The Perkins Prima engine was supplied for use in cars, vans and as an industrial and marine powerplant. The car version of this engine is the most suitable for the conversion, you can use a normaly aspirated engine if you realy have to. The power output of the N/A engine is about 15 bhp down on the turbo engine and the turbo engine is readily available. I have come across turbo stationary engines, I wouldn't have thought the fuel pump setup was suitable for an automotive powerplant, so ignore them. The source of engines is mostly the Austin Montegos, Maestros after 93 were fitted with the Tdi motor.

So your looking for a Montego or Meastro made between 1989 and 1994, Maestros to 95. When I was looking for a Montego I was offered several with over two hundred thousand miles on the clock and seemingly good engines, I declined them, I would always go for a low milage example if possible but if I had to I would go with a high miler. The engine has the reputation of being able to withstand three hundred thousand miles without any problems and I have been told well looked after examples can cover half a million miles.

The only problem I ever see in these engines is leaking head gaskets, which is usually OK once the gasket has been replaced. Generally the leaking head gasket is around the left hand side of the combustion chamber on cylinders 1 and 2, it blows straight into the waterway, so a leaking head gasket will pressurise the water system resulting in water loss and often the entire engine bay will have a light coat of rust from the rusty water that's been lost. If you check the water and it doesn't smell of antifreeze it's likely the water needs filling regularly[leaking head gasket]

While the condition of the car doesn't matter at all, in fact the worse the better as you should get it for less, does the owner change the oil regularly or look after the engine at all? I have bought some real nasty looking cars that have been completeley uncared for yet the engines have been great, it's hard to tell.