I have enjoyed starting a few motors up, after they have been stored for some years. Some of the tips I have gathered are:
* change the oil, so it lubricates the engine without damage, if you get lucky and it starts. a cheap insurance.
* don't use a synthetic oil, unless you add a ZDDP additive.
* change/inspect/add a fuel filter, in case the gas tank has rusty crud in it.
* replace fuel before starting, if over 5+ years old.
to give it a go:
a very simple method is simply to crank the motor (without the primary coil wire, so it will not start) until the oil pressure light goes out, or the oil pressure gauge begins to climb. When things are working properly, the oil pressure climbs after only 5-10 seconds of cranking.
If you're really worried about lubrication, or if the motor has sat for 10+ years, you may want to remove the distributor so you can insert an oil priming (5/16 hexagonal) shaft, and prime the engine manually operating only the oil pump using a power drill.
If you're even more worried or concerned about lubrication, you can remove the spark plugs, and squirt a tablespoon of any (i've used marvel mystery tranny) oil into the cylinder through the spark plug hole. This is a great step if the motor seems seized and won't turn over by starter motor, alone. Be sure to reinstall the spark pugs, prior to cranking, lest you squirt oil all over your fender wells. If the motor is indeed seized, be patient, and wait days, not hours, between attempts to free her.
Then, once the oil pressure is up, you can connect the primary coil wire and attempt to start it.
There is more one can do, in preparation after a long store, but after 20+ years, there are several other problems to resolve, not just fuel going rotten. So my procedure is to give it a go, and resolve what I observe to be broken as it runs, or attempts to run.
