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I went thru this same conundrum....to split or not to split? In my case (haha), the engine is 82 US SC with 183k and excellent service hsitory but broken Dilavars. I was obsessing abou this..asking too many different folks for their opinion...until my local guru essentially told me to man up and have at it. I did and was glad I did so. The mains were PERFECT, the rods nice but had a few fine scratches, and the intermediate shaft bearings showed copper. I bought new GT 3 rod bearings, i/s shaft bearings and a gasket kit. I spent many hours cleaning and prepping the case halves....but I enjoy that stuff.
I also had a stud broken below the block surface level and was picking away at it with carbide tips on a Dremel,mwhich I realized was a bad idea. A specialist machine shop set up the block on a Bridgeport and milled it out...for $100...and the friendly admonition that I was lucky I didn't f it all up with my Dremel/drill activities.
I re-assembled the short lock last weekend. I now know the exact condition of the innards and have photos (and receipts) to back it up. Glad I did so, and that I listened to my guru. Hope that helps, John in CT.
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