No "Obfuscation" allowed on this forum Jason :!:
Thanks for your input.
It probably should not surprise you that I also have workshop manuals as well as aftermarket manuals to find info.
The reason I sometimes ask questions on this forum sometimes, is to verify information I may have been given by other parties. This is the case here.
Experienced engine rebuilders that frequent this forum have given me information that confirms information I have received already.
Therefore, I will go by their recommendation.
If you pull an 1973 850 set of cases apart one day, you may find that the drive side is the one that is shimmed. The timiming side has no case to use a crank shim against. So shimming both sides with norton crank shims does not appear possible to me. I will be corrected I am sure if I'm mistaken there.
Having said that, using the VW "bearing shims" you could shim both sides as they are larger and it could be done. But, as no one else has suggested shimming both sides, nor have I read it anywhere else but in your post, I will just shim the drive side.
I will let the forum know if this doesn't work.
I replaced my 750 main bearings a while back now & it has done many miles since without a bottom end problem. It did not require shimming FYI.