[dmac]

If you can't turn it by hand with the plugs out, don't try to start it right off. If it turns pretty easily, leave the plugs out, disconnect line to carb or even to the fuel pump, change the oil and filter, and refill, turn it over by hand a couple rotations, and then try to spin it with the starter with plugs still out.. See if you get any oil pressure, It wouldn't hurt to change the oil filter again after that. If it has been sitting a long time, you could have cracked plug and/or coil wires. I would isolate the chassis electrical from the engine and just run off battery- no alternator. Depending on luck, you may or may not have a bunch of sticky lifters, so removing valve covers is a good idea. A lcollapsed lifter and a suck open valve is not something you want to see. Turning over first by hand with the valve covers off can show valve/lifter problems.