Yup, that's a good suggestion.
OP: perhaps you know this already, but you have an IDI (Indirect Diesel Injection) engine, the pre-cursor to the TDI (Turbo Direct Injection) engines this forum focuses on. The link Andy's posted is for a forum that focuses on your engine type primarily.
Your engine has a fully-mechanical injection pump with throttle cable control (no computers or other sensors to worry about) so the good news is that in order to run all the engine needs is 12V to the fuel shutoff solenoid (sparkplug-looking thing in the center of the driver's side of the injection pump where the high pressure lines to the injectors come out).
In order to start (particularly in the middle of an Alberta winter) you need:
- a strong battery and starter that can spin the engine well
- at least three working glowplugs... ideally all four. You have to disconnect the copper buss bar to test them individually for current draw (8-10 amps each), and it's a tight fit, particularly the one behind the pump.
- proper timing... set using a dial indicator and special pump adapter. 0.90mm- 1mm is a good guideline, but there are specs specific to your model year.
- good compression... at least 350 psi for winter starting is a good guideline
- injectors that pop and mist properly
- an injection pump capable of drawing fuel all the way from the tank, thru the filter, and then into the engine (the one pump does it all)
- a fuel filter that flows freely
So, lots of stuff to check, and unfortunately fewer and fewer mechanics have the tools and know-how. That's where the forum and the service manual will help.
One last suggestion: resist the urge to use (or let a mechanic use) starter fluid. On your engine the fuel actually burns inside a alloy chamber insert that's fitted into the head, and the detonative effects of ether have been known to bust 'em loose... which then grenades the engine as it jams against a piston.