I am beginning to think that the donor engine has issues. Possibly a failed or faulty injection pump, or maybe something wrong with chain, its tensioner (if it has one) and guides - Sassanach and I both heard a rhythmic 'rubbing' noise intermittently, but where unable to pinpoint it, as we were busy trying to unblock the road
Original reason for doing whole engine, is it looked easier, trouble sourcing new head (plenty of bottom ends, heads rarer - what does that say :-?), lack of tools (needs a special locking kit that locks the crank and chain guides), and cost (by time I'd bought all the gaskets and bolts needed for head removal etc)
Plan B is to remove head on original engine. There is evidence of the stuff put in cooling system by previous owner (the copper filing 'hg repair' stuff) on the injectors.
Now, over to the experts - the injectors sit in swirl/precombustion chambers, so if it was just a failed HG, could the copper filings have reached the injectors? Or does this definately prove head is fubar? Additionally, if that is the case, can the head be repaired? Or should I use the head from donor engine?
Problem with Plan B is if the engine is OK, and its an electronic problem (no codes on Tech2 - odd spurious one if it stalls itself), then that will be more expense for nothing