First, get that rust off. Grab a wire brush, some sandpaper, or a power sander if you have one, and wipe it clean. Once it’s got a fresh surface, slap on some primer and paint to stop more rust from creeping in. Then you’ll need to dig into the engine bay. Check the oil, coolant, and all the fluid levels. Top them off or replace if they’re old. If the engine’s been idle a while, fill the fuel tank with fresh gas and maybe add a fuel stabilizer to keep it moving. Swap out any old spark plugs, clear out the air filter, and maybe clean or replace the carburetor or throttle body. Get the battery charged or replace it. After all that, start it up and listen—if it’s not running right, you might have to bump the timing or check the compression. Once it purrs, you’ve got yourself a beast that can rumble on the road again. Good luck, champ.

Sure thing. Grab a primer that’s meant for old metal—something like Rust-Oleum 41103 or POR 1-12S—those stick to rusted surfaces. And yeah, flip those coils, swap ‘em out if one’s fried, or just slap a fresh set on. That should stop the sigh and get that purr back. Good luck, champ.