Finally I got my 1957 292 3/4 ton running and out of the way.

Well I have no one Ford truck style I own. But the next one in the shop is my 49 M47. It has been idle since the 70's. I bought it this last year because it has a great body and complete but was amazed to learn the 239 turns over perfectly fine when directly hooked to battery. This was after pouring a combination of diesel/oil in each piston.

Anyways just wondering what you all figure what my first step should be, I don't want to get overexcited and go for a instant fire.

I also own a running 51 grain truck and a ROUGH 53 3/4 ton. See my gallery.

 

Do a compression check, pull the fuel line off at the carb, change filter if it has one, and see if its pumping fuel, check to make sure its moving oil (I would change the oil also.), pull the dist cap and clean and set the points and gap and install new plugs.

 

A compession check. A motor that hasn't ran for years will show no compression. Right even if valves are closing perfect compresion probally won't increase till running, stop me if I'm wrong.

 

You should have some, maybe not much. A cyl with zilch will indicate a stuck valve.
Pot NO MORE THAN a teaspoon of light oil in the cyl that is showing low comp. If it increases, most likely its cumbed up rings than should loosen up with running.
Stuck valves; get some Marvel Mystry Oil (MMO) into the cyl. let soak for a few days, turn engine over WITHOUT spark plug in. replace spark plug turn over by hand. DON"T force the engine to turn if it feels stuck, remove plug and see if there is too much oil in cyl.
If the valves still stuck, remove intake and work valves from the inside.

Ask more questions as needed, batteries not included.