I found the correct 1970 383 four barrel intake for my Cuda. It is in excellent condition. Slight surface rust on the outside. I am in no hurry to put it on. The car is running great right now. I found leave well enough alone. So what is the best way to store the manifold without it rusting up. Im thinking paint where it should be. how about the unpainted surfaces. Mounting surfaces. Obviously I want to prevent rust.

Jeff

Whether you store it "as is" or paint it/restore it now for the future - keep it in a dry place (no humidity).

Anything you put on bare metal will prevent rust WD-40/paint/grease/vaseline/ect.

Buy a roll of plastic food wrap(cling wrap) and seal it up nice and tight (waste the whole $1.50 roll on it).

I've never had good luck long term with plastic wrap. It becomes something like a basting bag with unpleasant results. What I've done for years with machined surfaces is to paint them with spray bomb enamel. When it comes time to use them, a little Zip-Strip and you're good to go.

I've had no luck trying to preserve something from rusting with WD-40.

Spray it down with this, wrap it in heavy kraft paper, store in a dry place, forget about it!


Source

that lps stuff is pricey, but really works ! i've used that many times, and just left items coated in my unheated garage for years. after removal, surfaces were perfect ! just like they were machined minutes ago ! good stuff in my opinion.

Amen on not using WD 40 for long term storage, have not had good luck with it either.

As they say; "pay me now or pay me later"

Joe

I think you should buy one of those expensive vacuum seal units that people use to seal and store food and vacuum seal that sucker.

Seriously, I had one hanging on my garage wall for years, and it didn't rust. The main thing is to keep it in a dry place. So unless it's going to be outside, all you need to do is wipe some oil on the bare metal parts, get a trash bag or two and stick it in that. You don't even need to spend $1.50 on clear wrap or an expensive spray.

If it keeps you up at night, open the bag once in awhile and check on it to make sure the rust didn't eat up the entire manifold, haha.

I have been storing about 6 cast iron manifolds in my heated basement since 1984. We run a dehumidifier in the spring summer and fall and a humidifier during the winter heating months. No rust.
Is this a 383 manifold and someone painted it like said above. I have had it since 2002, came with a 440 short block I bought.


These manifolds have been there since 1984.