The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Storing an Engine for Winter

Hey y'all, got a couple questions.

First, I just pulled at 1986 292 out of a truck (it runs fine and the tranny is good.) I plan on cleaning it up and putting on an engine stand to store when the time comes I need to work on the engine that is in my truck currently. What do I need to do to effectively store it for a while in a unheated shed? Do I need to do anything to the tranny? Also the engine is caked with oil, grease and grime, any suggestions to clean it? would a power washer do more harm than good?

Second I'm not sure whether or not I'm going to drive my truck this winter. (I may not but still want to fire it up to drive it and tune it.) Any suggestions as to what to do with it? It will be stored outside in my driveway with a cover purchased from lmc truck.

Third, I'm waiting to get my gas tank back from the hot tank cleaning and need to know how difficult it is to seal the inside? Any pointers or tips? Or suggestions of what products to use?

You are all real helpful with any questions I ever have. Thanks!

Just a couple of pointers,, now I know it never get very cold in
Iowa, but drain all of the water out of the engine. remove plugs and pour Marvel oil in cylinders. try to turn engine at least once a month. As for the gas tank, when it get back from being hot tanked, plug up all the wholes the best you can (waterproof)
and then pour a mixture of one gallon of meritic acid with one gallon of water. slossh arround the acid will eat the remaining rust. leave for a day or two, slooshing ever few hours. when done, pour it out and pour in one gallon of water mixed with baking soda to kill the acid. let completely dry for a week before puttin any sealer in.

Yup a little oil in the cylenders for the motor and rotate once a month on the stand should do just fine I wouldnt put it in bag or anything since it will be in a unheated environment, also I wouldnt clean it it with anything right now with winter as close to hand as it is...that grease an grime wont hurt anything an will keep the moisture away while it sets in the shed.
As for the Trans I would top it off to the brim with gear oil as much as she will hold..so it will isolate the innards from temp changes and the sweating that will happen in the shed durin the winter if there is oil in there condensation cant get to the gears,forks an bearings.
Just my 2 pennies.
Tim

The only other thing to consider is those pesky little critters.
I'd close up any holes, duct tape is easy, to keep the mice out.
Those darn things will build a nest anywhere they can get in.
They chewed thru the bottom rubber door seal on my garage door to get into my garage.
I'd let the grease stay on the motor,prevents rust.
Marvel is great oil but very thin, I can't help but wonder if a heavier oil would cling to the cyl. walls better.
I know when I oil up my Rotovator for storage, after it sits there is a very thin coating left on it.
I'm not saying to nix the Marvel idea, I just wonder.
Dan

A friend who ran a salvage yard had a slick trick for long-term storage of the engines he removed before scrapping a body. He drained as much oil from the crankcase as could run out of the drain plug in a minute or two, then he would turn the engine upside down. The residual oil will run around the pistons, and enough of it will creep past the rings to keep the combustion chambers oiled slightly. Give the intake and exhaust manifold openings several layers of duct tape to keep moisture from circulating in and out of the cylinders with open valves as the engine heats and cools. On startup, the engine will smoke heavily for a few minutes, but there won't be any rusty cylinders or stuck valves.
Jerry

a sealer that was recommended to me by a radiator/tank pro is damon red-kote