Tips on storing machined block, head, crank over winter

[leftynridge]

Well I finished all the machine work for my rebuild about a month and 1/2 ago but do not plan to put everything together until spring. I would like to know what would be the best thing I can do to prevent any rust until then. I have soaked it down with wd-40, placed plastic around it, and put it in the house inside a box. I would like to think that I'm doing everything I can do to prevent rust but I would like to know if any of you have any other tips.

 

[MA70L-BJMVZA]

I did the exact same thing as you to store some engine parts, but wound up with surface rust on them. I think the WD-40 evaporated, leaving the surface unprotected. I switched to coating the parts with 30 weight engine oil, and have had no surface rust since that change. Good luck!
ul

 

[Chaingun]

+1 for the 30 weight, i thought i was the only one that used engine oil instead of wd40.

 

[3p141592654]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmoline

[fixed for Chaingun] or

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PET_film_(biaxially_oriented)

PS. [also for Chaingun] AKA mylar

 

[Chaingun]

So....basically you use an extremely hard to remove wax like substance wrapped in a retardedly versatile plastic? i must say i'm a bit confused lol, i am interested though in what type of boPET you'd use and how to remove the Cosmoline after it's been applied

 

[3p141592654]

Ask your granddad how to remove Cosmoline, or maybe its your great granddad. LOL

 

[PureDrifter]

or ask anyone who deals with old surplus arms.

 

[leftynridge]

Now are you guys just talking about the cylinder walls when it comes to coating with 30w oil. What about like the oil passages and coolant passages?

 

[Chaingun]

obviously you can coat the oil passages lol, TBH i've never though about the water jackets, usually put it on a rag and wipe it on, and a flush the cooling system when i finish building the motor

 

[jetjock]

Uh, heavy duty trash bag and vacuum. I'm also a fan of VCI products. Very effective and much easier to deal with than grease/oil.

 

[leftynridge]

Thanks for the advice guys. I thought I was doing just about everything that could be done to prevent rust but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. After all it would be a shame to allow $1600 worth of machine work go down the drain because I simply just didn't ask.

 

[3p141592654]

Although the grease is a pain, it is pretty much idiot proof. The plastic can get you into trouble if the wrong plastic is used, or if the humidity is not managed inside the bag. Standard plastic bags and such are often porous to water vapor, and a desiccant along with a humidity sensor tag is needed to ensure things remain under control. Hence the use of mylar, and vacuum packing. Just throwing it in a bag will likely not end well, especially if the temperature swings around.