Some people actually restore and drive Model T's, Model A's, and other antiques like farm tractors and/or rebuild hit/miss stationary engines. Compared to those things, a 216 is positively modern. I've got a Model A 4 cylinder in my shop now that's going to need to have new main bearings poured, line bored and fitted with Prussian Blue, or retro-fitted for insert type main and rod bearings. Putting aluminum pistons and rod bearing inserts in a 216 eliminates most of the Babbit-pounding woes and only requires aiming the oil squirter tubes properly to make it as reliable as a 235. My oil pump modification to put small block V8 gears in a stovebolt pump should solve the low oil pressure at idle problems the 216 is notorious for, also.
Jerry
