Short or long block storage

[vic marks]

> Has not been run for 9 years. Would like to get it started first so can
get
> it home.

This comment reminded me of a conversation that I had with Heinz a few
months ago. I would like to have an extra engine and transmission on hand
and crated in case I have a serious breakdown on the road. I could then
have it freighted (air or otherwise) to wherever I was located and I would
know exactly what was going into the coach. I had wondered how long you
could keep a rebuilt short or long block on hand before things began to dry
out and possibly be problematic. Or can the engine be prepped for permanent
storage? Heinz had received conflicting answers to the question from a
couple of rebuilders/suppliers. I would appreciate comments and/or
suggestions on this.

Vic Marks
Vancouver BC
75 transmode

 

[brent covey]

Hi Vic

>I had wondered how long you
>could keep a rebuilt short or long block on hand before things began to dry
>out and possibly be problematic. Or can the engine be prepped for permanent
>storage? Heinz had received conflicting answers to the question from a
>couple of rebuilders/suppliers. I would appreciate comments and/or
>suggestions on this.

I would suspect almost indefinite storage is possible in a reasonably dry
environment. I never have has any problems with used engines that had been
standing btween 5-35 years that had just been shut off. A new one likely
would last even longer due to not having blowby compounds etching bearings
et al, and half cooked seals to start with.

One thing that strikes me is this surely isnt too cost effective tho-
Perhaps a less expensive solution might be to keep a decent used 455/403
etc. around that works well, say from a 60,000 mile Toronado or something as
your 'insurance' and put the real money into the engine that actually in the
GMC to prevent ny problems on the road if possible to start with. I'd see
little wrong with having a $500 parts car engine around just in case, but an
extra $3500-5000 tied up seems overkill.

Theres lots of good suggestions about preppng engines for storage in situ,
most would be relavent to a new one also. If you built an engine with
storage in mind, you might consider using very light lubricants in some
areas to keep seals limber. I'd be shy about leaving Lubriplate and similar
thick materials in a engine that sits indefinite periods.

Interesting idea!

Brent Covey
Vancouver

 

[thomas g. warner]

Vicv there is indeed a way to permanently package an engine or transmission
for long term storage and the government has it done all the time. There is
in fact a MIL spec that details how it can be done.

Practically we should not have to have them packed for that long.

>> Has not been run for 9 years. Would like to get it started first so can
>get
>> it home.
>
>This comment reminded me of a conversation that I had with Heinz a few
>months ago. I would like to have an extra engine and transmission on hand
>and crated in case I have a serious breakdown on the road. I could then
>have it freighted (air or otherwise) to wherever I was located and I would
>know exactly what was going into the coach. I had wondered how long you
>could keep a rebuilt short or long block on hand before things began to dry
>out and possibly be problematic. Or can the engine be prepped for permanent
>storage? Heinz had received conflicting answers to the question from a
>couple of rebuilders/suppliers. I would appreciate comments and/or
>suggestions on this.
>
>Vic Marks
>Vancouver BC
>75 transmode
>
>
>
>
>

 

[wayne newland]

Bob

If they had used Wynn's Supreme or Wynn's #7 to assemble the engine in the first
place, you wouldn't have had that problem!

Wayne Newland F9300 75 Palm Beach Columbia, Md (raining)

> I had a 67 Jeepster that I had a rebuilt engine sitting for approx 10 months
> till I needed to put it in and found the cylinder walls had started to rust.
> It had been prepped for storage (oiled cylinder walls, etc) but didn't
> help...had to be torn down again, even when it had been wrapped in plastic
> and stored in a wherehouse (climate controlled).
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Bob Lawrence
> Ocean Shores, Washington
>
> >From: Vic Marks
> >Reply-To: gmcmotorhome
> >To: "'gmcmotorhome'"
> >Subject: GMC: Short or long block storage
> >Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 08:15:36 -0700
> >

> > > Has not been run for 9 years. Would like to get it started first so can
> >get
> > > it home.
> >
> >This comment reminded me of a conversation that I had with Heinz a few
> >months ago. I would like to have an extra engine and transmission on hand
> >and crated in case I have a serious breakdown on the road. I could then
> >have it freighted (air or otherwise) to wherever I was located and I would
> >know exactly what was going into the coach. I had wondered how long you
> >could keep a rebuilt short or long block on hand before things began to dry
> >out and possibly be problematic. Or can the engine be prepped for permanent
> >storage? Heinz had received conflicting answers to the question from a
> >couple of rebuilders/suppliers. I would appreciate comments and/or
> >suggestions on this.
> >
> >Vic Marks
> >Vancouver BC
> >75 transmode
> >
> >
> >
>
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