1972 corolla. Need HELP

[bikener]

My dad recently gave me his 1972 corolla for doing some work out at the farm. He parked the car about 20 years ago after he bought his pinto and it has never been touched since. I looked under the hood and everything seemed to be in good condition. The oil level was good and the rad was full. My dad said it ran perfect when he parked it. (well it should have with only 66 000 original miles) The windshield and driver side window were shot out about 3 years ago so a considerable amount of the interior is wrecked. I am wondering how to get the engine ready to try and start it. My dad told me to fill the engine completely full with diesel to lubricate everything and then try to manually turn the engine over. How do i manually turn the engine over?? Any info would be appreciated.

[Zembonez]

What a cool find! You are smart to prepare it before trying to start it.

Has it been turned over any over the years or was it just parked and forgotten? At any rate, all rubber lines and brake parts will be goners. The fuel tank is probably full of rust barnacles. The same might be said for the cylinder walls. I'd want to take a bore scope and look around inside the cylinders before I did anything. (even before trying to turn over the engine).

I'm sure more folks will chime in. Good luck.

[bikener]

Thanks a lot for the advice. If I drained the gas tank completely and put new gas in it, would that be all i would have to do to the fuel system?? Or would there be other fuel lines and such that would be in need of attention?

[piso]

well if theres stuff in the tank you might want to drain it and then take it to a shop and have them steamwash it out

[4agetercel]

to turn the crank manually you have to turn the bottom pulley(the biggest one), should be a 17mm or 19mm bolt, 1/2" wrachet or johnson bar should do it, those engines dont usually seize, but you never know, i Had an old 4ac that sat in a 83 corolla for 18years and the crank still turned nicely, yeah pretty much anything rubber is yukered, I'd say the engine is due for some "freshening up", valve seals etc...