[Lynn Eades]

Lionel, for $1800.00 I'd be talking to a motor reconditioner about having the rods machined for lock in shells. it might not be too much of an issue, and you might save a fortune?
I hear that these days shell bearings in modern engines are made without tangs and tang cutouts in the rods, relying on the fact that the correct sizing locks them in place. You might be lucky that size and width match something else and all that is needed is a normal rod alignment and bore sizing (plus a set of shells and a crank grind) Another angle is to consider using a set of later rods from a similar engine (one that uses lock in bearings)
A good place to start would be to talk to a reputable engine reco man.