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Engine Storage Preparation

PushBackJack

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Does anyone have advice on long term storage of an engine. I bought a built 440 for my Coronet but won’t be doing the install for a year or better. Someone my dad spoke to mentioned completely filling the motor up with oil including the intake...not sure how much oil it would take but seems that it would be quite a bit. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!
 
Where will it be stored? Inside, Heated or not? out side, in the car? Parked on Dirt or pavement? Full sun ar under a tree? It all makes a difference. Sounds like it is completely assembled?

Put it on a stand. Remove the rocker arms. Put a cup of oil in each of the cylinders through the spark plug holes. Roll the engine Sideways and upside down on the stand to get the oil all coating the cylinders. Do not try to turn the crankshaft with liquid in the cylinders.

later you can install rockers arms and remove plugs and tilt it on its side to let oil run out of plug holes.
 
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Don’t wrap it in plastic it may keep the dust off but it will draw any moisture from the air and rust everything on the inside of the engine especially a fresh cylinder wall
 
Valve springs do not wear out sitting compressed. They only wear out being cycled so there is no need to remove pressure from valve springs for that reason. Keep it in a dry place and rotate a little by hand every month. That's all you really need for 1 year. If you want extra insurance, remove the rocker assembly to keep hydraulic lifters from sitting compressed. Sometime they can end up sticking.
 
I said to remove rockers so all valves would be closed and roll it over to get oil everywhere.

if it was running you could use fogging oil.

We really need to know what the storage environment is for an accurate plan.

I’ve had. bare metal Sitting in my shop for years and zero rust on it. I don’t worry about storing anything. Depends on your storage environment.
 
If it's still run-able, you could Fog it, then just drain the gas from the carb.
 
Is the engine "new" ? Like just built and not run, no coolant or oil in it ? No manifolds installed yet ?
 
Where will it be stored? Inside, Heated or not? out side, in the car? Parked on Dirt or pavement? Full sun ar under a tree? It all makes a difference. Sounds like it is completely assembled?

Put it on a stand. Remove the rocker arms. Put a cup of oil in each of the cylinders through the spark plug holes. Roll the engine Sideways and upside down on the stand to get the oil all coating the cylinders. Do not try to turn the crankshaft with liquid in the cylinders.

later you can install rockers arms and remove plugs and tilt it on its side to let oil run out of plug holes.
Where will it be stored? Inside, Heated or not? out side, in the car? Parked on Dirt or pavement? Full sun ar under a tree? It all makes a difference. Sounds like it is completely assembled?

Put it on a stand. Remove the rocker arms. Put a cup of oil in each of the cylinders through the spark plug holes. Roll the engine Sideways and upside down on the stand to get the oil all coating the cylinders. Do not try to turn the crankshaft with liquid in the cylinders.

later you can install rockers arms and remove plugs and tilt it on its side to let oil run out of plug holes.
Reply: it is indoors but not heated, out of the car on a concrete floor of a garage. It is completely assembled.
 
I like to remove (or loosen) the rocker shafts to keep the valves closed. Less atmospheric exposure for the cylinders.
 
It would be good to pick it up off the floor, the concrete has moisture. Can you put it,on an engine stand? Or up on top of 4-6 pallets?
 
Given the 5000 miles and environment. I’d just loosen the rockers so the lifters relax and put it on a dolly to be able to roll it out of the way. Oh, and put a little sta-bil in the bowls, like a 1/2 tsp. I’ve started engines that sat for 20 years with nothing at all done special and been fine. Worst part is the carb getting corroded.
 
The unheated storage is what can lead to moisture in the engine. The hot , cold cycles in weather.
Only sitting inside for a year you should be ok with pulling plugs and a few squirts of oil then rotate.
I would prob waste a intake gasket set and have the pump shaft removed so you can also rotate the oil pump oiling the inside also.
Make some exhaust covers , pull the carb and store inside and make a cover plate for the intake top.
Like posted get it off the floor.
Spin it , oil it , couple times during the year.
Jmho
 
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