yes, blinking light must have meant bad glow plugs.
Tip on coating them with penetrating oil very helpful. Went in easy, especially considering access problems.
To put the little tip-nuts on, I used 1/4 inch drive, with universal elbow, and used grease to keep nut in socket. made screwing in the little tip nuts easy. Was impossible to do with my hands.

thanks for all the help.
wilb