Is that how it is spelled? Anyway... I bought a '79 300D that hasn't run in a while (try four years!) and am having some trouble getting it going.

I have had it running for a few seconds - twice actually - but it just won't hold. Any ideas?

It has a radiator-hose "block" heater, which I am utilizing, and the glow plugs are good. I have it hooked up to a bottle with diesel purge for the fuel source, and fuel does appear to flow freely.

O.k., the compression is pretty low on two buckets, but I think there's enough pressure to get it to run (obviously, it wouldn't have done so already if there weren't).

Tomorrow I'm headed to Autozone to get a magnetic oil pan heater to help the hose thingy along. On that front, do those things get the coolant up to 80C? If not, what good do they do? If the coolant isn't over 80, then the thermostat stays closed, so where's the hot water supposed to go?

Jay.

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On the road, currently:
'83 300D (German spec.) 168k mi. - - Wolfgang (tucked snugly away for the winter!)
'87 300D 375k mi. - finally went over to "The Dark Side"
'87 300TD 225k mi.
Cannondale 66cm CAAD5 w/Campy/Jamis Aurora
Hujsak Custom Fixie/Landshark Track Shark Custom/Ahearne Custom 29'er