My dad's car had been sitting for over 4 years but is going to become a candidate for a restoration to being in driveable condition because it is has a rust free underbody and most of the suspension is in good shape (needs some rubber treatment) and has a manual trans rebuilt not too long ago. The engine was rebuilt less than 50,000 miles ago but overheated when one of my dad's employees was driving it. We moved it from my mechanic's shop because he has been getting so much business lately and didn't want it to be in the way.

This start was by my friend and was the first in over 4 years and was using the diesel from when it was parked. It knocks really badly but we were amazed it was even able to start at all. It does not smell like it is burning any oil or coolant and seems to have good compression so the damage seems to be not as bad as we thought and might not mean a complete rebuild. Parts for this engine are relatively cheap here on Pelican Parts so even if we went for a more complete rebuild, it would probably be under $1200 to do it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYI3Svupl8Y&feature=youtu.be

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

The engine is much more tolerant of overheating than most.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

yes i would not worry about the overheating

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1981 NA 300D 310k miles

The hard starting might be a few bad glow plugs (check resistance to gnd at connector) and you might need to leave them heating longer, up to ~30 sec when the relay clicks off. The glow lamp going out is just an advisory for when a new engine might start.

Diesel doesn't seem to go old like gasoline. I got a used engine off craigslist that had sat who knows how long and it started right up after priming. I then ran it off the fuel in my 1985 300D that had been sitting for 3 years awaiting another engine. As long as no water in the fuel to grow biological slime, diesel should be good for a decade. I wonder why the show the Living Dead (filmed around you) doesn't leverage that. They show gas engines starting up after sitting for 3 years, which is a stretch. An old M-B diesel with std tranny or old automatic that can be roll started could still start and any fuel you recover from semis would still be good.

The sound is hard to pin down. It could be something simple like a flexplate bolt hitting the block or a front engine component hitting a bracket (like alternator fan). If all they did is boil over the coolant, but didn't run out of oil, I doubt that would hurt a cast-iron block & head engine. The overhead cam would be the first to go from lack of oil, and probably from extended overheating, and that would be a fairly easy, cheap fix. As far as parts being cheap, your engine must be better than my 617.952 turbo. These aren't Chevy small blocks.

It's not quite as complex as the om617.952, one less cylinder and no turbo. It of course isn't as cheap as a chevy small block but again the parts offered here on pelican are pretty reasonable.
And it's the Walking Dead, filmed about an hour from here, but I have never seen an episode.

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.