[johnneilson]

Brett,

OK, understand, you are doing some worst case investigation prior to the surgery.
Kind of like getting the second opinion before the primary care appointment.

You have to ask yourself truthfully the intended use of the motor/car.
If stock configuration for enjoyment, some modifications are beneficial and some just overkill.
That said, "B" block allows for more HP and has a pressure fed oiling system to mains with larger journals. This along with drilling the crank to feed oil to rods and some compression will yield a nice motor that will last a long time.

I do not recommend drilling the "A" crank for oil to the rods as the journal is so small the potential to break increases substantially.

I have put the "B" crank in the "A" block before, not recommended in my opinion.

Either Babbit or inserts if done correctly are satisfactory, since I do not have access to a good Babbit facility, I use inserts.

Of course you have to understand that these opinions are just that, my opinions. YMMV

Best of Luck, Mr. Brierleys book is very good, you may hear opinions that do not agree with him but I doubt that those opinions have as much experience.

John