Morris Minor Owners Club

Morning all

I wondered if any of you had any views about storing an engine? I will be reconditioning the original engine from my 4-door Minor in due course (that reads probably a couple of years away!) and have to store it in a dampish but sheltered out-house due to lack of garage space. I have read somewhere in the dim and distant past that one should completely fill the engine to the brim with oil. Is this true? or merely a product of my fevered imagination? If so, what oil? Is used engine oil sufficient? (I somehow don't think I'll use that Mobil 0W 40 mentioned on here at £35 per 4 litre can!!!!)

Any thoughts will be gratefully received!

Dom

P.S. just remember where I read re. filling up the engine.... Nevil Shute's "Trustee from the Toolroom" - a very good read!

Hi Dom,

You've recognised one of your main problems - keeping it dry!

I don't think you can "fill" an engine with oil - there's too many holes.
You should aim to get some oil into the cylinders, sump and rocker gear - a thin film will do (just to stop the dreaded damp getting in).

'd suggest putting plastic bags over all the openings - I don't know if it's proactical to get a large bag to completely encolse the engine - add a large cylinder of dessicant to keep it dry?

Colin

Lots of grease, oil and maybe some silica gel might be a good idea...

Pour oil down the spark plug holes - and turn it over a few times. Soak some rags in oil - and stuff them up the inlet and exhaust ports - since at least one of each valve will be left open. Pour a little oil into the filler cap to put some on the rocker gear- and then seal it all up as best you can with big plastic bags. From time to time - say 6 months - - it would be worth while repeating the exercise.

And giving it a spin on the handle

echo everyone elses comments re oil and grease.

you can get some replacements for the spark plugs that countain cylinders of silica gel. Unscrew the sparkies, screw in these plug things and they keep the cylinders nice and dry.

i used them on a barn storage of my MG for 3 years and the cylinders were perfect when I retrieved the car. it's worth checking periodically (the silica is held in a clear plastic cylinder so you can see if it's gone pink (i.e. wet))

only trouble is, can't remember wher to get them from

Andrew

http://enginewise.co.uk/products/petrol ... -kits.html

Google

looks like they've got loads of kit for laying stuff up. Haven't explored much except for the plugs.

Andrew

I think Frost do them too.