Tips for storing blocks in high humidity environments

[tummler]

I know, the first tip is "DON'T!"

Unfortunately, "don't" is not an option for me. I have a detached, non-climate controlled garage, and every spring, the combination of warm, humid weather the cold slab results in heavy condensation for a couple weeks. During the Midwestern summer, there is also plenty of humidity.

I will be storing anywhere from 3 to 6 blocks, and they will likely remain untouched for a couple years. All tips and recommendations for storing the blocks in this type of environment are greatly appreciated.

[CamKing]

Here's one option.
https://www.armorvci.com/wp-content/upl ... erview.pdf

Here's another
https://www.armorvci.com/wp-content/upl ... erview.pdf

Armor also makes a dry film you can spray on the blocks, before you wrap them.
https://www.armorvci.com/products/dry-coat/

[BigBlocksOnTop2]

A thermal barrier is needed to keep the block from sweating. I have used a heavy blanket to do this with good success. Lots of layers too.

[RevTheory]

Can you sit a dish full of silica gel packs somewhere in the block and plastic wrap it after squirting the machined surfaces with WD-40?

[gowest]

A portable dehumidifer would probably help along with a suface prep.

[gmrocket]

LPS 3 spray , it's a soft waxy non drip protectant for bare metal. Works great without any covering, but even better if you can wrap with that stretchy rolled wrap.

Even better if you keep blocks a couple feet off the ground or on plywood.

I use this stuff on all my hydraulic ram cylinders on my backhoe that sits outside all winter.

One can per block or one can will do about three cranks..it won't drip off over time

[modok]

Coat it in oil, set it on cardboard, and put it a trash bag over it.
The cardboard will be oily, that's good. It's like a sponge.

[Tom Walker]

Like Modok said, I keep a block oiled up good. Every few months I uncover it and reapply the oil with my hands. A messy and time consuming job for sure, but it works. All machined surfaces get the oil.

[Walter R. Malik]

I have many stored for years ... oiled with "Rustlic"and secured in a closed plastic bag with some old newspaper inside.

[GARY C]

Tx humid weather, candy coated with WD-40 in 2005, photo taken in 2017, block still looks the same today.

[GARY C]

Photos from a few minutes ago, coated and begged with WD-40 in 2005, sitting unbagged since 2015...

[Geoff2]

Don't use grease. If you miss a spot, or if the grease gets wiped away accidentally, that spot will corrode.

Engine oil dries out.

Auto Trans Fluid is the best. Doesn't dry out. Doesn't have to be new fluid. I keep some used ATF for rust proofing purposes.

[Alaskaracer]

Maxima chain wax. Very much like cosmoline. Get it at your local motorcycle shop. Couple of good coats and it can sit for years. Takes a bit of effort to get it clean after, but better than paying to machine away the rust

[bentvalves]

ATF/NEWSPAPER/OIL/TRASHBAGS/CARDBOARD/WOODBLOCKS

cliffnotes.

[rockosocko]

I live in the Memphis are (past 33yrs) and talk about HUMID! We've had it as bad as 110* heat index, 100% humidity with NOT A CLOUD in the sky! And that's at 01:00am!!
I've got several makes of blocks, cranks etc that the plastic leaf bag deteriorated with WD-40 and thinking was protected, wasn't. I'm too cheap to toss them out, so here they sit.

What I've recently found was going to ______ auto parts store and getting a 5 gal bucket of Tractor Hydraulic/transmission fluid. (big 'yella bucket) I then picked up a cheap 1gal pump sprayer from Harbor Freight to get in all the area's.
5 gallons will last you decades probably.

I have a 'test' 327 block (.060 over, so don't know if it's worth doing anything with) that I sprayed down/in and it's been sitting OUTSIDE under a small, cheap blue tarp on a hand truck (dolly) for the past 2-3yrs. ..can't remember exactly. Might be longer.
By looking at it, the oil is STILL moist looking and no dry, flaky rust. Yeah, some dust and maybe a mud dauber nest, but it still looks like it'll clean up good. ..Ya know, for that awesome build I'm gonna do one day.

E