1975 Mercruiser 302 after 20 years of sitting

[VE8EV]

Make sure you take the fuel filter can off and dump out the 'what used to be gas' if there is any in there.
Disconnect the wire to the ignition coil and crank it with the plugs out for 30-40 seconds to prime the oil pump and push some oil around the block.
After that stick the plugs in, hook the coil back up, pour a shot glass of gas down the carb and see if it starts.

No comment on the blower/no blower, use good judgment at all times. Watch it like a hawk after it starts for gasoline leaks around the carb and fuel pump.

You have the drive off or water muffs on it, right?

Good luck!

 

[nitedmn]

Haha it'll probably be Sunday before I can give that a try!

I did get the fuel tank out of the boat, had my first run in with fiberglass, about half the tank has some well I'd call it pretty poorly done fiberglass. Tank seems to be in good shape, tell me if my plan for it is wrong but I'd like to sand it all down and give it a few coats of rustoleum paint to seal the metal up (and repair any holes prior to this of course) and run some sort of tank cleaner through it.

My dad did this with his boat (now my boat) many years ago. Clean the tank out and had the inside of it coated with something (I believe it was some kind of plastic) to prevent it from leaking. Several years later it leaked, in a big way, while it was stored in his garage. Since the tank was in the bow all the gas ran through the boat and caused a lot of damage to other things (like all the foam under the floor). If your tank is leaking or has any signs of rust inside it (I'm sure it does), I would replace it.