advice for shipping an engine

[Greg L.]

I've never had to do this before so I really don't know where to start. How would one go about having an engine shipped across the country or out of the US say to Calgary?

I would guess that it has to be crated or maybe just put on a pallet since it's only a core but I'm not sure. Would I need to come up with an actual weight or would the shipper do a flat rate calculation? I have lots of questions so if anyone can give me some advice and shipper leads I'd appreciate it.

[Clem Z.]

Re: advice for shipping an engine

I've never had to do this before so I really don't know where to start. How would one go about having an engine shipped across the country or out of the US say to Calgary?

I would guess that it has to be crated or maybe just put on a pallet since it's only a core but I'm not sure. Would I need to come up with an actual weight or would the shipper do a flat rate calculation? I have lots of questions so if anyone can give me some advice and shipper leads I'd appreciate it.

when i shipped engines i shipped them thru my local auto wrecking lot as they ship engines every day. i crated them and they took care of the rest. now days there are plastic shipping crates for engines

[Jim W.]

Re: advice for shipping an engine

I have seen the shipping using a heavy wooden crete and the motor in acually bolted down into the crete, is one way, And I have seen companies like 'Jasper' who ship MANY engines and transmissions every day, and their use a heavy black plastic moulded crete, which they leave at the shop with a build in forklift to the truck and the shop simple pays a deposit for the use of the crete. Then the company Jasper, picks up the crete a week or so after it was dropped off.

[Christopher R.]

Re: advice for shipping an engine

The trucking company wants a loading dock at both ends. They also want it on a pallet. Their expectation is that they back their truck into a loading dock and the seller's fork lift puts it on their truck. They don't load the truck. The process is reversed at the local terminal to which they bring it. I think they unload, though. You pick it up at your local trucking terminal. Some might deliver to an address, but that's expensive. You can pick it up at the terminal with a pick up truck. You can get it into the bed of a pick up with an engine hoist that you'll be needing anyway.

A crate would be nice and would protect the block. But you could also strap it to a pallet. When I don't need them, I always see signs for free pallets when I drive through industrial parks. But now that you're looking, you might have trouble finding them. I don't know if you can buy one. You can buy hundreds. Don't know about one. Many shippers now shrink wrap the item onto a pallet to secure and protect it. I don't know how much protection an engine block needs.

Google "shipping insurance" for resources. Insurance is cheap enough and can be done online.

Don't know about getting it across the US/Canadian border. But the shipping part is relatively easy and not as expensive as I thought.

[Paul Y.]

Re: advice for shipping an engine

I wrap bare blocks with several layers of cardboard and tape it securely and the trucking company will band it to a pallet when I get it our there. If I ship a long block, I can pick up some old engine pallets from a chev dealership and recycle them. They are made out of wood and fit a small or big block nicely. I always wrap them with several layers of cardboard also. Trucking companys are the best bang for the buck in shipping blocks.

[Thomas N.]

Re: advice for shipping an engine

I've never had to do this before so I really don't know where to start. How would one go about having an engine shipped across the country or out of the US say to Calgary?

I would guess that it has to be crated or maybe just put on a pallet since it's only a core but I'm not sure. Would I need to come up with an actual weight or would the shipper do a flat rate calculation? I have lots of questions so if anyone can give me some advice and shipper leads I'd appreciate it.

I've had real good luck with shipping engines and body parts with R+L carriers (and some experience with Estes). Their prices seem to be the best, plus all their trucks have liftgates and hand pallet jacks inside the trucks, so you don't need to go to a truck depot to pick your cargo up, and yes they deliver and pick up from a residence. And our local delivery person is just on heck of a nice guy who has been real accomodating in the past. I was shooting the breeze with him on one of his trips delivering parts, and he said that they deliver a lot of motors for one of the major engine rebuilders.

I've had one trucking company (I forgot their name) refuse to go down my road to make a delivery, so I had to pick my parts up on a different road. Try to unload a box of two bbc heads and stuffing them into the front seat of a Honda Civic. I wasn't too happy.

It seems for some reason, that if you strap the engine to a pallet, you need to put cardboard or a box around it to get the best shipping rate. So I usually buy a pallet box and put it over what you are shipping. I think that is part of what some of the others was alluding to with lots of cardboard around the product. Cheap thin luan type plywood works good also in lieu of the carboard pallet box.

[Thomas N.]

Re: advice for shipping an engine

I've never had to do this before so I really don't know where to start. How would one go about having an engine shipped across the country or out of the US say to Calgary?

I would guess that it has to be crated or maybe just put on a pallet since it's only a core but I'm not sure. Would I need to come up with an actual weight or would the shipper do a flat rate calculation? I have lots of questions so if anyone can give me some advice and shipper leads I'd appreciate it.

