Running oddballs overseas. Latest arrival Renault Trafic Mk1

My parts order has arrived so I decided to work on the Renault again - and it's not going smoothly 

Looking at the conrods and access while the motor is still in the van I'm getting tempted to just fit new big ends, new top piston rings (the only ones I can change without major work), put it together and see what happens.
This engine is scrap (worn bores) but doing the work is keeping me out of mischief while I try to arrange a replacement

I found a couple of workshop manuals online, both seem to cover the common J8S and my related 852 engines.
The latest problem - refitting new big end bearings. The 2 workshop manuals I've seen give different torque values and to make it even more "fun" they are using a daN.m scale that I've never heard of.

Todays question :
Does anyone know the torque for big end caps on an 2.1D 852 engine (ideally Ft/lbs or Newton/Meters not daNm ).

On a more positive note I think I've found something that could be adding to my backpressure problem - and I wish I hadn't 
My feeler gauge set is 3mm thick - checking the original rings today is the first time I've found a gap more than that ! 
Is it ok to use 2 sets of feeler gauges stacked together or does anywhere sell extra thick sets?? 



Comparing the original (short) piston ring and the new (extended) version - the difference is noticeable.

I can measure the difference with a tape measure, no need for feelers or micrometers !

Hopefully the smaller ring gap will do something to reduce the backpressure

My new rings are supposedly pre-gapped for 86mm bores but if anyone has any suggestions I'll check'em.


The more I see the less concerned I am about experimenting on this engine to see what happens, I don't think it's possible my bodges will be worse than the last rebuild :worms

The postie also brought a new glowplug timer relay, a handy thing to have on a diesel and as the one one mine was forcibly removed (along with most if the wires under the bonnet) I now need to work out how to wire it up.
Bonus points for anyone who can explain the connections, the 2 large glowplug connections are obvious, I'm guessing the others are Earth, Ign-switched, and a relay between "Glowpugs on" and "Glowplugs off". It's a big expensive item so I'd like to know for definite rather than experiment and blow it up. It's a beast !



Service bits for the Nissan were in the same box so once I get the ownership papers through that will be going for inspection.

Fun times