Crating and Shipping an Engine -- Advice?
 

I've got 500 pounds of motor I want to ship from Los Angeles to eastern Washington State. I want to do it as affordably as possible without damaging the engine -- but I'm completely new to the process.

So far, I've attached a small pallet to a wooden crate I've built. It occurred to me that there might be proportional standards I'm not aware of. It's currently 39" wide, 29" deep and 35" high (not including the height of the attached pallet, which is 4" tall). It's put together with wood screws.

Here it is on its side"

http://a.imageshack.us/img59/4780/crateonside.jpg

Here it is on its side, but opened:

http://a.imageshack.us/img713/5682/crateopen.jpg

Questions:

Will the shipping company need to open the crate for any kind of inspection?

Is there anything that has to be marked on the box?

How precise do I need to be about the weight? It's in the 450-pound neighborhood.

And finally, does anyone know of a good/cheap shipper to call for a quote?

Thanks in advance.

Old Dominion is cheap. Just strap the engine onto the pallet then plastic wrap it.

+1 for Old Dominion. I have received various motors that way.

A few questions:

How do you load the engine in the box?
How do you secure it once it's inside?

Souks idea might be easier...

Forward Air, portal to portal. The new owner picks it up....

for the cheapest rate, mark on the bill of lading:
"class 55, used engine / used cast parts"

It makes a big difference on costs.
otherwise the freight company will rate it as a new product.
the rates then double.

I don't know how valuable the engine is but this is how I ship mine .. wood screws everywhere so it is easy to take apart with the engine on top of the pallet . yours is pretty similar so you should be OK .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC03597.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC03598.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC03589.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...d/DSC03588.jpg

Jack, when I got my engineer from Harald (as you did too as I recall) it came strapped to a pallet with cardboard around it. Seemed fine as London as you go truck you'll be fine. My company ships ele trice motors this way daily.

LA to Spokane on SAIA is $96.85, and $43.20 for $6000 of insurnace.

Freight88 Home

Put a 2x4 barrier around the top of the pallet base... Good insurance against a fork coming through the case. Cheapest option is always to drop it off at the frieght company and have the recipient get it from their dock. They shouldn't need to open it up for any inspection unless the drop it and care to give it a once over..

Thanks, guys.

I can't put it on a full-size pallet and still deliver it to a trucking company. But my plan now is to cut a pallet to fit the dimensions of the box (actually, the pallet will extend out 1.5" on all sides for a little more protection). I'm going to wrap 2x4s around the base so that forklift forks don't lance it.

And I'm going to secure the engine to the pallet through the box.

I'm also planning on re-doing the top of the box so that it's sloped -- so they won't stack freight on top of it.

The box is fitted to the engine, with padding inserted below and on all four sides. There are also secured wood blocks supporting it from below so it can't rock.

Is there anything else I'm missing?

Is there a difference between class 55 and class 85, in terms of cost?

Drip pan? :)

Yep!
 

Yep! A few years ago I bought an engine from a fellow Pelican in Arizona and he shipped it via Yellow Freight to Detroit, strapped down on a pallet, with shrink-wrap over it. No problems!

85 will be more expensive.

No need to open the crate

No need to add a pallet, as long as a a pallet jack or fork lift will fit underneath. If you need a pallet, the shipping company will have them. They will also have straping material for strapping it down to the pallet. I am assuming you will take it to their loading dock, unless you have a loading dock. Pickup at your location (if you have a loading dock) is included in the price. Drop off will be at a loading dock, or it will need to be picked up at the terminal. Arrange this ahead of time.

So what engine are you sending this guy?

i'll take vz's engine... That will make the little old s fly...

I'm assuming the old 964 3.0 (3.6 minus one cylinder :D ) that someone in WA is buying? Or is it going to Tyson?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/562098-poor-mans-3-6-engine-swap.html

+1

So you are finally cracking the case on the golden motor?

Take a look at uShip - The Online Shipping Marketplace - Ship Freight, Furniture, Vehicles or Moves Its like an on-line shipping broker and all you have to do is post what you want to ship and companies will respond with their bid to ship your item. I used them back in May to ship two Waverunners from Naples, FL to Huntsville and I was satisfied with the whole process.