Tips on removing, crating and shipping an engine
 

I have a potential buyer for the engine from my 560SL. However, he lives halfway across the country, so the engine would have to be removed from the car by me, crated and shipped. If any of you have experience with such a task, could you please give me your suggestions and experiences? I have only removed one engine from a car and that was from a '59 ponton, so this beast will be a bit different. I do have the service manual and hopefully an experienced helper, so I'm sure I can get the engine out of the car, but any tips in that regard would be appreciated too. I'm interested in what the best method of crating and shipping would be.

Thanks.

Check to see if there is a Jaspar engine rebuilder near you. They ship engines all over the world. They probably have a crate/skid you could buy.

Could you sell him the whole car
 

Since he is looking for a good engine, maybe he would be interested in other parts also. It would cost more to ship the whole car, but maybe not that much more when you consider the work you can save yourself. Maybe the buyer would pay the increase for the additional parts. There is only one good way to get that engine out of there and that is with good tools and an engine lift. It is difficult and expensive to ship an engine. Are we correct to assume the car can in no way be driven? Some parts cars still run and drive, but half way across the country is a long way

FedEx Freight has about the best prices on stuff this big, at least in my area, that I've found. I've used them to ship packaged sets of 5 wheels + tires, a 327 boat motor, etc., etc. Their rates aren't as expensive as you'd think.

You have to pack it yourself, though, which is a PITA. You're going to need to buy a crate. Once it's packed, you call them and they send a truck to your location for pickup. I think UPS also offers a similar service, but I've not used it.

I would have thought this would be best served by a trucking company.

Get the weight of the Engine, First
 

Then Call:
Small Business Transportation,Inc.
WWW.FREIGHT101.COM
(888) 368-6022

Ask for Joe Wilson

[They're kinda like an Un-utilized Freight Bidder.
'Had the lowest rates last December]

Go for a high quality oak pallet. Nail on a 1/2" plywood floor to it. Set the engine on it after you drained all fluids. Nail 2x4s around the pan. Block and brace. Get ratchet tie downs. Ratchet two across and two length wise. Cover engine
The key is to immobile the engine.

Second this. I took a nice wooden pallet and used about a pound of sheet rock screws to make it super strong (couple of screws in every joint), then added some 2x2's to the pallet. I tied my M117 engine down with some ratchet tie-downs (Costco - $18) through the exhaust manifolds and the pallet upper wood slats and 2x2's. I used my cherry picker to put the pallet into the back of a pickup truck and the trucking company removed it with a fork lift. It traveled from Las Vegas to Kentucky just fine.