My engine has been sitting for 8 months without oil and with cylinder head off, Is it ok?

This is the QR engine?

Have the gasket surface of the cylinder head checked for flatness by an automotive machine shop. Because it's aluminum and the engine was overheated, the cylinder head is probably warped. That's what usually causes a head gasket to leak.

If the cylinder head is warped, that needs to be dealt with. Since it's an OHC engine, it needs to be heated in an oven, because the camshaft bearings must all have the same center line. If the cylinder head is warped, then the camshaft bearing center line will be warped. Or get a used cylinder head.

Installing a new head gasket with a warped cylinder head will result in a leaking head gasket. Your engine may have TTY (torque-to-yield) cylinder head bolts. TTY bolts can not be reused.

I believe the engine block is also aluminum. Check the deck (cylinder head gasket) surface for flatness too.

If your cylinders are not rusty or filled with dirt, they should be ok. I hope that the top of your opened engine was covered.

The engine is already apart so as long as there is no rust in the bores you're good to go.

Put plenty of oil in barrels before fitting new gasket and Head

So, did you fail to properly protect the exposed cylinders? If so, all I can say is EPIC FAIL, especially if the vehicle was not garaged in a low-humidity environment. It's now a crap-shoot. Be absolutely sure the cylinders and block face have no corrosion or other contamination.

If it was just a headgasket, and there was no damage to the other important components, then yeah it'll be alright.

- Things to think about -

Was it really just a gasket?

Should I spray a $5 can of wd-40 (for immediate assembly) or fogging oil (for another few months to reassemble) on the moving parts? (Bottom end crank bearings, where the pistons mount to the crank, where the piston rods mount to the piston head, and where the piston rings come into contact with the cylinder bore, cylinder head parts such as valves, springs, rods, lifters, camshaft bearings, etc.)

If you can see corrosion, you need to get a very fine sandpaper or maybe something like pb blaster and a rag if you're lucky and its minimal..and clean that gunk outta there. You'd be hardpressed to damage your metal with your hands+sand paper.

It has probably picked up some surface rust in the cylinders from sitting exposed to the air for so long. you will need to clean and polish the cylinder bores before you try to assemble the engine again.

Hi so you will need to put oil in the bores and over every part as you assemble it also change oil filter and top up with oil. turn it over without spark plugs so the oil can move around the engine before putting the spark plugs in and trying to start the car.

- Mix a cup of engine oil with a 1/4 cup of any good quality penetrating oil.

- pour portions of this mixture on top of each piston and let sit until ready to install the head.

- before installing head wipe any excess oil from the top of the pistons.

note - when you start the motor it's going to smoke like a BlTCH for a minute or so. That's normal.

it is fine ,clean the cylinders and apply thin coat of oil on the cylinder wall.

Might be bad if it started to corrode, check for things like rust