rebuilt engine question.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2
From: gold coast queensland
rebuilt engine question.
I finished a full rebuild about 8 weeks ago on an engine but the rest of the car wont be ready for about 4 months. I can go in 2 directions. 1 start the engine early before the rest of the car is ready or just let the engine sit awaiting the rest of the build. I know crate engines sit for ages before being sold sometimes but i dont know what is best for it. I generally go find some big hills when running in an engine but i wont be able to do that obviously till the car is fully running.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,454
Likes: 328
From: Indy Indiana
is it in the car and all hooked up? then fire it up just for grins.. if on a stand then no.. too much effort.. no exhaust, timing, safe fuel source, gassing you out of the garage, police giving you tickets for noise...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Just bag it and pre-lube just before you get ready to start it for the first time. Cover the openings so they don't collect birds, bugs, and trash.
Bud2
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 4
From: Warrnambool Victoria
I'd go the other way. I'd put it on a test stand and run it in for the 20 min. Maybe put it on a dyno as well. THEN store it. I'd want to know if it's really ready to go before I go through the work of putting it in the car only to have to yank it out for some little item that was overlooked before. Mistakes do happen. Well they do to me - maybe you're immune. Even then, I'd put the drill on it to pre-lube it again before starting.
Either way, good luck.
Bud.
Either way, good luck.
Bud.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 341
Likes: 29
From: vancouver washington
I bought a 350ci engine from a guy that had it stored in his heated garage for 5yrs. It was built by a machine shop in seattle, oiled up and baged. All I did was pre lube the engine via the oil pump shaft and made sure there was oil preasure and oil to the rocker arms. No issues on start up and break in. That was 2 yrs ago and engine runs great.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Rod and main journals/brgs should have grease on them and will be ok. Cyls should have some protection. I use trans fluid - burns off easily on startup. Squirt small amount in each cyl then turn eng over by hand a few or several times and u will be good for years.
cardo
cardo
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,922
Likes: 839
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
lube it up , bag it and put an open can of freeze dried coffee in it as a desiccant . that will absorb moisture and keep the rust down. when you take your engine out it will smell good, just don't use the coffee afterwards