Hello guys (and girls). Been gone from the forum for a while dealing with other issues while the Maverick waits patiently... I did finally get the 351W for the Mav . It's a marinized engine cast in 1974 according to the casting numbers. Trouble is, those "issues" are gonna force me to store the engine for a while, likely several months. What's the best oil to coat it with prior to storage? Have the heads and intake off but the internals - pistons, camshaft, etc., are still in the block...
I stored one with WD40 and it left a sort of varnish or film hardened on. I wouldn't use it personally. Trans fluid works good.
Yea, don't use WD-40 or anything that isn't just oil, imo. I'm not gonna defend this, but if the sole reason for storage is keeping rust at bay, and you aren't looking to store it for years. Putting your engine in a water-tight tub of some sort and then filling it with cheap cooking oil would have the same effect as anything else. I used to buy a lot of used industrial parts from a guy who would strip the machines down and put everything in tupperware filled with vegetable oil. Never had an issue and it cleaned off easy. The same guy would also store some of the grimier stuff in Ajax liquid dish soap. And that was always annoying. But his parts were good and cheap.
Gear oil... 90 weight is good. Or lucas oil stabilizer. Both will stick to whatever you put em on and stay for a long while...Then put a black plastic bag over the whole thing (Contractors bags work well) Tape the end shut and forget it till your ready for it...I have a 69 351 been sitting like that for 8 yrs now (On the floor in my tiny garage) No rust yet...
