Shipping an Engine Deck Lid
 

I might sell my original steel engine deck lid (1973 type). If so, I'd like a remote buyer to not have to pay a huge amount of $$ for boxing it up (I'd have a shipping place do that I think, as I don't want to spend a huge amount of my time doing it).


- a bike box seems to not be protective enough

- Greyhound likewise


Any ideas?

Contact what's-his-name that does the ducktail add-on. I'm sure they know the best way to ship a deck lid.

I have shipped one in a box before. 3.2 Carrera lid, so not a huge $$$ concern. Just box up well and you'll be fine. If really worried. Crate in wood.

G

cheaper to find one locally. Tried it once was stupid money- cost more to ship than to buy one used . Too big.

I sold one on ebay a couple of years ago. I used a box designed for shipping a framed picture. It worked very well. Fedex ground can be surprisingly reasonable for larger items.

If you go the Fedex route, sign up for a free account and you'll save at least 10%. Measure and weigh it then get a quote to see how pricey it is to ship cross country, if it's 1/2 or more of the purchase price you might as well sell it locally. Greyhound is definitely an option, and would likely be less than Fedex. I would personally bubble wrap the hell out of it then package it in cardboard (or double box it). Should be ok.

One more thought... go dumpster diving behind your local big box store to see if you can find a flat screen TV box and packing material.

I like the TV box idea for a lid sans tail. Better yet a box inside a box.

I just had an early Carrera tail shipped to me in MS from CA. Much bigger than a plain lid. Just under $100 via USPS of all places. I'm glad my rural postal carrier uses an SUV and not a car. Dropped it on my doorstep. No trip to the post office needed. Seller wrapped in bubble wrap then pieced together a "box" with a least two layers of card board on all sides. Mine arrived with no damage.

The corners are what get damaged in shipping most often. A square of 1" x 2" boards, and then attach the lid to that might go a long way in protecting the corners without too much weight penalty. Good ole expanded foam from a TV box might work just as well. -J

I've shipped 7 decklids over the years and the #1 concern is dogearing the corners. Don't think for a moment someone at UPS or FedEx won't take your box and thrust a corner down into a concrete floor, just for fun. Of the 7, the first 2 were dog-eared. They were both very well packed, I've been parting cars for years and think of myself as a good packer.

Now I ship these as box in a box only by taking sheet cardboard or 2 very large boxes and making an envelope for the lid, sometime reinforcing the corners with extra cardboard. This then goes into a bigger box with padding between the envelope and the box. 20 extra minutes for total peace of mind is worth it.

Uhaul has good mirror boxes.