Where does the bearing insert hang up? If it binds up on the shoulders before it actually touches the journal, its an end-thrust problem. Either the bearing insert is too wide, or a crankshaft dimension is wrong. Sometimes these crank journals are re-welded in a past life and reground. This can make the width of the thrust journal too wide or too narrow, depending on how hung over the guy was that day.
Do you have the old thrust insert? Measure the shoulder thickness with a caliper or mic and compare to the new parts. Measure the overall width and compare that too.
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