Hello,

I'm looking round for what to do over the winter as I am going to have to leave the chassis for a while as the weather has got bad (have to do most of the chassis work outside) so am looking at what else to get on with. I'm thinking of rebuilding the engine, but it will be left for a fair while - probably 18 months at least before going into the car. Is this liable to seize up in this time or is there something I can do to stop that. Never rebuilt an engine and left it for so long before.

Any engine rebuilt or not needs to be turned regularly, keep it oily inside and out and cover any inlet or outlet holes with oily rags

Yeah I go out and turn the engine now every couple of weeks to stop it from seizing to make the rebuild easier but don't want to risk any damage after I have rebuilt it. Thanks for the reply!!

There's a special "build-up" oil you can get from places like frost that might help...

the boating boys use a winterisation oil for laying up engines try a search along those lines
cheers les g

On t'boat we normally just put a good load of oil down the bores.

Oh and anti freeze to stop the cooling internals from rusting up

[Edited on 7/10/08 by chasmon]

When you go to restart it
Remember to take the plugs out and turn it over before yu start orr you will hydralock the engine and bend rods or valves (possibly)

As some people are aware, ive been building my car for number of years now (due to lack of money and uni taking up most of my time).

I had rebuilt my engine and then left it standing for a good year. I cant remember what oil i had used but it definately wasnt a special build up oil. May have been standard engine oil or something like 3in1, as i say i cant remember. Anyway, when i started it for the first time i think it started on the second turn and it now starts first time everytime (even on saturday, which was the first time in almost a year, only span it over plugless first just to be sure).

All i can say is that its not ideal to leave an engine like i have done but in my case it didnt prove to be detrimental. Maybe its just the quality of the 4age.

had an old bug engine under a work bench for over 10 years, covered in sawdust. started first time no bother and still runs perfectly. So long as their not damp the engines will be fine.

Plenty of oil down the bores , loads of cam and crank lube and don't forget to prime the oil pump .