Rebuilt engine ???

[Dick G.]

I would like to get my engine rebuilt and mount it in the chassis. Then I can put my body back on the chassis before winter and save some room in my shop. Question: How long can my engine sit without firing it up without harm. It may be a year before I am ready to start her up. Will I have to back off the rockers, etc.. Thanks Dick Gutman

[Bob R.]

Re: Rebuilt engine ???

If you check the archives there are many responses to this question. The assembly lube in the engine should keep for the year no problem. Make sure you block up all openings to keep the animals from making a home in the engine. When you are ready to start the engine use a drill to run the oil pump and circulate the oil before starting.

[Rob A.]

Re: Rebuilt engine ???

Bob,

I read somewhere to use grease, as opposed to oil to lubricate the rear main seal if the engine wasn't going to be started for a long period of time.

[Michael H.]

Re: Rebuilt engine ???

Dick,

Although it may not be absolutely necessary, I often wondered if there was a better way to prelube cylinder walls/pistons and all the other items inside a new engine that has been in storage. Running a remote oil pump prime system is ok but doesn't lube the cyl's and a lot of ugly things can happen to new parts that run for even a short time without lubricant.

If you add the five or six quarts of engine oil to the engine, then slowly rotate the complete engine one full 360 deg turn on your engine stand, that would allow oil to completely cover everything, including valve stems, rocker arms, pistons/cyl's/rings etc etc.

I've never actually tried this so there could be some reason why it ISN'T a good idea but I think it would work. Obviously, any open holes in the top of the engine would have to be sealed but since the engine has been in storage, I assume most of that has already been done.

I would also prelube to fill the oil filter and purge the oil system.

Comments???

Michael

[Steve L.]

Re: Rebuilt engine ???

Also make sure that every valve is closed. I had one valve open when I stored mine and the seats rusted.

Steve L.
73 coupe since new

[mike cobine]

Re: Rebuilt engine ???

If you are putting the engine together to sit for along time, then a little prep will go a long way.

Lube the cylinders with STP. It won't run off for a long time.

Squirt or spray a little oil down each intake port and up each exhaust port to coat the valves.

Seal the openings.

Then when you get ready to wake it up, prime the engine with an oil pump primer (or old distributor minus the gear.) Pull the plugs and spray in WD40 or a thin oil spray in each cylinder.

Hand crank the engine over several times to be sure all is free and moving.

Be sure the rockers are all adjusted and you have the engine ready to run before you fire it up. Water in, gas line installed, distributor set close, timing light attached, electric fan blowing in the radiator, and so on.

Then when you crank it, have the coil wire off. Crank it until you see about 20 psi on the gauge. Stop. Connect the coil wire and start the engine.

Keep the speed up to around 2000 RPM for 20-30 minutes and chaeck for all leaks. Adjust the timing and the carb and watch the temperature and oil pressure gauge.

Good luck and have fun.

[Mike McKown]

Re: Rebuilt engine ???

I have three engines sitting in storage right now. Have been for about five years. All I did was put masking tape across the exhaust ports to seal it. I also used a Plews oiler to squirt a little oil in the cylinders. If I were to start them today, I would prime the oil galleys while I rotated the engine a time or two and expect it to fire off with no problem.

If you want added protection, you can go to a marine dealer and buy an aerosol can with corrosion inhibitors in it just for this purpose.

I don't recall Chevy crate engines having any special start up instructions and some of those probably sat around 2-3 years.

[Michael H.]

Re: Rebuilt engine ???

Just got an email from someone that said I should be more specific in my description. When I stated,"turn the engine over", I meant "turn the ENGINE over". Like upside down. Not just the crankshaft but the entire engine assy.

If it's on an engine stand, this should be easy to do if the C/G is located near the center of the rotating head of the engine stand.

This is just about the only way to prelube items like wrist pins, valve guides, cylinder walls and several other items that would not receive oil until the engine actually fires and runs because they are lubricated by oil splash, not pressure. Would be comforting to know that everything has a fresh coat of oil before initial startup, especially if the rebuilt engine has been stored for a long time.

[Eric F.]

Re: Rebuilt engine ???

Dick,

I too just had my engine rebuilt and it wont be fired up for about 6 months. One of the books on engine rebuilds that I read suggested leaving the distributor out and using a drill motor to turn the oil pump every so often to pump engine oil throught the engine. An old dist. shaft or brass rod with a notch cut in it would work well.