Topic: storage prep

[Dudley]

Planning on putting the Mustang into long term storage. I have my routine for year to year storage, but now looking at multiple years. I want to drain the coolant , but concerned with rust forming once exposed to air with respect to both the radiator and engine cavities. Is there a chemical I should circulate through prior to draining to help rust prevention. I am familiar with the rust inhibitor additives, but will it help once drained. Any concerns I should have with the original water pump under dry conditions after 35 years being wet? Thank you.

[midlife]

When I restored my 66, I removed the engine and had it up on a stand for 5 years, just turning it over by hand once a week.  When the car got reassembled, the fuel pump began to leak, and two weeks later, the water pump gave out (it was newly installed just one year before the engine was removed.  Despite removing all of the coolant I could, there was still coolant in the block and the water pump was corroded where there was water.  I believe the seals dried up, though, causing the failure.

I would recommend removing the water and fuel pump (along with whatever else has seals) from the engine, cleaning the guts and drying it out for long-term storage.