was it originally a petrol or diesel?

Been to buy parts recently for my 1976 88" and was given a load of parts that do not fit the car!

Turns out that based on my reg no. the computer said it was a diesel.
Is there any checks i can do to find out what engine it would have had from the factory?

Have you got the plate on the bulkhead which says the chassis number, should have it on there, heres the one on my '76 diesel



Also the chassis numbering differs between petrol and diesel so researching that will help, in fact I'm sure there is a website which lets you put the vin number in and it'll tell you how it left the factory

In fact here is one where you can decode it yourself
Decoding your Land Rover VIN Number

mine is diesel but according to the plate and chassis number it started life as a petrol, I think a fair number of petrols were converted to heavy oil for economy, its rarer for a diesel to be converted to petrol though.

Count the leaves in the front spring - diesels have 11, petrols have less (9 I think?) due to the lighter engine.

Always possible that the springs have been changed too though so not a definitive test...

Look at the bulkhead just under the bonnet level near the center,if diesel before there will be screw holes to fit a fuel filter unit. Put up some pic's ?

will do this in a second