Starter Fluid Seized Engine Temporarily

[underliner6]

I drove 6.5 hours to Utah a few days ago to pick up a one owner blazer. The original owner passed away 10 years ago and the blazer has been sitting in the daughters garage un-driven. When I arrived it was in the low 20’s and snowing quite a bit. The Blazer would not start. The daughter pulled out a can of starter fluid that was sitting on the front seat, sprayed it into the carb and the Blazer fired right up. Sounded ok, good oil pressure, etc. It did seem like the truck needed a tune up and carb adjustment but nothing that prevented me from buying it.

I get home and again it won’t start to get it off the trailer. I sprayed 2 quick sprays of starter fluid into the carb and she fired right up. I have never used starter fluid up to this point and followed the directions on the can which said practice moderation. As it’s sitting there idling it begins running weaker and weaker and dies. I attempt to crank it and it sounds like the starter wanted to move the flywheel but doesn’t have the guts to do it. I ordered a neutral safety switch and new starter online to see it if it would fix the problem. I started researching and find that the ether in starter fluid can wash the cylinders and pistons clean of oil causing it to seize. I then pull the plugs and they were all gummed and sticky. I spray anti seize into the holes and squirt oil in there to lube everything up. I turn the crank pulley bolt and without much effort “break” the motor free. As I slowly turn the motor, starter fluid starts trickling out of the spark plug holes. I am concerned the daughter had been spraying a lot of starter fluid every time she had recently started the truck before I bought it.

The motor was only seized for 24 hours but I am worried that it seizing in the first place caused damage. What can I do to prevent damage for first start up? I’m changing the oil, installing new plugs, and oiling up the cylinders via the spark plug holes the best I can. What else can I do?