I am in the process of tearing down a L31 vortec motor. I am not ready to do anything with it at this time but need to diassemble it to get it home.

What do I need to do so that the components are still in good shape when I go to build it in a year or so? I will have heads, block, crank, water pump, pistons and rods.

Any advise on how to prepare the components for storage is greatly appriciated.

Murph

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Any machined surface, Crank journals , cylinder bores etc. coat with grease. Oil everything else and store in plastic bags. Put parts on shelves if possible not on concrete floor.

Murph,

Get yourself a spray can of LPS3 and spray everything with it. LPS comes in different viscosity and classes. LPS3 goes on like a spray oil and turns slightly waxy to stay where it's sprayed. I've used LPS3 for over 20 years on jet aircraft operating in temperatures from -80 to 115 degrees and all kinds of humidity. the stuff is really great. I have a 327 I built and ran for about an hour before pulling it. I drained the oil, pulled the pan and intake and sprayed every piece with LPS3. Last year I tore it down to the bare block and crank, recoated them with LPS3 and they've sat another year. Absolutely no rust on any piece. they sit in my garage which the temp can range from -10 to 100 degrees and sometime gets so humid the floor sweats. Like I said nothing has any signs of rust after sitting 4 years.

When you are ready to use your parts just clean them with mineral spirits (I use MEK on gasket surfaces to get them really clean, but it's pretty flammable and there are health concerns with MEK if not handled properly).

Dave

[This message has been edited by SY1 (edited 01-28-2003).]

i just dug out my old 327 internals a few weeks ago. they have been stored since 1994! i coated everything with engine oil, then wrapped them in an oil soaked towel, then double plastic bagged them. i put all the pistons/rods in one bag, and the crank in another. i did open them up maybe 5 years ago and sprayed WD40 on everything.
zero rust. its like the day i packed them up. good luck.

kip

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1969 camaro - roller 381/super t-10/3.50 posi 9"

1962 nova - 350/700/3.0 posi 9"/mustangII

I would install the main bearings and store the crankshaft in the block. This will keep it from bending from its own weight, and will also serve to keep from mixing up your main bearing caps. (It is very important that the main caps be reinstalled EXACTLY as they were removed.) I seem to recall, but not positive, that if you can't store the crank in the block, that it should be stored in the upright (vertical) position rather than lying on the floor (horizontal). People?

BPOS,

youre right about storing the crank on its end(vertical). at least this is what i've heard and done.

kip

Thanks for the info. I thought about the LPS3 but wan't sure it was the right thing to use. Since there is some experience out there I think that is what I will do.

The crank tip is great. I will try to store it in the block if this is the best way. If not, on end it will go.

Thanks for all the help.

Murph