A method of making a powder metal bearing support insert includes filling a tool and die set with a powder metal. A compact is compacted from the powder metal using the tool and die set in which the compact includes a body having a pair of opposing ends on lateral sides thereof, a bearing-receiving surface positioned on a side of the body between the pair of opposing ends in which the bearing-receiving surface is for reception of a bearing therein, and a pair of holes extending through the body wherein each of the pair of holes are formed by sets of adjacent interdigitated slots having regions that abut one another to form a connected passageway therethrough that define the respective hole. The compact is sintered to form the powder metal bearing support insert. The powder metal bearing support insert may be cast into an engine component.