Storage Concerns

[mrman5917]

After a lot of debating, I think I have decided to push my tear down up a bit. I was originally going to start tearing the old guy apart in March when the current registration expires. But, with the weather around here likely heating up quite a bit by then, I would have wasted all the good "garage" weather for the off chance that I would actually be able to get some good driving time. It seems we go from really hot or really cold and rarely in between.

So, If I end up starting my tear down during the December/January holidays, I'll hopefully have a frame ready for blasting/painting in February.

But, that got me thinking, the body on this jeep is rather rusty, more so than I originally thought when I bought it (dirt, mud, and grease hid a LOT of rust apparently). With the relative lack of consistent and quality mechanical work done on the Jeep, I'm sorta worried about my Engine. I plan on putting the engine back in after a rebuild once the rest of the drive train is ready, but depending on funds that may be a year or more down the line (as much as I hate to say it).

So, what precautions can or should I take when it comes to removing the engine and storing it in the garage while it awaits its turn to be put back in? Obviously all the liquids will be well drained, open holes temporarily plugged, etc. but what about rust in the water jacket or seizing of various parts? I've yet to find out if the engine has ever been rebuilt, and judging on the condition of much of the other "repairs" done, I'm sure if it was it was due to either it breaking completely and/or wasn't done very well.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Carls_jeep]

If you can still turn the engine with the starter then a compression test is in order. If the engine shows about 100 psi comp on each cyl. then your ok there. If you decide to not rebuild the engine then pull the plugs and squirt a good amount of oil into the cylinders toward the pistons and then turn the engine over with the starter for 15 to 30 seconds to spread the oil around. Then put the plugs back in and cover all the openings and put the engine aside.

If you decide to use it or rebuild it the engine will be ready.

[mrman5917]

Thanks Carl,

The Jeep is currently in running order. It has a slight miss when cool, but other than that runs pretty well.

Should I do anything about the water jacket rust to keep it from progressing farther, or is that just one of those things that just happens?

[Carls_jeep]

Other than keeping an antifreeze mix in the block I don't know any way to keep surface rust from forming. Covering the openings would help. I doubt you will have much trouble though.

[mrman5917]

Thanks Carl, puts my mind at a little more ease.

[macrisel]

I have to agree with Carl on the block storage.  Whenever I store an engine, I always drain the block as much as physically possible.  Then I run straight antifreeze through the block and depending on how long and during what season of the year it is going to be stored, I may leave the antifreeze in.  I get a little paranoid on a block freezing a cracking.....

A lot of the old timers in my area swear by using "Marvel Mystery Oil" to coat the cylinders for storage.  I have always just used regular oil to protect the cylinders and never had any issues.  If your compression is still good and you don't store the engine very long, make sure you have the garage open when you start the engine again for the first time...

Finally, check and double check to make sure you have all your holes plugged for storage.  Insects, especially dirt dobbers, love to get in blocks and make their home and clog up things.  Be wary of using paper towels or rags to plug hole also.  Mice enjoy shredding this material and using it for nests, leaving your block with an open hole.

Good luck!

[mrman5917]

Luckily I live in a very dry climate, and most of the bugs are your average cricket or spider.

I'll certainly get it as empty as possible, and I'm hoping it won't take me too long to get to the point where I can get the engine rebuilt and back into the frame. If I'm doing my estimations right (which my wife and I have very different numbers on my track record with estimations) I'll probably end up spending as much time on the body side as I do the drive train side, so hopefully the time between tear down and rebuild won't be nearly as long as the whole restoration.

What would be a good thing to fill the holes with?

[Carls_jeep]

Try to find those plastic plugs that come on the end of pipe fittings and lines, they come in many sizes. You may find them on line some where. If the hole is a pipe thread us a pipe plug. You can use Duct tape on the water pump inlet and water outlet on the head.