The 216 is a babbit bearing motor, meaning the piston rod bearings are poured into a cavity. This was a normal thing back in the 30's and 40's but nowadays its almost impossible to find an engine shop that can pour babbit bearings. If you INSIST on keeping the old 216 babbit motor, and I have a project I too insist on keeping original, then they make piston rods with conventional new style rod bearings you can replace your old babbit rods with. This will make the engine much more reliable, but then also understand that motor has a SPLASH oil system.
There are small cups on the bottom of the piston rods that fill with oil from the pan and in the maelstrom, splash oil all over the lower engine. IF you are lucky. Almost every truck from 47-55 I see these days has the newer style 235 motor (54-62). They are a perfect bolt in solution that gives you conventional rod bearings as well as a pressurized oil system that doesn't rely on splashing.
Just trying to give you options. Lots of people love their 216 babbit splash oilers. They were made from the 30's to the 50's so lots can be said about their longevity.
