[SEL] Calibrating the Lister Injector.

[Tony & Jackie]

The biggest problem with the early ones (1977-81) was the 
Roosa-Master injection pumps and lack of any fuel/water 
separator.  They would get water in them and the pump would rust 
internally, causing timing problems.  That's why you see so many with 
broken cranks, pistons, etc.  The pumps would get out of time and the 
injectors would fire too early and cause all kind of internal 
havoc.  Another weak spot was their use of "torque to yield" head 
bolts (stretch bolts).  When the car's would come in with blown head 
gaskets, the mechanics would mill the block and re-use the head 
bolts, thus ensuring another blown gasket in the near future.  The 
final nail in the coffin was their use of flat tappet cams that were 
just not up to the heavy duty task of a diesel, and would round off 
pretty frequently.  Most of the bugs were worked out with the 
introduction of the DX block in 1982 (replacing the original D 
block).  The DX block used a heavy duty roller cam, better head 
bolts, and they also replaced the crapola Rossa-Master pump with a 
Bosch and installed water separators.

It was too late though, as the public had already seen the carnage 
caused by the early ones, and wanted nothing to do with them.  They 
finally quit offering the option in 1985.  Basically, it was an 
engine that should have spent 2-3 more years in the R&D 
department.  Once all the bugs were worked out, they were a very 
reliable diesel.

Here's a YouTube video of my old '83 Oldsmobile diesel 
wagon:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjOo4NYSzh4

Darn, all this talk makes me want to go find another 350 diesel to 
tinker with!! ;-)

-Tony



At 08:03 PM 9/27/2009, you wrote:
>Tony:
>
>I was wrong about the engine displacement but right that it was a 
>hunk of junk, at least the earlier "glossed over" gas 350's.  I've 
>seen lots of them with broken pistons, cracked cylinder walls, 
>broken crankshafts, etc.
>
>As a result of that, I don't think I ever knew that the design had 
>an epiphany.  I thought it was simply junked and a totaly new engine was born.
>
>AND I will not willingly give up my "Diesel Freak" card or even my 
>"Clag Card"!    :-)