my truck has been sitting and am trying to get it to run

I just inherited an 88 b2200 se5 from my grandfather. I used to drive the truck years ago. I stopped driving it because one day it stalled out on me and i couldn't ever get it to start or run again so my grandpa just put it out in his field. that was over 10 years ago.

SO... I am trying to get it running before i go crazy with the build of the truck. I don't know if the motor is good or bad. This is what I do know.

I just bought a brand new battery and replaced the battery clamps, the starter is giving me a hard click and all the interior equipment has power.
The truck has oil and coolant and is holding fluids fine.
The gas tank is empty.(my grandpa thought the tank got sugared years ago)

So from here I am no mechanic and am trying to learn so any help you can give me would be great.

Thanks for helping a bseries newbie

Welcome and you sure posted a tough one... sitting outside for ten years may have killed your build before you started. I'm going to guess your pistons are stuck.

I assume by "hard click" you mean it won't turn over when you turn the key.

You may need to un-stick the pistons, I'm no expert and I'm sure others will chime in but you could remove the plugs and put some transmission fluid in each cylinder and let it sit for a day or two then try to turn it over.

If you can't get it to turn over you will be looking at a new/rebuilt engine.

I'm sure Axel Breaker Earl has a few tricks up his sleeve and will post soon. Dan

ya it doesn't turn over. is there an easy way to know if the motor is toast? I am just trying to see if i can use this old engine or if i need a new one. I want to add gas to the tank since like i said it's dry but am scared to if it was tampered with. what do you think? should i drop the tank and clean it? or would that be pointless right now?

Yes a +1 with Dan's suggestion. Did you try turning the crankshaft with a breaker bar to loosen the engine rotation?

10 years of no movement. If there's time to work on the engine, take the head off and inspect the piston/ring conditions then go from there...

So i have been giving this some thought. I have gone back and forth on the whole idea of rebuilding or getting a new engine or just going with a completely different engine altogether like a Chevy small block or a ford 302. I know i have to make frame mods since I'm bagging the truck. That's why I was thinking of doing the bigger motor. I found rebuild kits online for about $300. Do you guys think I would be alright if I rebuild the motor myself? Or should I just take it to a mechanic and have it rebuilt? Just need some advice guys.

Thanks

You may have to take the head to be machined and checked. There is a old thread where someone rebuilt there motor without taking out the engine. You just need a repair manual ...

Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2

I rebuilt my engine only to be dis-appointed with having only 85 HP. If I had to do it all over again, I woulda shoulda done the Kia Sportage engine swap to begin with. Sure it is a little more work involved, but It is cheaper, because you can find a good engine from a wrecked sportage for less than what it costs to rebuild the OEM one.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.

It's been awhile since I last posted and unfortunately the motor is ceased. Thanks all for the advice and help

pour some marvel mystery oil in all the cylinders and let it sit for a day or so i bet that would free it up...it worked for me 2-3 time when i bought a couple junkers