You could probably store it for 100 years and turn it over with a little oil priming first and still get 50,000 miles out of it without the gaskets blowing out.
Crate motor shelf life?
Anyone have an idea how long a "crate motor" or used engine can sit in a box before it needs an overhaul or some kind of maintenance?
If GenIII engines are not made to retrofit into Gen II cars, I wonder if existing GenII engines will go way up in price. Anyway I thought about setting aside one of those parted out Viper engines for distant future use or transplant. What triggered this thought was the high cost of Vette ZR-1 engine parts.
If GenIII engines are not made to retrofit into Gen II cars, I wonder if existing GenII engines will go way up in price. Anyway I thought about setting aside one of those parted out Viper engines for distant future use or transplant. What triggered this thought was the high cost of Vette ZR-1 engine parts.
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I just saw the last of the gen 1 crate engines availability. So, if it took until 2003 for gen 1 crate motors to run out, I think you have some time before gen II crate motors run out. Just keep your eyes open, and pick one up then.
I disagree. First it depends on how it was stored. There is always going to be assembly lube and engine oil in the motor that would be used during assembly. I do a *little* work rubber, gasketing and that sort of stuff and it's generally got about a 15-year shelf life if stored correctly in original packaging. It would be less if installed in an engine, and less still after coming into contact with things like oil (and assembly lube is similar to oil - just much thicker).Chuck 98 RT10 said:You could probably store it for 100 years and turn it over with a little oil priming first and still get 50,000 miles out of it without the gaskets blowing out.
Your problems would be rust and corrosion on parts, but you could handle that by storing it correctly (i.e not in a barn in a humid area). As for seals and such, you would probably have problems IMO if the engine was in storage for more than 4 or 5 years - maybe up to 10 but I don't think much more than that.
Theoretically, if someone bought a used engine with less than 10000 miles, would it be better to disassemble most of it and store it in parts or to reasssemble it with assembly lube and then store it. I presume it would be ill advised to leave it 'as is', right?
If a deal came up for a good used motor I may consider buying it. If the Gen III motor becomes adapatable (and cost effective)to the GenII cars, there would be no reason to do so.
If a deal came up for a good used motor I may consider buying it. If the Gen III motor becomes adapatable (and cost effective)to the GenII cars, there would be no reason to do so.
Buy a complete gasket set and dunk the bitch in a drum of oil. No worries then, no rust and no gasket problems. Just remove injectors and all electrical items first.
I have been around aircraft motors for WW2 Warbirds that have been stored in the crate for 50+ years. They were "new in box" never opened from the 40"s. Their is a gentalman in Texas that had several Rolls Royce Merlin engines(That is the P-51 mustang motor) That were in that condition. They work just fine. I think they coat they motor with cosmoline(sp). I know they pull the heads before firing them up.
My post was a joke BTW, Except for the extra gasket kit
If you can "fog" the engine all will be well in the future.
If you can "fog" the engine all will be well in the future.
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