On a similar note and although this isn't a truck, I have two '54 passenger cars. One has a '53 235 in it (PO swapped it in) which has the GM 3701887 head casting number and DOES have insert bearings, not babbited. This head is also the one that has what looks like a 216 valve cover on it, and it throws a lot of people who say "Is that a 216?" Nope. The other '54 has the later 848 head which is the more common one. As a matter of fact that converted engine is in my daily driver and I just turned over 40,000 miles since I rebuilt it just the other day. Runs STRONG.
The best I've been able to piece together is that these early 235s were 'converted' 216 engines with a larger bore and insert bearings... kind of a freak of nature.
By the way Terrence I have an extra 887 head minus valve train off a '53 if you end up needing another.
