I've got an escort 1.8 turbo diesel intercooled engine that I'm putting in a van. I have turned the max fuel up by about 40 degrees on the screw and the boost compensator is 4 turns out. It was running perfectly like that... no knock and loads of power... let that be clear.

To put it in the van and use the van gearbox (shorter ratios) it has to run completely mechanically so no ECU. I have had people on this forum tell me theirs run fine without it... so...

I disconnected the electronic advance, crank sensor, 3rd injector sensor and air flow meter and fired her up. Now it knocks quite heavily at 1-3k revs.

My question is this - should I increase the fuel or advance/retard the pump timing or a mixture of both?

Please don't reply with answers like "you'll have to use the ECU" I just want to know how to make it run right completely mechanically as I know it is possible.

Thanks.