Suggestions to protect short block when storing outside?

[IDTag]

Have a 95 Cobra project car, engine is still in it but the heads are off. It's currently in my shop but am going to have to move it out to work on my dually... not enough cash to keep working on the Cobra right now. Anyway, I need to figure out the best way to keep the cylinders and block deck from developing surface rust over the winter when it's parked outside. Doesn't get very cold here but definitely rainy and humid so anything parked for any length of time gets damp.

Have read about coating the cylinders with oil. Can put the heads back on temporarily if it might help but the intake would still be off. Wrapping it would be a bad idea with the humidity but any other ideas?

 

[Daryl]

Hard to say, but if it were me, I’d ask a local motor shop in your area. So many variables with climate in your area. They should have enough experience dealing with same issue.

 

[ttocs]

oil would probably be your best bet and don't just stick it behind the shed and forget about it, take a look every month or so....

 

[duh09]

A cheap storage unit to keep it out of the weather would do wonders. Motor will usually fit on a stand in those tiny closet looking units.

Fogging oil is a good solution for the cylinders if the bottom end is still in it and you can slap the heads on and throw some plugs in it to keep it in the cylinders. Slap the pan on it, dump a few gallons of oil in it to drown everything in the bottom end, it’ll probably be ok.

 

[RAU03MACH]

Coating with light oil cylinders crank pistons ros
Machine shop engine bags
Same with heads

 

[Terrorist 5.0]

Fill up a kiddie pool with 10W-30 and place the motor in.

This is a joke that popped up in my head when I saw this but if you can muster up the money, it would probably work perfectly and that short block wouldn’t ever get the chance to rust.

All seriousness though, oil is really the only way that will work well, and don’t be afraid to go back and reapply every once in a while.

 

[lwarrior1016]

I have used axle grease on cylinders and surfaces before. It’s thick and keeps moisture off. But it’s a bear to clean everything afterward.

 

[96blak54]

Its gotta be grease if you dont want rust to develop. Itll be a job cleaning but i ensure to you no rust. An oil coating is good for a little while. Its the rapid temperature changes outside that will cause the rust. As temp increase and the block is still cold, condensation develops, washes oil coating, just wont hold up over a long period

 

[95opal]

A cheap storage unit to keep it out of the weather would do wonders. Motor will usually fit on a stand in those tiny closet looking units.

Fogging oil is a good solution for the cylinders if the bottom end is still in it and you can slap the heads on and throw some plugs in it to keep it in the cylinders. Slap the pan on it, dump a few gallons of oil in it to drown everything in the bottom end, it’ll probably be ok.

^^^^ this, you can get fogging oil at any marine supply shop.