What to replace on a stored engine

DougPhair · 03-01-2003, 08:48 PM

I recently purchased a 3.3 that has been stored dry for about 3 years. I plan to install and run this engine while I rebuild my current engine.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what in the way of gaskets I should replace prior to installing this engine?
Thanks

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

Tough question really, and it depends on how it was stored.. Yeah, seals and rubber can dry out, but if the motor was stored with oil in it, and it turns over well by hand, I would fire it and see what happens. provided there are no mechanical problems it's probably easier to just replace what needs fixin unless money is no object...

snowman · 03-03-2003, 06:26 PM

Very scary. That simple.

If is was a running engine and had oil in it it may be ok. Or not.

If it was a rebuilt engine it depends on what they used for lub when assembling it.

Pull the plugs, and circulate as much Fresh oil as possible by turning it over with starter. Try not to burn out the strater. Lite it off and see what happens.

My guess is that it will leak more than normal, in the best case, and worst case freeze up due to sludge built up somewhere. Maybe someone with more experience than I have could say more definetly.

DougPhair · 03-03-2003, 07:09 PM

The motor was stored dry (oil drained) for about 3 years. It was in perfect running order when dropped.
When I un-crate the motor, I am planning to put it on a stand and inspect as much as I can visually add oil and hand crank to get the oil moving. I don't know if this will show any obvious leaks, I somewhat doubt it will until the engine is "pressurized".
In any case I am planning to replace the head gaskets, but I am not sure what else might be suspect.
Thanks for the replys

snowman · 03-05-2003, 09:24 PM

If your going to break it down to the heads I would pull a couple of rod bearings and see what the crank and rod bearing looks like. I would go by what I found. IE a lot of varnish and stuff, break down the whole thing, keeping everything in place so it can be reassembled as it came apart. IF it looks good, replace the rod bolts and nuts for the ones you removed with new ones, add assembly lube to where ever you can, use new flywheel bolts if you removed them. IF you take the whole thing down, replace all the rod bolts, nuts, flywheel bolts. Why chance a $$$ engine for the price of a couple of bolts, plus new head gaskets. NEVER reuse any of these things. Many people do, but thats what causes engines to fail.