I am an engine engineer for Caterpillar and I have about six different 15 and 18 liter engine rods sitting on my desk in various configurations. We also drill them to provide oil to the wrist pin for higher power applications (like marine.)
One of the bigger benefits we have to doing rods this way is that they're much less confusing to put together on the assembly line. Not to discredit our assembly line, but they are usually not the brightest people and I have seen several times where fractured rods were put together incorrectly. You'd think if they didn't just fit right up that you'd notice but many of the assembly line people are just doing the same task day in and out and really pay little attention. We recently implemented a 3D bar coding system (much like you see on products you can scan with your phone at the store) to help eliminate confusion.
