I'm curious if anyone here has experience with shipping engine blocks across the country (or other similar heavy stuff). The block I'm needing to send is a bare SBF block, so I'm guessing with crating it should be under 200 pounds. Hopefully well under. Is there a particular trucking or shipping company that anyone has experience with? I checked the Greyhound site and they have a 100 pound limit. I understand UPS will take up to 150#, but I'm not sure if I can be that light. Any suggestions or insight would be appreciated.

 

I can only suggest looking into U-Ship, or maybe even Conway. Hopefully something works out for ya, cuz I'm thinking maybe one of those 254 blocks could make their way to my house.

 

U-Ship is the only choice I could think. Maybe your shipment will end up on the Shipping Wars tv show.

 

I had to ship a transaxle from ABQ to Connecticut. It weighed about 100 lbs, and was about the size of a SBF block. I tried to get a local company to band it to the pallet (Paslode-type steel banding) but couldn't find anyone who would do it. So I used two of the cheap HF ratcheting load straps. It shipped via truck freight (no residential deliveries), dock-to-dock was under $100. It only took a week to get there. There are plenty of truck freight on-line quote websites. I believe this is the one I used: Freight Quote, Freight Companies, Freight Shipping Companies, Shipping Rates - FreightCenter.com

 

I don't know whether you're talking about a 289/302 block or a 351W block, but a late model 302 block weighs in around 125 lbs. An early block will be about 10 lbs. heavier. I don't know about a 351, but I'd guess 140-150.

 

I've shipped a few tractor blocks and parts across the country. One shipped UPS as the stripped block was under 100lbs. Others went various forms of truck freight. One was to a FedX employee so I had no problem shipping FedX freight at his cost. I really don't know what it cost him. I built pallets and bolted the parts securely to the pallet and strapped heavy cardboard and packing around the part. There was never a question about my packaging. Expensive, yes. It has to be a part that is not available locally or shipping costs make it cost prohibitive. Most any trucking company will ship dock to dock.
Many years ago I shipped Greyhound and they did good.

Consider too, that a pallet will weigh several lbs when trying to make weight limits.

 

It is an early 289 block with the 5 bolt bellhousing pattern. It will ultimately go in a container to England. I just need to get it from my house to the container dock in Florida. My thought was building a small wooden crate to package it in. From the suggestions, it sounds like I should be looking at a pallet instead? A block-sized box would certainly take up much less space and be easily portable with a hand truck dolly. But I have no real experience with the ways of truck freight shipping.

 

Coincidence?.....just as I was reading your post last night a commercial came on the television for UPS. It said they will ship any thing anywere and they even mentioned engine blocks. I thought 'now that is exactly what Wayne was talking about'. There you go. Good luck.

 

I'd check into how UPS ships "anything", I am pretty sure something like a block they would simply pass off to a freight company, and you'd end up paying the mark-up.

 

UPS has their own freight division. They bought out Overnite Trucking. FedEx also has their own freight division. A friend of mine runs LTL freight for FedEx.

It's always best to put something that large and heavy on a pallet. It'll be easier to load/unload and moving it around. Plus, if you build a crate around it, you may be able to get a cheaper rate because it'll be in a "box" and can be stacked on top of or next to. When freight is packed into a trailer, they like the packaging to have square dimensions.

You may also want to look into the large household moving companies. They're not always full going across the country.

 

I shipped a Chrysler V6 engine less the starter, injection and manifolds from Kentucky to Pheonix, Arizona last year with Fed Ex frieght for 302.00, I built a 2by4 small pallet and cheap strap around it. They rebuilt it and sent it back on the same pallet/strap and return shipment was with ABF freight, dock to dock, Garry

 

I shipped a Miller buzzbox arc welder via FedEx Ground...as I recall it was cheaper than I thought it would be and I didn't even have to put it in a box.

 

The cheapest freight I could find that was local was ABF ( ABF Freight System, Inc. - Home Page ) . I've used them around 10 times. I've shipped a couple engine blocks, a rear diff, transmission and a 53-56 F100 hood and some other large or heavy items. They were friendly very helpful. I would gladly use them again.

I've also used Fedex freight to ship a rear diff. Not such a great experience with them. They treated me badly and I had nothing but issues. The only reason I used them was because the buyer requested it shipped that way. I won't use them again.