Newly rebuild: Store dry or initial run in?????

hessel · 06-14-2005, 12:29 PM

I would like to hear your thoughts on the following.

I nearly finished the rebuild of my 2.2 911T. While the car needs a body restoration, it's stored in my garage and is not drive-able. (Rust holes in rocker panels, calipers need rebuild, etc). I'm currently not insured as well.

This limits me in the way that I can't do the full running in procedure, I can't drive the car.

My instinct says that the engine is better off when primed with oil, maybe even with the initial 20 minute run-in period. But does it matter if I can't do the consecutive steps immediately?????

Of course I would like to hear it run, but would " Storing it dry" be the best option in this case or can I proceed with the initial run-in????

Thanks for helping me out!!!!!!!

Fred999 · 06-15-2005, 02:45 AM

I am no expert, but I just have the experience with my stored engine. I had it rebuilt and "greased up". But then I moved to the US for the last 12 years. The engine was never turned over until I got back to Oz and it was fine (did have to replace most of the plumbing, though).
So I vote you just set it up but don't fire it up until you are going to run it in and use it. If you fire it up and don't run it you just introduce moisture into the engine.

Porsche_monkey · 06-15-2005, 07:18 AM

I posted the same question a few years ago. Concesus was to run it first to allow the seals to be warmed and lubed. They all thought it was less likely to leak later on if it ran before storage.

adomakin · adomakin's Garage

Im very interested in this thread for the same reasons as hessel. i don't think my car will be up and running as a driver for at least a couple of years but the engine will be built within the next 6 months. hmm....

Andy

hessel · 06-15-2005, 12:11 PM

I can see the point that if you run it, you might be forcing " Moisture" in the engine. But still I feel that prime the engine with oil and, like PBH said, heat all seals, to make them " seat", makes sense. Although you have used Assembly lube and oil, these are very small amounts.

It will take me approx 12 months to fix up the body.

Anybody else has some experiences with this? To be honest, I would love to hear the engine run after those months rebuilding it. But if storing it the best solution, then I have to wait.

Fred999 · 06-16-2005, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hessel
. But still I feel that prime the engine with oil and, like PBH said, heat all seals, to make them " seat", makes sense. Although you have used Assembly lube and oil, these are very small amounts.
(

Again, just my experience, but my engine doesn't leak a drop after storing for that time (it has about 650 miles on it over the last 6 months) - maybe I was lucky; don't know.

hessel · 06-20-2005, 12:49 PM

Sorry for having to bump this, but I'm desperate for some more answers. Don't want to do the wrong thing with a fully rebuild engine. These things a too expensive for that!!!!!

Thanks guys for your experience.....................

Eagledriver · 06-21-2005, 05:46 PM

You will have to be the judge. All we can do is give you our opinions. I think you should not run the engine until you can use it on a regular basis. Running it will do nothing for the seals except expose them to combustion products and water. Think about it--the seals were sitting in a package for months and now they are sitting for more months in your engine. They won't age more there than they did in the box. Once you run the engine they will be heated up and exposed to things and will start the aging process. As these chemicals work on the seals and dry out they will degrade the seals. The only advantage I can see to running the engine is to see if it runs.

-Andy

hcoles · 06-23-2005, 07:49 AM

I have read that some assembly lubes dry out over time making them not work well during startup after a long period of storage. You may want to check on that. Some brands e.g. Redline, advertise to have some improvement re. this issue.
-h

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

I finished a total rebuild on my 70 S engine in May of 1995 in San Jose, CA. The engine was not installed in the car and started until mid 1999 in Austin, TX!!

In the interim, the engine was assembled from MFI to SSI's, and spark plugs, had been initially turned over manually only, with small amount of oil & the assembly lube. All oil passages were plugged with plastic caps, the inlet & exhaust were sealed with racers tape, and the engine was palletized and boxed for shipment.

It has been running just fine, Only have about 2000 miles on it at this point, but the rings are seated, oil consumption is minimal, and it sounds and goes like a 906!!!