My motor 3.6/3.8 used to be new! 10 years later, how to store it without worrying?

[911heaven]

Hello everyone, as said, 10 years ago when I joined this forum I had a 3.8 freshly rebuilt motor out of an accident car. They crashed it rather quickly, so when I got the car I dismantled and have stored it ever since. 5 years ago roughly I had some camshafts put in by a good mechanic here (DC-2) and when he finished the job he even said… that motor is like brand new, almost no mileage. My dream project then was to go the Varioram intake and chip, as I was talked into by Timmons (steve?). I did buy the camshafts (dc-2), the bigger headers, with the stainless boxes from him then and still have them. I have the used Varioram. Since that time, about 5-6 years now since the cams were installed I haven’t wound the motor over, just stored it on a lift table inside.

Obviously, I have had too many projects going, 2 houses, 2-3 cars etc. I want to re-enter this project at some point, but I can’t do it immediately. I’m a bit worried about it, what to do to keep this motor from being damaged by lack of attention.

I have read some good threads on this forum about how to store an engine e.g. Grady Clay may he RIP. I have read about Magic Miracle Oil which is hard for me to import. My Japanese friend suggested filling up the cylinders with ATF which I almost did 2 years ago but didn’t at the time. Am I too worried? Will the motor be fine as is just stored well inside? The same Japanese friend said spraying CRC like WD40 down the spark plug holes is a no no. He said it will leave a residue ring that won’t come off easily.

Thank you for any expert opinions you all have. I trust my Pelican friends who always support me, despite any and all of my short comings.

All the Best,
Bernard

[KNS]

You want Marvel Mystery Oil, perhaps someone here can ship some..? There are alternatives to that, though. Sounds like you've read the threads on long term storage, I would follow the advice in those threads - what if things stretch out another few years? You'll wish you prepped the engine properly.

[jamesjedi]

I have been doing the same as Grady recommended. Also, I now have my engine on a stand and have put some engine oil in it, and I also rotate/turn it on the stand.

[LM3929]

I used to spray engine fogging oil twice a year into my 83 SC, then turning the engine over several times and then re spaying the fogging oil into each cylinder about twice a year and then sealing the cylinders with descant plugs in place of the spark plugs and I didn't have any rust in the cylinders and no frozen rings either after 15 years.

Lorne M.

[911heaven]

I appreciate all the advice and encouragment. I want to actually try some of that Mystery Marvel oil if I can. Everyone I have read or heard from had good luck with it. Only Javadog wasn't a big fan of it, going back a year or two on my thread about a 69E that sat for 30 plus years and had low compression. When we asked what was in the Mystery oil he said allegedly quote... so many percent this and that, but all I remember was the part about so much percent Stoddard solvent and 1 percent lard. Not to labor that. Just wanted to mention it.

I promise myself that I will try to get something i.e. above in the motor this summer before things really get out of hand. Thank you KNS for the warning light! I need to bust a move and focus.


One last question before my thread goes into the distant past....

Has anyone ever used this Marvel mystery oil in a transmission, or would it be out of the question? The reason I ask this strange question is because I will be matching this engine to a six speed RUF transmission that came out of the actual car which is 89 configuration i.e. pre-964. That tranny had only run 8k kilometers, back now 20 years ago when I removed it from the car I have. It was full of oil then, but the same year I had a qualified Kiwi engineer pull it open to inspect it. He reported that it was a good solid gearbox. Since then I never filled it back up with gear oil. It has always been stored well inside, but with no oil inside for now 18-19 years. Should I just fill it up with gear oil, or put some Marvel Mystery oil in until I get ready to use it?

Thanks again for the great advice to everyone,

Bernard

[Willem Fick]

You can store it in my car for as long as you need... :-)