You probably underestimate what a great car you have. Easy to work on and extremely reliable. Unlikely you will ever need to replace it. You may buy or have other cars but you will never need to replace this one (barring rust or something terminal like that).

Happy for you.

It's immensely superior to anything I could buy new. This one is definitely a keeper.

I did get the stop lever linkage adjusted, and now the lever stops the engine. There is a link that runs down to the side of the injection pump, between the pump and the engine. I loosened the lock nut on the top ball end and shortened it three full turns. The engine runs, and the lever stops it.

Success!

Now I just need to figure out an effective way to get that messy throttle linkage out of the way so I can take the valve cover off to check the valve lash. This will be the third time, and all I remember about the last two times I when I was done I wanted to do it some other way.

I sorta remember taking off some very difficult to access allen screws that old linkage onto the side, and there was something difficult about the vacuum switches in the big mess on top.

Finished checking the valve lash. It wasn't bad. No surprise, I guess, I haven't put a whole lot of hours on it since last time. It's about a 20 mile round trip to work, four days a week.
I recorded the feeler gauge reading I found, and the reading I left it at.
Attachment 169250

To get the valve cover off, I had to remove the two allen head screws in the drivers side of the valve cover, remove the four bolts on top holding the vacuum valve mess, then leave the vacuum lines on and fold the thing over out of the way. That's not a great way, but I don't really see a better one.

I noticed the injection pump wasn't quite hitting the stop when the gas pedal hit the floor, so I lengthened the rod running vertically up the firewall. That helped some, but I'm out of adjustment. The big ball joint on the firewall feels pretty tight yet, so that's not the problem.

I noticed the throttle plate in the intake wasn't coming open very far at full throttle. I messed with the rods, and managed to get it to open nearly vertical at full throttle.

Oops! the pulley came off the crank, and damaged the radiator fan and water pump pulley.

Attachment 169926
Attachment 169927

Details and pictures here as they happen, slowly. Parts are on order.
https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/425984-does-anyone-have-spare-radiator-fan-pulley.html#post4376540

Jesus, how did this happen