I've had real good luck with shipping engines and body parts with R+L carriers (and some experience with Estes). Their prices seem to be the best, plus all their trucks have liftgates and hand pallet jacks inside the trucks, so you don't need to go to a truck depot to pick your cargo up, and yes they deliver and pick up from a residence. And our local delivery person is just on heck of a nice guy who has been real accomodating in the past. I was shooting the breeze with him on one of his trips delivering parts, and he said that they deliver a lot of motors for one of the major engine rebuilders.

When you call for a delivery/pickup the freight company will ask you what you are shipping, the size and the weight. It is pretty easy to get dimensions of a standard pallet and the height. Once they get the information, they will classify your load (IIRC automotive engine parts and body parts are Class 200 but don't hold me to this) and give you a shipping price. I'm sure there are some shippers or truckers on this forum who are vastly more experienced and know a lot more about this than me. Usually freight charges can be prepaid or are freight collect upon delivery.

I've had one trucking company (I forgot their name) refuse to go down my road to make a delivery, so I had to pick my parts up on a different road. Try to unload a box of two bbc heads and stuffing them into the front seat of a Honda Civic. I wasn't too happy.

It seems for some reason, that if you strap the engine to a pallet, you need to put cardboard or a box around it to get the best shipping rate. So I usually buy a pallet box and put it over what you are shipping. I think that is part of what some of the others was alluding to with lots of cardboard around the product. Cheap thin luan type plywood works good also in lieu of the carboard pallet box.

[Clem Z.]

Re: advice for shipping an engine

It seems for some reason, that if you strap the engine to a pallet, you need to put cardboard or a box around it to get the best shipping rate. So I usually buy a pallet box and put it over what you are shipping. I think that is part of what some of the others was alluding to with lots of cardboard around the product. Cheap thin luan type plywood works good also in lieu of the carboard pallet box.[/quote]
they want it covered so the can stack stuff on top which they can't do if there is no flat surface to stack on. that way they can put more stuff in the truck

[Greg L.]

Re: advice for shipping an engine

Thanks guys that helps. I guess what I should do now is find a company that I can work with and see how they would like it packed and if they will pick it up.

Right now I'm considering an engine out of the Phoenix area and would like to some how get it up to Calgary. Does anyone know what the weight is of a
: bare 327 block?
: short block assembly?
: each head?

If the bare block is light enough I might just be able bring it back with me as checked baggage.

Thanks again.

[Don H.]

Re: advice for shipping an engine - UShip

You might consider UShip.com
I have had several good experiences finding good independent haulers to move several odd ball awkward heavy things on UShip.
You join UShip as you would joining eBay. Then you list your shipment, and list a target price for the move. You will very quickly get several offers on the move, and you check the feedback ratings of the hauler, and the types of moves he has made. Every kind of mover lists on UShip from one man with a van to car movers to big freight companies. Some will want your core on a pallet, and others will take it bare as it sits on the ground. You pick the hauler you like, and the price offered. When you make the deal, you give a small percentage to UShip, and pay the rest to the hauler when he delivers your engine. Try it! You'll like it.

[Joel F.]

Re: advice for shipping an engine

+1 for RLS. I strapped a bare block to a pallet and had zero issues.

[Jack H.]

Re: advice for shipping an engine

There are several considerations here:

First, if the engine is simply 'lashed' to a pallet, it doesn't qualify as being 'stackable'. Some carriers will then charge you for deck to roof equivalent volume and you can expect your shipping cost to SOAR!

Second, if the engine is assembled with bolt-on components (starter, carb, Etc.), such have been known to 'loose' parts in transit by the unscrupulous reaching through opening(s) in the pack and removing components...

You can easily 'burn' hours in the wood working process when you assemble a wooden crate from scratch. So, the time/value of your labor to pack is another consideration.

On destination components, you can ship dock-to-dock (you drop the engine off at your selected carrier's nearest terminal and the recipient collects it at the carrier's terminal closest to him) which is the lowest cost alternative.

If you ship door-to-door, then other considerations enter the equation. Is the source/destination a commercial or residential site? If you can't get an 18-wheeler there, additional fees surface for local pickup/delivery usually by a third party 'hot shot' carrier using a small van/truck.

Also, are the sites 'loading dock' equipped. Most carriers accept a site without formal loading dock facilities IF that site has a fork lift. The carrier expects the freight to be simply moved on/off truck via lateral motion...

Last, the condition of the engine makes a difference. IF it has gas/oil contents (vs. being clean/dry), you move the freight into the HazMat category. Watch the paperwork and price SOAR!

The race crowd typically ships by using 'special' containers (approx $300) that are made from plastic. You can get an entire engine inside (carb to pan) and the engine 'bolts' to the container to secure it. The plastic lid also bolts to container base and the contents are totally surrounded.

This is the best + easiest way to pack an engine for shipment. The fully assembled engine in pack will be larger than UPS max dimensions. BUT, when the engine reaches its destination and comes out of the plastic shipping container, the lid can be inverted and re-bolted to the container base. In that configuration, the empty container DOES qualify for UPS shipment on return!