Welcome to the board, ptross!
I'm not an engine builder, but I've got tens of thousands of miles on my '52 with babbit bearings. The key is driving within the designed limits of the engine, and you'll get years of reliability, whether you switch to inserts or stay with the babbits. Inserts can't change a 216 into a 17,000 rpm Formula 1 screamer anyway, so I'd say stick with the babbits. Just my opinion.
Maybe there's a better rear end gear ratio for highway use available for your year truck. Anybody know the link to Patrick's? They make a 3.55 gear for Chevy trucks.
