Lots of good recommendations in here.
Since you will need to have the starter to be fully functional in the end, I would start there. Big, clean cables, fresh battery, pull the plugs, let the starter turn it over for you. If it won't do it, you have some disassembly and trouble shooting to do, but at least you got the starter system taken care of.
Carl


1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission