Ford Repair: 1955 ford, 1955 ford customline, rachet

Question
I have recently purchased a 1955 ford customline 2dr that has been siting for 20  yrs in a garage. It has a v-8 motor but I don't know what size. It hasn't ran in those 20yrs and I'm afraid I might hurt the motor if I try to start it. I'm also afraid it might be locked up. Do you have any advice?

Answer
Kelly, what I would do first is pull the spark plugs and squirt some lubricant into the cylinder.  Let is sit for a while, then turn the motor with a rachet about 5 revolutions.  If it is seized up a little, this might help.  Then, fire it over.  If a motor is completely seized, there really is nothing you can do about it.  To go back for a second, I am assuming that you are going to thoroughly conduct maintenance that this motor will need, such as a tune up, oil change, etc.  I would also remove the valve covers and check the heads for any excessive wear.  Now, to help you find out what size the motor is, try to find a manufacturer's number stamped on the water pump.  I have had excellent results lately with narrowing down the size of the motor this way.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.  I hope this helps,  Jason