>>>*I have this old service manual, it has engine models out of the 20's and 40's.

There is a line in there that says to completely dip the entire bearing shell in oil before installing to make sure that it slips in without "marring".

I always got a kick out of that.

Of course there is no logical reason to oil the backside of a bearing shell, but it also would cause no harm, excess would just squeeze out.

On the dipper style bearings which are poured and fitted, it states to use a "suitable tool such as a sharp knife" to scrape the excess material until it can be "slid sideways freely by hand after tightening the retention nut."

I did exactly that with my pocket knife when redoing the rods on my Dad's 1937 Chevy 10 ton truck, and old 216.5 Cubic inch inline six.

The lube we used was axle grease....*LOL**....*EB