How would you ship an engine?
 

So I found a guy in Texas with a complete MSM engine that I'm looking to purchase. I've never had an engine shipped across the country before, l have no idea what carrier to even look into. Obviously this would be palletized freight but I have no idea what carriers I should look at.

Alternately: If someone in the TX crew is willing to go pick this up, stick it on a pallet and ship it to me, I'd be willing to discuss terms to compensate you for gas/time. Its located about 2hrs east outside Dallas.

This all started because I realized that the ONLY way I'm going to get a turbo in my 2000 and have it street legal in California (READ: CARB LEGAL) is to swap in an MSM engine/harness/ECU and get it stickered by a CA smog ref. I'm willing to do this, but it has to be a MSM engine, not just a MSM valve cover on my BP4W with some manifolds bolted to it.

So yeah, tell me about shipping an engine. Tell me about your experiences and what to look out for.

Thanks!

I bought one from a member on here. He was kind enough to stick it on a pallet for me. I forget the website I used, but it was shipped freight and arrived via 18 wheeler. You can save some $$ on it if you've got a business/loading dock you can have it dropped off at. I would expect $200-300 total if I had to guess.

Pallet, shrink-wrap, call around. It typically costs us $200 within CA, $500 to the midwest, ~$800 to the east coast.

You could try something like this.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1331598162

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1331598162

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1331598162


The brackets can be wrapped and sent anywhere for cheap, then bolted to just about any base. I don't know if Sav still has them. If he does, you can ship them out to the guy in Texas. They can be communal, like the oil pan tap that's floating around here.