engine storage

[dave lfc]

hi everyone I have just bought a spare engine for my van.its a 1.9 dg engine and was just wondering what the best way to store this and make sure it will not seize or anything like that,cheers dave

[pionte]

you want to stop any moisture from entering the engine, so bung up any holes, obviously depending on what is still attached to the engine will determine what holes are left ! spray some oil down the bores then re fit the plugs, not too much ! I have used this stuff before http://www.acf-50.co.uk/motorcycle.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; to protect my motorbikes, may be a good idea to coat the outside of the engine . If possible store inside the house, preferably under the bed or somewhere where the wife wont see it... failing that, not in a damp garage or shed !! Some people recommend turning the engine over by hand every few months to stop the valve springs from becoming compressed for too long, you will need to remove the plugs to do this.

[itchyfeet]

Wbx needs filling up with 50%antifreeze and bleeding, been thinking about this myself, need enough pipes to be able to do it and cap them off
Need a waterpump also i think as thats hard tp cap off without

if you dont the head studs will just rust away

[dave lfc]

everything is still on the engine,alternator,carb,dizzy,fuel pump,water pump,exhaust,i have taped up all the relavent fuel holes and wotnots.put bags over alternator,dizzy,carb and taped them up.my only concern is this is going to be left outside 9 inches from the ground with 3 waterproof covers and a coulpe of cotton sheets to suck up any moisture and then wrapped around it.would a dusting of wd40 all over the engine be any use?can wd40 or a silicone based spray be sprayed into the bores were the sparks go?could knock a box up to put it in as I haven't got a shed or storage.cheers dave

[weimarbus]

It really needs to be protected from frost, I bought a 2.1MV engine to rebuild and found out after all the effort that it had been badly stored and one of the cylinder heads had cracked through the water jacket due to residual water freezing and expanding, fortunately it was able to be repaired by TIG welding but only after a week of tears wondering where the leak was and then stripping it again, wbx gasket sets are not cheap

[itchyfeet]

.put bags over alternator,dizzy,carb and taped them up.my only concern is this is going to be left outside 9 inches from the ground with 3 waterproof covers and a coulpe of cotton sheets to suck up any moisture and then wrapped around it.would a dusting of wd40 all over the engine be any use?can wd40 or a silicone based spray be sprayed into the bores were the sparks go?could knock a box up to put it in as I haven't got a shed or storage.cheers dave

Yes knock up a box with a waterproof top ( use shed roof felt) like a mini shed and put vents in the sides, the bigger the better, then take the bags off the dissy and tie a cloth over the carb, you need this to breath as it would if it was in your van, wrap it up in plastic will hold moisture in, the oposite of what you want, take the lid off the box once in a while and check it, turn it over

Better still look fir a second hand shed off gumtree.

no comment on the coolant? i see people advertising 'wbx engine worked fine when removed stored an a shed for 5 years'
i think surely its rusted inside out?
i think it needs filling with coolant, hard to do i know but look at this...

[dave lfc]

thanks for all your advice fellas,cheers dave