Any idea of cost to ship a fully dressed Flathead engine from Pennsylvania to California? I have no idea where to begin as I've never done this before. Everything I've ever shipped has been small things and i've used UPS or fed Ex from my work. I imagine the cost is pretty high...? Spike
Ten years ago I shipped a Red Ram Hemi with B-W T5 attached from San Antonio to Illinois. I was lucky that there was a shipper near the airport here that handled everything including building a crate. They would not touch it (insurance, y'know) unless they were allowed to build the crate. Before doing anything I called the destination shop and asked if they had any experience with carriers they have used and could recommend, and they named one with a San Antonio terminal nearby. So when I took the engine/trans to the shippers I specified that I wanted that freight line. They handled the rest, including interstate permits, etc that I had no experience with. Be sure there's no flammable liquids in there anywhere, etc. Total cost: $695, and that was 10 years ago, but it got there with no damage at all. Fearless
I sold a 390 Caddy and trans to a guy in Cal. Originally the freight was going to be 600+ but he got on line and found a couple sites where you can put in what your shipping (weight and size) and they bid on your shippment. He ended up paying about half that as I recall. It helps the trucking companies too, by not running empty for some of the trip. Sorry I don't recall the site but a little internet sluething should turn up something.
Try calling the trucking companies in your yellow pages or if you're in a mud puddle size town try the next one with decent population. Not all truckers will want to mess with one box but they are in the business of hauling freight so call them all. My most recent shipment was an engine going from Portland to San Diego, total freight was $305. Take extra time and build the stoutest box you can, it may get something else piled on top of it. Besides, for a footprint the size of a pallet you'll have about 1000lb allowance. .
I think that there was a post on here about AMTRAK shipping heavy items. If you're near a train station that may be an option.
I shipped a guy in California a truck lid off of a 62 Galaxie a while back. I had it picked up at work by Fed Ex Freight and shipped it to another bussiness and it cost the guy $225.00 give or take a little. Thats from Indiana.
I've used freightquote.com as well (my contact guy there was Yannik Torres). Always got a good rate and never a problem.
Do you have any friends that can work with you to ship from their company and use their company's freight discount rate? Heavy truck parts shops? I can't remember if an engine will ship with cl*** 50 or cl*** 70 rates. I can have a 15 speed Fuller ****** shipped from Chicago or Charlotte on FedEx Freight for under $100 each way. My employer has some pretty good discounts on freight. I do realize we are also talking a longer distance.
I work for a shipping company. We ship engines and trannies all the time. Have terminals nation wide. Dont know the cost. Try Con-way.com to get a quote
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