If you just couldn't do oil mods, what's an alternative?

Use full groove mains and a HV pump. You want more oil sooner.

I use 1/2 groove bearings, you don't need a full groove bearing with a healthy oiling system and proper bearing clearances.

So I double checked the main bearings that came with the 440 source stroker kit, they at 3/4 groove. I called source and they said they don't offer a full grooved bearing for 1973 and older RB engines (shallow thrust bearing engines), just the 3/4 groove. He did say that the 1974 and later (larger thrust bearing engine) they did offer a full groove mains. He couldn't tell me why that was.

Think I'll run these bearings with the HV pump. Just need to get confident on oiling mods now. He warned me about drilling out the pickup tube to 1/2" because he said I might end up grinding some of the material away for a collared pickup tube I would have to run. Because I'm putting this 512 into an a-body and I'm running they're dented 6qrt pan to clear steering linkage. So his point was by the time I grind clearance for the collared pickup tube, AND drill out for a half inch pickup, I'd be begging for breaking something.