How should I store an engine?

[Dtowncats]

I am pulling a 351W from a Torino before it goes to the junker, but I don't have the money for an engine stand yet. How should I store it until I can get an engine stand? I can't wait to start tearing into it.

 

[Roland69]

set it on an old 15" tire or two

 

[pb_paulie_b]

+1 for the old tire stand. And maybe trow a trash bag over it.

 

[Rick 91GT]

Bag it, if you want to keep the engine in good shape, undo the rockers, spray some oil in the cylinders and turn the motor over.

Advance auto sells some cheap engine stands for about $35.

 

[352Ford2]

Bag it, if you want to keep the engine in good shape, undo the rockers, spray some oil in the cylinders and turn the motor over.

Advance auto sells some cheap engine stands for about $35.

+1

make sure you undo the rockers far enough so none of the valve springs are compressed

you can nab a shopping cart from the grocrey store and cut them up, they work ok for free engine stands (except for the legality issue)

 

[90_Red_LX]

When we pulled the motor from my dads jeep for a rebuild, the bolts we got for it were too short so we couldn't use our stand until we got more, so we set it on an old suv tire for a day or so. Worked fine. Of course an advance auto cheapo stand would probably work better.

 

[Killer50stang]

Bag it, if you want to keep the engine in good shape, undo the rockers, spray some oil in the cylinders and turn the motor over.

Advance auto sells some cheap engine stands for about $35.

Which is what I have. Anyone know what size bolts I need to hold my 351M?

 

[Roland69]

how bad id the torino...could be worth trying to sell first befor you junk it.

 

[Rick 91GT]

7/16" bolts, I use old head bolts or old main bolts... You'll need spacer since the top bolts will be to long, I use some 3/4" spacers I made on the lathe...washers would work also.

 

[rd]

If it is in a Torino, I would just take it out, and store it so that no rain, water, or humidity can get into it. HD trash bags work, but are not uv resistant...

Summit sells engine storage bags, and a local machine shop may have some.

I like to stand them on end on wood blocks, so I can get a hand truck under them.

I would leave the valve covers and exhaust manifolds, intake and carb on it. Duct tape over the exhaust and carb top to keep humidity and critters out. I had a 2 in size spider come out of a stored head last week on me.

Leave all the caked on oil on it. It keeps rust away. I would not worry about the valvesprings. They have been fine since 70 something, no use worrying now.

Old tires are also good, but trap water if outside, and grow mosquitos.

 

[352Ford2]

I would not worry about the valvesprings. They have been fine since 70 something, no use worrying now.

Old tires are also good, but trap water if outside, and grow mosquitos.

Its the whole creep fatigue thing, if they are bent for a long perioud of time even with it being spring steel and below the plastic deformation range on the stress strain curve it begins to yield.

 

[Killer50stang]

7/16" bolts, I use old head bolts or old main bolts... You'll need spacer since the top bolts will be to long, I use some 3/4" spacers I made on the lathe...washers would work also.

The head bolts seem too big to screw in. Are you sure? This is on a 351M motor.

 

[Rick 91GT]

Sorry you need 289/302 head bolts which are 7/16", the 351W has 1/2"

 

[Dtowncats]

how bad id the torino...could be worth trying to sell first befor you junk it.

Well the body isn't the greatest. The hood hinges were rusted fast and we ripped the hood off of the hinges. It actually tore the metal. The interior doesn't look too bad. It's a 4 door though and it has a 3 speed auto.