Transporting an engine

[cradock]

Hello, I’m looking for any ideas/advice for moving an engine… I recently had a local firm swap out the engine in my car for a new one which I sourced from eBay… the original engine needs thoroughly rebuilding and I’ve decided at least to tear it down and either try to rebuild myself (mid life crisis project, I know) or more likely sell off the parts that aren’t knackered to recoup some of the cost.

My question is how to transport the engine the 3-4 miles from the garage to my house… does anyone have experience of any couriers that might do this (I’m based in East Sussex) or can advise how to go about doing it myself (I don’t own van or anything so prefer to get a third party to deal with it)

Any thoughts most gratefully received! John

[snotrag]

3 mates and a rented/borrowed van or pickup. Wouldnt over think it.

Most engines would go in the back of a decent estate car, to be honest.

[Rawhide]

I would use https://www.shiply.com/

I've never had any issues, and I'm sure a local courier would give a good quote.

[cradock]

Rawhide said:

I would use https://www.shiply.com/

I've never had any issues, and I'm sure a local courier would give a good quote.

Thanks - I’ll take a look at these guys!

[s94wht]

Sling it in the back of your Volvo.

[Ussrcossack]

Horse and Cart round here.

Risk is engine gets weighed in

[cradock]

s94wht said:

Sling it in the back of your Volvo.

That is mrs cradocks chariot… i value remaining attached to my balls way too much to even entertain that idea…

[AndrewT1275]

Looking at your profile you've got an XC90. It should easily fit in that. I've carried complete engine & gearbox aassemblies in an Outback easily enough.

Unless of course the borked engine is the one from the XC90. In which case you should still put the engine in the back and then tow it with one of the other cars.

[spoodler]

If using a "courier" - make sure in advance of what they want you to do... some will pick it up and manhandle it, some may want it to be secured to a pallet and will expect you to have a forklift to offload.
A decent trolley is handy for shifting engines, a bit of reinforced ply and some decent industrial castors will do the job.

[spitfire-ian]

As a teenager a few of us got a Range Rover V8 into the boot of a Peugeot 106 with the back seats down. I'd just hire a small van and some mates for an afternoon.

[njw1]

The last time I moved an engine it was a 2.0 Zetec complete with gearbox from Birmingham to South Wales and it went in the back of a Ford Sierra with three of us to lift it in and out. Job jobbed.

[ingenieur]

Have you got an engine hoist?

If so then the easiest thing is to hire a van and move it yourself. Couriers charge a lot for moving pallets and I don't think they'll charge much less just because it's only 3 miles.

Another alternative is to ask the garage to strip it down for you. Probably do that for 1/2 an hour labor, maybe for free if you've been a good customer. Then you can easily move it.

[s p a c e m a n]

Go to b&q and they'll have transit vans in the car park that you can rent by the hour

https://www.hertz247.co.uk/bq/en-gb

[Krikkit]

s p a c e m a n said:

Go to b&q and they'll have transit vans in the car park that you can rent by the hour

https://www.hertz247.co.uk/bq/en-gb

Costco also have these if you're not near a B&Q

[SturdyHSV]

I could sling the crane in the back of the Ute and 'pop over' if you're not in a rush, it's SORN for a week as insurance renews on the 28th.

EDIT:

Just realised you're a 3 hour drive away including the M25

Is it an interesting engine at least?!

Edited by SturdyHSV on Friday 24th February 15:00

[CrutyRammers]

I moved an alfa V6 in the back of a mitsubishi colt. Peasy, buy/rent a crane, probably cheaper than a courier.

[Catnip64]

Ask the garage if they could move it for you?

[Olivergt]

I would be going with renting a van.

The garage will have an engine hoist, so getting it in the van should not be an issue.

Getting it out, might be a bit more difficult, depends what you have to hand, long sturdy planks will help to slide it down out of the van, if you slide it on to a heavy blank/tarp, you would be surprised how easy it might be to drag around. A few buddies to help is always good as well.

Lots of straps for holding down and pulling.
Lots of different bits of wood for levering, sliding down.
Old board/blankets to pull it around on.

[Cledus Snow]

My Ford V8 went to the machine shop in the boot of a Mini Cooper.

[ingenieur]

Olivergt said:

I would be going with renting a van.

The garage will have an engine hoist, so getting it in the van should not be an issue.

Getting it out, might be a bit more difficult, depends what you have to hand, long sturdy planks will help to slide it down out of the van, if you slide it on to a heavy blank/tarp, you would be surprised how easy it might be to drag around. A few buddies to help is always good as well.

Lots of straps for holding down and pulling.
Lots of different bits of wood for levering, sliding down.
Old board/blankets to pull it around on.

You would use a trolley to move it around once you had it at home. That's what I do with all my heavy stuff.