I'm not too great on engine history, normally it's not too important as to what can be done with it, but I do know a certain amount about this type, having worked with them before.Blitz wrote:I've actually done some work in a diesel machine shop -- what engine were you working on?
As best I can tell, it's an old engine that used to belong in a Leyland van, but this one had been relocated for marine use in a narrow beam canal boat.
Now, I think it was the 1.8 litre engine (although there are few superfical differences from the 1.5, so I may be mistaken) in what was known as a B-size block. For those that don't know, things like the British Leyland Mini used an A-size petrol version, this was the diesel version of the engine block size up.
Other useless trivia: The B size was bored in both 1.5 litre and 1.8 litre, and some prefer the 1.5 because the 1.8, bored into the same block, has rather thin walls between the cylinders, which means it's not unknown for the head gaskets to explode between them.
They've generally been nice to work with in the past, proving pretty reliable. On one occasion, a similar one started on only three functioning cylinders, even alongside other difficulties - the 4th cylinder was eventually fixed though.
Even in spite of their reliability, I have to admit a certain amount of surprise that the one today started.
