How do I ship an engine?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Santa Monica CA
How do I ship an engine?
Title says it all. I'm buying a 350 from a guy out in Indiana, and I need to get it to LA somehow. Guy is willing to drive it to any location in reasonable distance. Crate engine suppliers usually charge about $200, so I'm hoping to find something around that figure.
Has anyone had to do this before? Thanks for the help.
Has anyone had to do this before? Thanks for the help.
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 2
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, the World
Definitely put it on a pallet. use blocks of wood to chock it in place and bolt it down to the pallet. Then either box it in or wrap it with glad wrap.
Make sure the bolts don't stop a forklift from picking it up.
Crate motors come in a crate..... (Seems sensible
)that is designed to bolt to the motor mounts or similar with a cage around the engine to protect it. Thats why I suggested boxing it in.
Make sure the bolts don't stop a forklift from picking it up.
Crate motors come in a crate..... (Seems sensible
)that is designed to bolt to the motor mounts or similar with a cage around the engine to protect it. Thats why I suggested boxing it in.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
Definately box it or you may find it damaged when it arrives. We ship out our showbooth to shows every year. They are in HD plastic containers and marked DO NOT STACK but come back every time with the latches ripped off from being stacked in a trailer.
Gary
Gary
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,501
From: Little Rock AR
I have shipped a few engines. The short block came on a small welded metal stand. There were 4 bolts attached, 1 each at the motor mount locations and 2 at the rear bellhousing surface. The assembly was banded to a wood pallet and wrapped in cardboard and shrink wrap. I had to ship it back for warranty work (another story) so the trucking company guys on the dock were good enough to re-band it to the skid for me. Using a pickup truck to pick it up and drop it off at the dock will also be a good idea.
BTW - shipping a "used" engine costs less then shipping a "new" engine. Even if it is only slightly used
-Mark.
BTW - shipping a "used" engine costs less then shipping a "new" engine. Even if it is only slightly used
-Mark.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Santa Monica CA
Thanks guys. Having the shipper pack it up should be no problem, I'm just having trouble finding a carrier to ship it for a decent price. The quotes I've received are $700-900 to ship it between the nearest depots! 
e.g. FedEx and Yellow Carrier. Thought it should be waaaaay cheaper than that.
e.g. FedEx and Yellow Carrier. Thought it should be waaaaay cheaper than that.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Santa Monica CA
Alright, I just hit the JACKPOT.
Every single freight and packaging service I checked, including FedEx, DHL, Yellow, Roadways, and some smaller ones quoted me $750-900 from terminal to terminal. Again, this is from the Cincinatti area to LA.
Found a place called "InterMoveGlobal" online that will pick up and deliver the engine at any business within 50 miles of their shipping depots, insured for $5000, arriving in 4-5 days for $246. Crate or pallet doesn't matter, quoted weight was 550 lbs.
Three times less than anywhere else I talked to. Don't ask me how it's so cheap.
For anyone else looking to ship an engine, I don't think this can be beaten. InterMoveGlobal has 17 companies they use for shipping, and this particular one is called Watkins, specializing in motorcyle and engine shipments.
Looks too good to be true so far… let’s hope it’s not. I’ll keep you all posted on how it works out.
Every single freight and packaging service I checked, including FedEx, DHL, Yellow, Roadways, and some smaller ones quoted me $750-900 from terminal to terminal. Again, this is from the Cincinatti area to LA.
Found a place called "InterMoveGlobal" online that will pick up and deliver the engine at any business within 50 miles of their shipping depots, insured for $5000, arriving in 4-5 days for $246. Crate or pallet doesn't matter, quoted weight was 550 lbs.
Three times less than anywhere else I talked to. Don't ask me how it's so cheap.For anyone else looking to ship an engine, I don't think this can be beaten. InterMoveGlobal has 17 companies they use for shipping, and this particular one is called Watkins, specializing in motorcyle and engine shipments.
Looks too good to be true so far… let’s hope it’s not. I’ll keep you all posted on how it works out.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Manitouwadge Ontario
I have used Forward Air which is a ground transport company for many shipments. Crossing the border as well. Great to deal with and reasonable prices but the only deliver to their depot as far as I know.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
Originally Posted by Tired74
I have used Forward Air which is a ground transport company for many shipments. Crossing the border as well. Great to deal with and reasonable prices but the only deliver to their depot as far as I know.
Forward Air is popular with many mailorder companies because they are the least expensive. Problem is they only ship to their own airport depots. Joe
