How to prevent engine from siezing?

[TROOPER88]

Hi
I am in the process of restoring a 20 year old Ford. I have a rebuilt engine (rebuilt by previous owner) and have it on an engine stand in the garage. It has been in there for 6 months. Is this ok? Is there any chance it could seize? What preventitive measures should I take?

Many thanks

[stevieturbo]

unless its been lying sitting on the beach near the sea.....


It will be fine. 6 months is very little time

[kickstartcarl]

Hi, Best practice for this is to turn the engine over a few short burst on the starter to build some oil pressure and get oil up to the top of the engine. Use a spare battery and some jump leads but be careful not to over heat the starter motor by holding too long.

Make sure you disconnect the feed to the coil so it wont start.

Also, disconnect the fuel supply so you dont wash all the oil out of the bores.

Then reconnect and away you go...

Cheers

[GreenV8S]

Has the engine run since being rebuilt? If not, leave it alone. It will already be oiled up and have cam lube in the right places, and doesn't need anything else.

[HiRich]

How about a large plastic bag, some silica crystals and a vacuum cleaner? Put crystals in a tray or cloth bag on the engine. Bag over the engine, suck most of the air out, then seal it with a tie-wrap.

Even a blamket over the engine will create a microclimate underneath that should be fractionally warmer and drier.

[TROOPER88]

Thanks for replies.
Engine was run a couple of thousand miles before I purchased it.

It is covered in a clean dry towel so wont get any moisture near it.
Perhaps I will turn it over by hand every now and again to keep parts moving.

[GreenV8S]

TROOPER88 said:

Thanks for replies.
Engine was run a couple of thousand miles before I purchased it.

It is covered in a clean dry towel so wont get any moisture near it.
Perhaps I will turn it over by hand every now and again to keep parts moving.

In that case just put a squirt of oil in each cylinder, turn the engine over a couple of times to coat the bores, and leave it like that.

[TROOPER88]

Lovely; I will do just that. Thanks again

[Boosted LS1]

You may be able to drive the oil pump externally using a drill while the engine is still on the stand. This will prime all the oil galleries.