Have you checked the road draft tube to see if maybe it's clogged up? Suddenly developing a smoking problem doesn't necessarily mean the rings are bad- - - -there might be a buildup of crankcase pressure due to inefficient venting. A bad dual action fuel pump with a torn vacuum boost diaphragm will also create a smoke generator. I just checked my stash. I've got a big supply of reconditioned rods, and the oldtimers I learned the trade from actually had the ability to swap 216 rods from the bottom side without removing the cylinder head- - - - -they just pulled the piston down low enough in the cylinder after removing the pan to slip the wrist pins out of the pistons and install a reconditioned rod. That won't work on a 235 spray-oiler. The bore is too big to let the piston drop down far enough to expose the wrist pin.
Jerry
Edit: Ebay is full of 216/235 Babbit rods at fairly reasonable prices, but the later 235 insert bearing rods are scarce and expensive for some reason. I'm shopping for a set of six 54/62 rods to recondition. If anyone following this thread has some, please drop me a PM.
