216's have Babbit bearing connecting rods originally, and insert main bearings. There have been connecting rod insert bearings made for 216's for a long time, but they're made for rods that have had the original bearing material bored out and the big ends of the rods honed to the proper size. Those bearings are getting very scarce and expensive, but it's possible to bore the rods out to fit a Massey-Ferguson tractor bearing and custom grinding the crankshaft to match the M-F connecting rod bearing diameter. Lots of parts can be force-matched by a machinist who knows what he's doing- - - -the part doesn't know or care what engine it's in, as long as the machinist does his job correctly.
I use connecting rods for a Nissan 2.4 Liter 4 cylinder and Ford inline six pistons to make a "235" into a 270 cubic inch engine that looks completely original from the outside.
Jerry
