Packaging engine for shipping

[wwheeler]

Anybody have pictures of what they did for "boxing" up an engine to prepare for shipping? I am thinking about sending a short block to Metric Motors. Have a rough idea of the cost?

Thanks.

[Charles 230SL]

Wallace, I spoke with Mike back in February and he quoted me a price of $400.00 each way ($800.00 round trip) from Georgia. That was for a long block - I would think a short block from Texas would be less.

[lreppond]

I recently had a long block rebuild at Metric.  It was shipped by freight in a wooden crate.  From my place in the SF Bay Area to Metric in the San Fernando Valley was $400 round trip. 

I’d call Mike Elias and ask about the best method for your short block.  He may have experience with a reliable carrier in the Dallas area and can probably guide you in packing it for safe shipment. 

[wwheeler]

Good deal. Thanks for the tips. I presume you have to build the crate at home correct?

[Bonnyboy]

I built a couple engine crates way back that fit the block like a glove and were a work of art complete with rigid foam padding.   Then in a conversation with the engine builder he asked that the next time I blow my motor please just use an existing standard pallet and build walls and a top on the pallet and strap it down with good quality ratcheting tie down straps and please no styrofoam.   My crate was solid but a non standard size and very hard to handle with one guy and a regular pallet jack.   

You may even find one at an engine builder heading to the recycler.

 Should be able to finds some ideas on youtube -  a used pallet and a sheet of plywood and some 2/4s you should have enough materials.

[MikeSimon]

Ian's (Bonnyboy) recommendayion is spot on. I ship quite a few engines. I use a standard wood pallet. which provides the possibility to lift with a fork-lift. I build strong engine supports on top of the pallet and hooks for tie-downs then close it up with plywood. As an alternative, you can wrap the engine on top of the pallet with plastic foil.

[mdsalemi]

I guess you can say there are "standard" pallets, but not all pallets are standard or the same. One may assume that a USA 48" x 48" may be called standard.

https://www.1001pallets.com/standard-pallet-sizes-and-dimensions/#More_details_on_the_different_pallet_dimensions

As you can see, there are plenty of sizes, and as long as the palette is built to be able to accommodate a palette jack you'll be fine. Forklifts generally have their forks adjustable in spacing while palette jacks do not.

I've built a few palettes when I couldn't find one, but more often built crates with a palette-jack and forklift compatible bottom. Back when wood was cheap and we had a lot of computer equipment to ship internationally, we hired a crater in concert with our freight forwarder. They were surprisingly affordable. Wood is so costly today I don't think I'd say the same...2x4s are 3x the price of pre-pandemic, and a sheet of OSB is 6-7x the price. Ouch.

[MikeSimon]

Sorry! My bad! I should not have said "standard" palette and thus sparking another "besides the point" discussion. what I mean to say was, a "readily available" or "universal" palette, whether it is a 48x40 (most common), 800x1200, 1000x1200,1100x1100 or 42x42, as long as you don't have to build it yourself