I think you would find that arangement very restricting. Very much like
working on an engine in the bowells of a small boat.

On my first installation I left only 300mm between the alternator and an
adjacent wall. Every operation tightening and aligning alternator mountings
was a nightmare.

If you have the space, make use of it. As every shifting operation on the
Lister needs an engine crane, make sure you give yourself enough room to
manoeuvre one.

Another installation I decommissioned was a Startomatic in a
semi-underground shed. It was down 6 steps that were only 800mm wide with
walls on both sides. It took four of us, six hours with hoists, cables and
stout timbers to get that SOM (Start-O-Matic) out of its underground home.