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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 09:46 AM
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Default Engine Storage

I had my engine rebuilt, and don't anticipate installing it until spring.

Over the winter I want to put the rest of it on, water pump, intake, exhaust manifolds, etc.

It is sitting on an engine stand in my garage, which is unheated and can get pretty cold in the winter.

What should I do to protect it from surface rust forming? It is already painted but I am worried about the exhaust ports, etc. They are coated with oil right now but is that enough?

Should I wrap it up tight with saran wrap, or is it better to leave it open? Maybe put a bag over the whole thing and try to seal it up?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by hzz
I had my engine rebuilt, and don't anticipate installing it until spring.

Over the winter I want to put the rest of it on, water pump, intake, exhaust manifolds, etc.

It is sitting on an engine stand in my garage, which is unheated and can get pretty cold in the winter.

What should I do to protect it from surface rust forming? It is already painted but I am worried about the exhaust ports, etc. They are coated with oil right now but is that enough?

Should I wrap it up tight with saran wrap, or is it better to leave it open? Maybe put a bag over the whole thing and try to seal it up?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
condensation is your foe here...either wrap up everything now with some wd 40 used liberally and assemble in the spring or build it before it gets too cold and wrap the whole mill tightly and throw a thick moving pad over it all...kinda like winter pj's......you could just take it inside the house and build it in the living room and use it for a tree decoration...just a thought...good luck
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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 10:53 AM
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My engine sat for about a year before It was installed and running. A light film of oil on the bare metal and re-applied a couple times a month. I also sprayed a small amount of WD-40 in the cylinders and installed the spark plugs. I used duct tape to cover any other openings to keep dust etc out. I was concerned about it but it fired up and runs just fine!
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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 11:09 AM
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I also have an engine that I built over a year ago and am planning on initial start-up within the next couple weeks. A couple weeks ago, I had the pan off and wiped some oil onto the bottoms of the cylinders in order to lube them some. Would spraying WD40 into the cylinders not wash-away any residual oil? I can't see just squirting some oil in thru the plug holes, as it seems it would just pool on top of the pistons, wouldn't it?

Dave
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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 10:00 AM
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I have a partially built engine in the basement on a stand. I keep it wrapped in a big green plastic baggie, the parts are sprayed with WD40 and I also keep a large box of silica desiccant on the intake (which I got off of Ebay and which I redry once a month), this helps absorb any moisture in the bag.
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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by hzz
I had my engine rebuilt, and don't anticipate installing it until spring.

Over the winter I want to put the rest of it on, water pump, intake, exhaust manifolds, etc.

It is sitting on an engine stand in my garage, which is unheated and can get pretty cold in the winter.

What should I do to protect it from surface rust forming? It is already painted but I am worried about the exhaust ports, etc. They are coated with oil right now but is that enough?

Should I wrap it up tight with saran wrap, or is it better to leave it open? Maybe put a bag over the whole thing and try to seal it up?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
What is different about that assembled engine sitting on a stand or in a car in your garage?

Duct tape all the openings to keep rodents and bugs out.
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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by midyearvette
you could just take it inside the house and build it in the living room and use it for a tree decoration...just a thought...good luck
Doing mine in the Kitchen... better lighting!
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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by StingU2
Doing mine in the Kitchen... better lighting!
you da man!!.....i guess you already have built in benching with counter tops and a sink also.....beer in the fridge and hot dogs for the micro wave..
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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by midyearvette
you da man!!.....i guess you already have built in benching with counter tops and a sink also.....beer in the fridge and hot dogs for the micro wave..
Everythin right there... sure makes it handy!

Comeon over it is just a holler away from Ohio.. you can help (drink beer)!
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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 04:28 PM
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Here's the label GM had on the ZR1 engines that were built in 1993 for installation in 1994 and 1995 ZR1s.

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