Does this look normal.

 

Looked funky. I guess it's normal

 

it's a lock, to help prevent the stat gear bearings from spinning in the case.

most all engine bearings have a similar lock.

 

I thought it was a locating tab to make sure the oil passages line up with holes in the bearing. Ive read that the tab does little to keep the bearing from spinning, and the bearing is predominately held in place by the interference fit to the stat gear (this is just what ive read, and am by no means a professional or seasoned engine builder )

 

you're probably right actually, can you imagine if it didn't have that tab, everyone would put bearings in and just ruin their engines cause its not lined up, or have the thread "Mazda screwed up and i had to drill my own bearing oiling hole.

 

it serves as both.

without it you would see even more spun bearings even without severe lubrication failures on worn old engines.

 

Boingers have these as well and they definitely prevent a spun bearing as I'm sure the one in the rotor does but since the bearing is an interference fit but I can't remember if cam bearings have these as they are an interference fit as well, I doubt it is as important as it is on a small block Chevy. If the bearing seizes on the shaft, I don't think anything would stop the bearing from spinning.

On a connecting rod bearing (or main bearing) these tangs fit into slots in either the block or the rods. Both bearings have it and when you assemble a rod, that little tang on both bearings stops them from spinning and they are set so they go with the crank journal so if the journal rotates clockwise inside the rod, the top bearing will have this tang on the right side looking straight on and the bottom one has it on the left side.
It's not perfect, I've seen spun rod bearings on SBCs and B motor Mopars. The person who has the engine always says, "I was just cruising and the rod let loose" yet there's an enormous hole in the block, sure, you were just idling and it grenaded.
Lining up the oil hole is probably just gravy on an SBC.