where do i start?

after sitting for a year, my 71 scamp started right up, however i had no brakes.
i checked all fluids before cranking, full resevoir of brake fluid, any tricks or hints please?
thanks in advance

Bleed everything. Start at master first

Drums? Make sure shoes are adjusted and that your pedal stroke isn't taken up just pushing them back out

Also if power brakes, make sure the adjuster rod inside the booster is out and making contact on the master cylinder piston.

My dads van has had a soft pedal since he put it back together, 4-5 inches of pedal travel before any braking happened.

Just last week I was helping him look it over. Found that threaded rod was about 1/4" too short! He had no idea that was a point of adjustment, or that he needed to check it!!

All the answers and no questions.Did the brakes feel and work normal when it was parked?If they did then adjustment would mean nothing.Does the pedal come up when you pump the brakes?Id almost have to agree a bad master and or a blown line if they dont pump up.Typicallly a wheel cyl will freeze from sitting making a grabby brake.It would be a good idea to check them also anyway.Rocky

I have a similar issue...too much pedal travel. How do you check/correct this?

start by inspecting all related hardware - lines, connections, all wheel cylinder and master for any kind of leaks. check for good 'travel' at the cylinder. if the hardware checks ok then, as Rocky stated, start at the master and start bleeding everything. typicaly if the master is failing you will be able to pump up the brakes and feel the pressure fall away as you hold the brakes on.

How do you check/adjust the rod engagement to the MC?

i believe they are referring to the rod that runs through the firewall and attaches to the brake pedal assembly. if you have the wrong rod it won't be immediately engaging the master cylinder. there shouldn't be any 'slop' or just a hair or so. if they are talking about the rod that's internal to the master, i wouldn't have a clue and would feel much better just getting another master cylinder.