Crank care and storage

I'm pulling the moving parts out of my 400 before sending it off to the machine shop tomorrow afternoon and was wondering hat is the best way to store the crank while the block is off at the "spa"? I remember reading something about storing cranks when not in the block but don't remember where the thread has gotten off to. The block will be there for about a week (next tuesday).

Thanks in advance!!!

i wrap mine in a trash bag after i use a full can of wd40 on them, dont use news paper..its attracts moisture, seen some people soak rags in oil and wrap them on the crank and put a bag over it..i put my in a bag and in the closet or under the bed so the wife cant see it

If it will be in a garage and has not been cleaned, I would just let it set the way it is. The coating of oil it has had on it for years is better than almost anything else you can do. Fresh from machine shop x2 on what John said.

Stand it up on end, don't lay it down.

X2 on what Jones said, no need to do anything other than that. It's only going to be a week or so. You've got to wash it good before using it anyway. So wait until you need it and clean it up

I agree w/waiting to clean it when ready. But,you don't need to necessarily stand it up on end. Just keep it in a place safe from getting the journals damaged.

I sprayd it down with some brake parts cleaner, wraped it in plastic, and put it in my "parts cupboard".

Now it is going to rust. Brake Cleaners take everthing off and with the plastic wrap you will get condensation inside.

X3 on the wd or really any oil that will stick to it.

dkp

oops just saw you are located in arizona. Rust may not be a problem there but where I live it would be.

dkp

For long term, spray it with the cheapest enamel paint you can find. Bag it, and box it up. Laying them down dont hurt a thing. When your ready, just give it a good Laquer thinner bath. If rusty, Muratic acid will take off rust. But you gotta get it to the shop and cooked to make sure the acid is all gone.

wont the cooker take the paint off to that way you dont have mess with acid.

I guess the standing it up on end just depends if it has been finished machined or not. You would treat a $100 crankshaft different than a $2,000 as per the suggestion of standing the crankshaft on end came from.

res0rli9 wrote:wont the cooker take the paint off to that way you dont have mess with acid.

Yeah, the cooker would take the paint off. But, if it is a new, or re-ground waiting to be installed. Why bother having it cooked. Lacquer will do.

BTW, the acid is only used when rust is involved. Paint is for storage.

WD40 and a plastic bag for short term storage, Grease or cosmline and a double bag it for long term. On its side or on the flange standing up, either is fine, you just don't want to knock them over or drop them.

I wouldn't Paint and cook off the paint on a finished crank you end up needing to cut it again and IMO thats a waste of time. For core stuff that you don't want to get all oily, greasy or rusty thats fine.

After looking at the bearings for a good long while and having an argument with my wallet I decided to take the crank in to get cleaned and polished, this machine shop works QUICK!!! When I dropped off the crank they had already cleaned the block, I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN ENGINE BLOCK THIS CLEAN AND SHINY IN PERSON!!! It really feels good to see some sort of progress being made here