Pulled an old Ford out of bushes and found out why it was there

[artfull dodger]

I agree, run compression on all 3 cylinders and see what you have. You might have some sticking rings from sitting for so many years. You can free them up a bit by putting PB blaster or other penetrating oil down each bore and letting it sit and soak. The blow it clear before reinstalling the injectors and trying to start. I had an old 6.2L GM diesel like this, once it sat a few days with blaster in each bore, compression came up enough on several cylinders that it would run, once she had warmed up and put thru her paces all was fine. Diesels do NOT like to sit unused. They like to be run and worked. Good Luck. Mike

 

[PJ The Kid]

I would be looking at pump timing. Pull it down, pop the cover off the back by the flywheel, and make sure #1 is on tdc. Should be a mark on the crank pully and a mark on the cam gear as well. The marks you are seeing is the same as setting the advance on an old distributor, not setting the timing. If I had to guess the previous owner lost an injection pump (pretty sure these are a cav(lucas)pump, and cranked it with too much ether, which bent the push rods (hopefully that all he bent, seen trucks and tractors lift heads and bend connecting rods alot). I almost bet your timing is of and its shooting fuel at the wrong time causing detonation.

 

[PatrickS2222]

Was just reading this thread - wondering if you've got it going yet?
What's news on compression test?
Also, does the injector pump shaft have a master spline? I remember most I've seen do, and will only fit in one position.
If it doesn't, or if it still doesn't run, maybe the pump's been timed on exhaust stroke instead of compression stroke. This could explain white smoke = atomised, but not heated or even partially-burnt, diesel fuel. You need to ascertain No1 cyl is on TDC compression (or firing), then line up pump "O-Line" then engine should start (barring air locks in fuel system).
Keep us informed! :drink: