How to protect aginst rust on engine stand
 

Let me start off by saying this is new territory for me. Normally some suspension work and normal bolt on mods/repairs is my limits. I inherited this engine from work. Its an all aluminum 5.3 out of a 08+ Tahoe of some sorts. A guy at work bought it for the cylinder heads, he moved on to another job and left it here. We got new owners and had to clean out the room it was in. I got ahold of him and said if I got it out of there its mine. I sprayed some wd40 in the cylinder walls once I got it back home and onto an engine stand. I don't really have any plans for it as of now so I'm just wondering what to do to keep the cylinders from rusting until I find something to stick it in.

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/115919859@N08/, on Flickr

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/115919859@N08/, on Flickr

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/115919859@N08/, on Flickr

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/115919859@N08/, on Flickr

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/115919859@N08/, on Flickr

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/115919859@N08/, on Flickr

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/115919859@N08/, on Flickr

That's where I stand now. Now remember it set months in the back of a shop so its not the cleanest. The liquid in the cylinders is the wd40 mixed with what carbon was already on top of the cylinders. I know the 08+ does play well with any of the 99-07 trucks like I have do to the reluctor ring from what I've been reading. I figured I'd keep it around for a future swap if anything every comes around.

I rubbed all my exposed machined surfaces with a heavy assembly lube and haven't had any issues here in Houston.

hose it with wd40, wipe a thin film of engine oil in the cylinder walls and toss a trash bag over it.

Any penetrating spray or oil and a big enough trash bag will keep it from rusting... saw a guy one time rub petroleum jelly all over a block to store it, then tied it up in a big black trash bag.

Bring it in the house or keep the garage heated.

^^^

you must not be married. my wife doesn't even like when I come in smelling like the garage much less sticking a carbon/wd40 mess in the corner.

Hell yes.... :funny::redneck:

IF you do it for a living they get used to it...

Petroleum jelly...that's a new one. Any motor oil and a paper towel would work.

Thanks for all the replies, should I try and turn it over at the flywheel to get the cylinders to travel to a different place in the bore, or clean any of the crud that's in there out? Also what about the oil in the oil pan, just leave it for now?

yeah, turn it over and get as much of the cylinder as possible and wipe as much crap out as you can within reason (run the piston to TDC and blow out the rings with an air hose)

the oil in the pan is fine.

Would you use a scotch brite pad on the cyl walls? I've got some of the fine tooth grey ones from the body shop? There is some surface rust on some of them I probably need to remove. Just don't want to damage anything.

NO! Excuse me, PLEASE no

Wipe them down as is...then turn it, wipe down, turn it...wipe down...I would take a wiz wheel and get all that crap off first, then clean it with brake parts cleaner, THEN wipe all the surfaces down with oil...

Scotch brite would definitely get you a no-go at that lane...

Pb blaster or wd40 in the cylinder walls and run the piston up and down a couple times will take care of the surface rust in the holes... without ruining them if in fact is is just surface rust... if there is any pitting you will need either a hone or to have it bored.

I'm getting there, just a slow learner :sigh:

Thanks, like a said rookie when it comes to this stuff. I've been reading up on it as much as I can.

Thanks sir, appreciate it.

Wiz wheel. Is that one of the nylon wheels with the fingers?

Everyone has to start somewhere. Just pack up the short block nicely and when you're ready to build it, start a new thread and plenty of people will chime in with advice on where to go from there

No on the scotch bright, yes on the scotch pad, forgot the name of them, I'll upload a picx