I had a '52 parked in my driveway which I had not started for 15 years. It ran great when I parked it. I put some new gas in the tank, cleaned the points, charged the battery, and it started and purred like a kitten as soon as gas made it to the carburetor.
If I did not know the history of this engine, I would not have gone that route however.

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