Been incredibly crap last few months with a major back injury before Christmas but small update now I'm on my feet and working again.
Well yesterday I got the engine running and running well, even after a decent oil change she's still tappety but will get there sure.
Took a lot of messaging about, basically ended up going to a scrap yard, stripping a whole 1.8 k series (older type) for every used engine sensor, part etc and try what was OK and what had failed, and if it improved I then changed it for a new version of said part.
What really her going was drained fuel tank of virtually nothing but water and what looked like fairy liquid, half full again with new unleaded, replaced fuel pump as it was low pressure, changed fuel filter (inside the tank lol), cleaned fuel lines out fully, new spark plugs, changed distributor cap and rotor arm, bought brand new Land rover cam sensor, exhaust and removed cat then drained it out, was full of something in between water and algee, flushed out outta system along with a lot of other gunk, fresh oil from trade tec, finally a set of filters is on way now also for engine and cabin.
Will mot and see what it needs to pass, then timing belts and water pump / thermostat kit.
Smashing wagons to work on, loads of room and big chunky bolts for everything.