starting fluid, very detrimental?

what's going on is the car had been sitting for a long time so I'm thinking that the gas had evaporated and with the ambient temp being below zero that the batt might be way down so I figured that I might have just one shot to get it fired up. the radiator was down so I was able to add a fair amt of antifreeze & I absolutely need to get it circulated. Surprisingly on the 2nd try it fired right up. EDIT its 16 below zero right now so I will pop some caps today & see if I'm good. fingers crossed!!