Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1979 350 chevy engine/ 1962 Continental, 350 chevy engine, power steering hose

Question
My dad has me heading a project to fix a 62 continental with a 350 engine. Problem: I don't know anything about engines. The car was running 2 weeks ago and now the power steering hose busted and the car wont run. The car had a hard time staying on when started and it's just an overall mess. Are there any basics I should know, or resources you can recommend?

Answer
hi, ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO RE-DO THE CAR AS IN FIX IT ALL UP. THAT IS GRTEAT .
iF YOU SAY IT WAS RUNNING BAD PRIOR TO THE HOSE BUSTING AND i GUESS THAT YOU HAVE POWER STERING FLUID ALL OVER THE PLACE, i THINK IT MIGHT NOT START AS YOU COULD HAVE FLUID IN THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP OR ON WIRES AND THEY COULD BE SHORTING OUT, AS YOU SAID IT WAS RUNNING 2 WEEKS AGO -WAS IT RUNNING GOOD? IF SO YOU HAVE SOMETHING WRONG - IF IT WAS NOT RUNNING  good -IT COULD NEED A MAJOR TUNE UP OR A LOT OF THINGS BUT THE FIRST THING IS TO CLEAN UP THE MOTOR GET ALL OF THAT FLUID OFF OF EVERYTHING AND REPLACE THE HOSE AS YOU SAID IT BROKE AND IF IT WENT ALL OVER IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE PRESSURE LINE  AS THAT WILL SQUIRT ALL OVER. YOU SHOULD GO TO A BOOK STORE AND LOOK FOR A BOOK FOR THAT YEAR CAR ,i.e. CLINTONS , OR A REGULAR car book that has all of the stuff you shall need in it. you will have to get it to where the car can start when you want it and run good prior to doing anything else. as you will just waist your money.
but please do not worry about asking me stuff as I will be only glad to do it  ok.and as far as cleaning the engine off get a few cans of (gunk) and be shure to cover the carbarator and dist. cap. and wires- dont get (any) elect. stuff wet or gunked as it could hurt it. get help from someone if you can. if needed ok it is much more fun and a lot eaisier to work on a clean motor than a dirty one.
bigw45@aol.com