you are correct about the oiling system. i am definitely not a mechanic but i can tell you that the 235 from 54 up had insert main bearings where the 216 had "babbit" filled bearings - babbit bearings were kind of like a hard lead material that was "poured" in. as you said, i think all the 216 engines got there oil by "splasing" where as the inserted 235 get their oil from a pressure system (oil pump). i believe the 216's can be changed to insert bearings. I can't speak to reliability but there appears to be a lot of them (216) still running!


54 3100 w/62 235 "Yosemite Sam"
Born a Jay Hawk, raised an Okie and resurrected in Texas!http://community.webshots.com/user/djed50