There's nothing wrong with precision-grinding the crank to fit the bearings on these restoration projects. They won't get enough mileage or load to ever wear the bearings to the point of needing adjustment. The shims were there to allow for tightening up clearances during the frequent in-the-frame overhauls these trucks needed. A valve job lasted about 10,000 to 15,000 miles, and the average ring job was done about every 30,000 or so. With regular oil changes, Babbited rods and insert-type mains could be re-used through two or sometimes three in-the-frame rebuilds before the engine needed to come out for a rebore and a full overhaul. The shop where I grew up in the 1950's did hundreds of such jobs. A stovebolt engine is a primitive, but very rugged sow's ear- - - - -go ahead and try to make it a silk purse if you choose, but millions of them got along for lots of miles just fine without all the TLC.
Jerry
