damaged and got stuck open flooding cylinder #4 causing hydro lock not due to the head gasket as I found failed at cylinder one, so I know for a fact the bent rod was caused after the head gasket replacement. Who knew I have never done the head gasket so how would I even know to check for a bad injector. Key here is don't rush the job if it don't work right double triple check everything before you damage your engine. I know we need our cars but take your time it may cost you for rushing.

 

It was a gen 3 engine not franken engine. But yes upgraded to a gen 4. the fuel Injector had a dent right on the tip. I only noticed when I was realigning the timing chain and setting top dead center when it got to the top it squirted a bunch of fuel out of the cylinder. Then I knew.