hes probably a trader in disguise from what you've said, it'll be bollocks about belt change in that case and its imperative on them engines-we sell 1.8diesel heads on a weekly basis.
to be honest on a p you can pick up tidy ex bt and 1 owner since for around 6-700 so i wouldnt pay a bag of sand for one with dubious history.
hth
Tricky
Na, he is joe public mate, a mate knows him and gave us his number.... he uses it for work daily apparently, long runs too