LUVTruck.com

Before I start to ask this question, i know, i know, what i want to do is a BAD idea. But anyhow...


I'm about to buy a SBC 327 for $200 (2 bolt main). Complete engine, just disassembled. Now here comes the question. I don't have a garage or a shop. The engine will HAVE to be stored outside. It doesn't rain here...Ever. How would I go about storing the engine outside so I can work on it from weekend to weekend? This is my only option. Any advice?

Thanks
-Brandon

Find a nice place and block the motor up so it's sitting the right way and when you're not working on it wrap it up. A tarp, plastic garbage bags or whatever.

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2002 Lexus RX300
1998 Honda Accord
1977 Chevy Crew Cab Dually
1954 Ford F100
http://www.yvtruckclub.com/forum

I know it is humid there though. You might want to spray critical items with WD-40 or something to keep away rust.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

since you already know that storing outside is not a good idea, I'll share what I've done in the past. Some may think its over kill but theres nothing worse than tryin to scotchbrite rust out of your brand new freshly honed bores. You're also talking to a guy that spends no less than 2 hours vacuuming and sweeping the entire garage before unbagging a block that just came from the machine shop.

There is some speculation that spraying your freshly honed cylinders with WD to keep rust away will also cause the rings to not seat correctly when u first fire the motor. I've never seen it happen but some swear it will cause this problem so I don't do it.. I would lightly apply 10w-40 oil in the bores wrap the entire motor with a low lint "blanket" or material to capture humidty trapped in the plastic trash bag you will put over your motor. Use a new bag. I wouldn trust that one you used to haul your laundry to the laundromat in etc. I would recommend bagging it at least twice and twist the bag severl times before folding it back over and tieing it off. During the winter, I was storing a motor in my garage and was afraid of the excessive moist air in there. i ran a space heater in the garage for a while to dehumidify the air. Wrapped the motor in a blanket, put a bag over it and then ran a hair dryer into the bag to put dryu air in before closing off the bag. if possible i would keep an old oil pan bolted to it. Keep the tops of the cylinders sealed off by duct taping plastic over it or just duct taping over the bores. Store it in a shed off the ground (on a pallet or some blocks) and keep anything moist as far away as possible (wet rags etc.) keep it away from direct sunlight too as this promotes condensation. last but not least, pray (if thats ur deal) that the neighborhood kids dont find it and think its neat to take a stick and poke holes in your plastic bags

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1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

Thanks for the advice. It will only need to be covered during the week, because on the weekends, i'll be assembling it. Fortunately, there are no neighborhood kids. The closest kid lives over 1/2 a mile down the street. hooray for living in the country.