A grand? OUCH!
I don't believe it to really be a lost art.. just not done. Its a mechanical process. There really isn't much to it and references are available. You just gotta want to do it. The great thing about babit is if you mess it up you can take it out and to it all over again.
I would agree that inserts are much easier. But whats the point of keeping a 216 if you take away one of the unique things that makes it a 216? Just put in a 235 full pressure motor and few people will ever know.
