Engine that hasn't run for 20 years ...

[JustinMinor1000]

So I have a car that hasn't (Allegedly) run for 20 years ..

It has water (still at the top of the radiator)

It has oil

It's turning ..

What do I do .. Do I even try to start it ?

If I sell it people will want to have heard it running ? (on video obviously) Or will they ? Would they prefer it not to have been run and it can be taken to bits and cleaned before being run ?

[bmcecosse]

You should not have turned it without adding oil down the spark plug holes first - do so now ! Then prime up the oil pressure by cranking it (plugs out) till the oil light goes out - then fresh petrol (I doubt the fuel pump will work), clean and gap the points, new plugs - and give it a try! Highly likely the clutch plate will be 'frozen' to the flywheel. Sometimes if you get the engine up to full temperature and let it 'soak' - the clutch will come loose. Also tow starting with foot on clutch pedal sometimes breaks it free - otherwise - gearbox off or engine out.

[Packedup]

My advice:

Make sure the carb piston rises and falls freely
Check/ top up carb piston damper
Clean/ replace plugs, check leads, dizzy cap, arm and points for corrosion (clean/ replace)
Remove float chamber top, clean out any crud, and fill with fresh petrol.
Check oil level/ condition
Put a small amount of oil down plugholes
Fill oil filter (or silly housing if old paper element type)
Turn engine on handle with plugs out for a while
Check oil pressure warning light works, spin engine on key with plugs out till light goes out
Put plugs in.
Spin with choke off till warning light goes out (if the engine isn't firing at this point). When the warning light does go out, pull out choke and coax into life.

Others will no doubt have their own methods, and I can't honestly say I follw my own advice to the letter, but you should be fairly safe...

[JustinMinor1000]

You should not have turned it without adding oil down the spark plug holes first - do so now ! Then prime up the oil pressure by cranking it (plugs out) till the oil light goes out - then fresh petrol (I doubt the fuel pump will work), clean and gap the points, new plugs - and give it a try! Highly likely the clutch plate will be 'frozen' to the flywheel. Sometimes if you get the engine up to full temperature and let it 'soak' - the clutch will come loose. Also tow starting with foot on clutch pedal sometimes breaks it free - otherwise - gearbox off or engine out.

I only turned it 1 turn with a starting handle to make sure it would turn .. can that really do so much damage ?

[doobry]

I only turned it 1 turn with a starting handle to make sure it would turn .. can that really do so much damage ?

it will take a few turns to spread the oil around anyway so don't worry too much. best to turn it quite a few times by hand before turning on the starter in case anything is stiff.
Certainly agree to using starter motor with the plugs out until it builds up pressure.
The oil may have solidified in some places after such a long time, so I wouldn't run it too long as some oilways may not be flowing properly.

and I can't honestly say I follw my own advice to the letter, but you should be fairly safe...

same here
I have a tendency to get a spark, then chuck some fresh petrol down the carb and see if it will fire up!

[aupickup]

can not see it would do damage on just 1 turn anyway.

[Packedup]

can not see it would do damage on just 1 turn anyway.

If it was turned with sdome force on the handle, or on the key, then bore corrosion, stuck rings, etc might cause somewhat of a problem!

But that's worste case, in reality I agree with you, and like doobry I tend to just chuck some fuel in (I check for a spark later when it doesn't fire as I'm ever the mechanical optimist) and see what happens. Not yet broke anything that way, but I suppose there's always a first time.

[bmcecosse]

That's it - if the rings had corroded to the bores you may have broken them with just that 1 turn. Fingers crossed!