Waking up an engine Options

[flippa]

I have to start by saying that I absolutely love this site!!! I had nothing but my Haynes manual when I first worked on these cars (pre Internet days). I am now fully addicted again; have the car I am restoring & 2 parts cars.

I am trying to decide which direction to go, and looking to you guys for some input. I have pulled a few engines, and have to decide which one I want to get one running for the Spring.

Here are my options;

1973 2.0 FI complete & unmolested, shows 78k miles on the odometer. It seems real clean but it has not been running since 1988. Car sat in a barn for the past 19 years (this one is still sitting in the car)

1970 1.7 with Weber 44's. The PO stated that he had it running a few years ago & decided to rebuild the carbs. He completely disassembled one of them & stopped there. I have the rebuild kit for them. THe engine seems real clean & the car had a bunch of mods done to it. Someone spent a bunch of $$$$ and time on this car and showed it lots of love (this is the car that is getting saved).

1975 1.8 with Weber 44's. Engine is kind of a rusty, crusty mess & does not turn free. It is complete, but the car sat outside & was a rotbox.

I am leaning towards getting the 1.7 running first as it seems to be the cleanest one and I have two sets of identical carbs to rebuild.

I would love to get the 2.0 going with the FI, but don't know where to start with it. All the parts are there but are over 33 years old. Is there a manual/book on how to test the various components, etc. The HE's are rotted beyond saving, and have read here that 1.7/1.8 SSI's work on them. Would running this setup have any negative affects on a stock 2.0?

[boxstr]

After you verify the oil level is right. You could try starting first to see if it has a horribly loud knocking noise, that way you didn't waste a lot of time. You may say screw it and move on. But which ever path you take good luck.
CCL