Leaking fuel out of thermostat - 1987 300D turbo

[a2t]

Changed the fuel pre filter today and now the thermostat is dripping diesel fuel on my 300d turbo 1987.

Since its about summer, think I can just bypass the thermostat and go straight to lift pump? The part costs $130 and Id rather not spend the money on a car with 250k miles on it. Maybe if theres a metal version somewhere I Id be more inclined to spend the $. Is this common problem, and is there one from another model I can scout for in the wrecker yards?

Second question - this is first time changing prefilter and main filter. It took me 2 hrs of cranking to get this pig started again. I especially like the line in the manual that says the system bleeds itself. Yeah just dont plan going anywhere for a few hrs and have some good jumper cables. Is there some trick to bleed the fuel system so it starts in a reasonable time? Seein how
Im going to have to open it all back up again...fun.

Thanks

Paul