So I picked up a 72 402 block with some surface rust.Looks pretty good though.Whats the best way to store it for two-three years?Send it off to the machine shop and have cleaned,honed(or bored over if needs be)and spray with dry oill film and bag it?Or other......?

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I'm not an expert, but I do all work when needed.
I store my stuff with straight 30 rubbed all over.
WD 40 sucks, at least for me in the past.
It's easier to spray and go, but I've had perfect results from keeping it wet with the oil.

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cover the engine block including the machined surfaces with 80/90wt gear oil then seal it inside a couple of thick garbage bags

I used just plain bearing grease and rubbed it everywhere. Worked fine. In regards to your machine work, don't bother until you are ready to start the project.

As long as O2 doesn't reach the block you are good. I prefer storing stuff in Nitrogen chambers.........If I had one....

I stored an engine for one year with great success by stuffing the crankcase with garbage bags, and making "cylinder heads" out of plywood wrapped in more garbage bags. I fogged everything with sticky engine storage spray. Other than some oil pooling (obviously), it looked _exactly_ the same as when I stored it the year before.

I use a product called LPS #3. They make differnt levels of lubrican#1 is watery and stays watery like WD-40 but doesnt seem to be oil based,my father uses a lot of it to coat all the electical stuffon his boat. I never used #2. Primer rust inhibitor{aka#3) goes on thin and then gets thicker until it hardenens to a thick greas like coating that is guarenteed to prevent ust o anything for 3 years as long athe coatin isnt abraded off.All the produts come in a green spay can.
Good luck

I have a pretty good product.Its made by Boeing and sold locally at Sears for their tablesaw tops(Boeshield).It sits well and sticks.My concerns are the block already has its rust going on.I thought maybe having it cleaned first,then,well,while its there.......lol.Then properly sealing the clean motor.I just didnt want whatever's there getting worse in 2 years.
I know Chuck recommends Fluid Film for everything,but its tough to find locally.I think Ill have the machine shop(have to find one first)clean and check the thing.If its got any problems,Id rather know now anyway.
Thanks guys,
Chris

I think Ill have the machine shop(have to find one first)clean and check the thing.If its got any problems,Id rather know now anyway.

Good idea, I sat on a block for 2 years only to find out it was NFG. The last guy heated it so bad he cracked it from the main to the cam journal. :shy:

Good idea, I sat on a block for 2 years only to find out it was NFG. The last guy heated it so bad he cracked it from the main to the cam journal. :shy:
My thoughts exactly.If its NFG,I'd rather not have it layin around,lol.

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There's nothing wrong with getting it checked,
but I never do any machine work done, until I'm ready to go.
We've bought 5 blocks at a time, and had them gone through to know what we have.
That's actually a good idea.

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+1 for no machine work till you're ready to put the parts in it.

WD-40 is NFG for storing any thing.

I'd use any grease to coat the engine (MPG2, wheel bearing grease, cosmoline, EP90/140) then put it in a sealable plastic bag. Store it inside up off the floor away from dampness. I've stored many an engine (block or short block or complete engine) that way and never had them rust.

I used just plain bearing grease and rubbed it everywhere. Worked fine. In regards to your machine work, don't bother until you are ready to start the project.
What he said!Put it in a trashbag too.

I use "chain and cable" lube that we use on the forklift chains at work, really thick, clingy stuff. I take rags dripping with oil and stuff 1 in each cylinder. then shrinkwrap the whole thing. never had a problem except for 1 time when I stored a 350 4-bolt in my bro-in-laws leaky a$$ garage. After 2 years it was garbage. Water got in somehow and froze over the winter. between the rust and visibly cracked cylinder, I decided to toss the block.