Have you done a compression check? Have you checked for functioning glow plugs? Do those before pursuing the fuel problem. You could check the fuel problem by putting a hose into a soda bottle filled with diesel and connecting it directly to the lift pump. This would exclude most of the air leak possibilities. You would need to lead the return fuel into the soda bottle also if you wanted to run it that way for a while.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13