I assume you're assembling the rods without shims and still getting wide clearances? Since this is a patch-up job on an engine on its last gasp, how about doing some careful filing on the rod cap to reduce the clearance a little on the wide one? That was an accepted practice 50 years ago when trying to nurse a few more miles out of a tired old engine, and it will still work today. That bearing with the Babbit metal flaking out of it will probably last as long as the rest of the engine, as long as it's not abused, over-revved, etc. On a full rebuild, I wouldn't even consider re-using it, but that's not where this job is going, obviously.
Jerry
