I never start an engine once it has been put in storage. I change the
oil and filter, put stabilizer in the tank, drain the carb, make sure the battery is fully charged, etc. I put the battery charger on for a hour or two a couple of times during the winter just to make sure the it stays fully charged. Even though the car is in a heated garage, I also make sure that the coolant has enough
antifreeze in it to endure below freezing temps without cracking the block just in case the power goes off in the middle of January.
Wayne