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Long-term engine storage w/o antifreeze

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Popeye

Popeye

Obi Wan
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Hello all,

Is it OK to keep an engine for a long time without antifreeze in it?

In replacing the floors, I am removing the body from the frame. It appears it would be much easier to remove the radiator first.

If I leave the radiator off for the rest of the restoration - years - would the engine cooling passages rust?

Anything I should do to prevent rust / long term problems? Re-connect the radiator and fill with coolant, crank the engine a few times to circulate?

Thanks,
Mike
66 TR4A
 
Drain it, blow it out as best you can and store it out of the weather, I also drain the oil. The other thing I do is to squirt oil into each cylinder, then rotate by hand, then plug the intake and exhaust ports.
 
I had the engine in my parts car stored outside for 20 years. All I did was fill it (and I mean fill as in to the top) with oil. I can't remember how much it took but it was a lot). After 20 years I used that engine (after a rebuild)in my next car and it is now the better of my two engines. The coolant passages were fine though they did need some cleaning out of gunk more then rust. My web site has some pictures of it (while being stored and while being rebuilt) if you are interested.
 
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