Have had a 351 cleveland and FMX gearbox offered to me for $1000. It has been sitting around under cover for the last 2 years and has done under 200k. Is there any precautions i should take before staring it as i don't want to do any interior damage to it.

maybe just pull the coil lead off and crank it over to get oil pressure up first, then replace the lead and start it

my xr 351c has sat for 5 years years before and it started and ran no probs, i never bothered getting oil pressure up first

Pull all the plugs out, spray some WD40 down the holes, make sure there is oil in it, and wind over for 30secs at a time, wait 2 mins inbetween winds....do this till oil light goes out.
Then refit plugs and see if it starts.....