How long can an engine sit outside of a car?

[RapidRabbit]

So as some of you know I picked up an 88 5.0 engine and trans. Here is the first of many dumb questions.

My dumb question is how long can this motor sit outside of the car before things start to get damaged?
It was taken out of the 5.0 about a year ago, and I would imagine I won't get it in and running in my Stang until next year sometime.
It has fresh oil in it and the previous owner said he turned it over periodically.

Should I fog the engine or something else to protect it?

 

[AzPete]

I like to pull the plugs and shoot some light weight oil in them. Not to much but enough to keep things lubed for when you cycle it by hand every month or so. I also seal up any openings like water, intake, oil fill points and such. I have always pulled the plugs (keep them hand tight only) and cycled the engine by hand for a couple revolutions. I doesn't hurt to pull the dist. and rotate the oil pump by hand first to send oil thru the engine.


I have seen others leave one sit for 5 years or more open and never touched, put it in a car and start it and drive it for years.

 

[RapidRabbit]

Thanks Pete.

that's kind of what I was planning. I just wanted to make sure.
The intake is covered. I need to plug the water pump. It is sort of buried under my workbench for now.
I need to make room for it somewhere that I can get at it better.

 

[AzPete]

I need to make room for it somewhere that I can get at it better.

Like in the engine bay..............

 

[RapidRabbit]

Like in the engine bay..............

:lol :lol

I have 2 problems there.

1. 5 month old baby. garage time is non existent.
2. still a few months of summer left to drive the snot out it.

 

[AzPete]

Well, lets see....a car seat and a fan....baby will think it is ride time. I must agree with the driving time though......but my driving time has been year around for so long, I would go into convulsions if there had to be an end to it. We just fix them between drives.

 

[RapidRabbit]

I must agree with the driving time though......but my driving time has been year around for so long, I would go into convulsions if there had to be an end to it. We just fix them between drives.

must be nice! Winter is horrible here. The car ends up stored more than it is driven I think.
But it does give me 7-8 months to get the swap done.

 

[AzPete]

I can relate....I was born and raised around Sioux City, Iowa. Air Force sent me to Az. and I have never had a desire to return to the cold for any length of time since I discovered warm climates. lol

 

[apollard]

I can relate....I was born and raised around Sioux City, Iowa. Air Force sent me to Az. and I have never had a desire to return to the cold for any length of time since I discovered warm climates. lol

Smart man. I served a sentence in Rhode Island. No desire to be sent back.

Pete is correct - I would only add this - don't go easy on the oil - get it everywhere in the cylinders. "Too much" will burn off when you start it.

 

[daveSanborn]

I need to make room for it somewhere that I can get at it better.

Something like this maybe?

 

[RapidRabbit]

Something like this maybe?

I need to get one those, but I still don't have any room in the garage.
Might have to put the wife's Jeep outside.

I guess I'll have to resort to Pete's idea. A car seat and fan for the baby and get it in the engine bay.

 

[daveSanborn]

I need to get one those

When you run out of engine stands, the "next best thing" IMO is to take a trip to the back lot of your local Lowe's/Home Depot. The flat garden carts that they use have a hard plastic "tray" and a very solid metal frame with heavy duty casters. Occasionally the plastic frames will crack and the carts will be discarded to the back area of the store. An engine/trans combo can be wheeled easily around a garage on one of these carts.