OK- - - -looks like somewhere in the 1940s- - - - - -This one will probably end up as a parts engine, depending on what I find during disassembly. Pre-1948 216s had slightly different size main bearing bores than the 48-53 engines- - - - -only about .004" difference on the OD of the bearings, but it's just enough to make the fit wrong for the 48-53 bearing shells. If I retro-fit the block for the Buick/Olds/Cadillac main bearings, or the small block Chevy 400 mains, that slight difference can be ignored, as it gets factored in during the line bore process when adapting to the same size bearings from front to rear. All of those later model mains are plentiful, and dirt cheap!
Jerry
