Shipping a transmission within US? : MGB & GT Forum : The MG Experience

Shipping a transmission within US? #1
Benny Ben E San Diego, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1964 Ford Cortina 1964 Land Rover Series IIA 1965 Ford Cortina 1965 MG MGB & more	Topic Creator (OP) Dec 9, 2016 11:52 AM Top Contributor Joined 18 years ago 7,503 Posts

I'm interested in shipping a transmission to a rebuilder in the Midwest, and I want to find the most cost effective way.

I want to be able to ship the trans directly to his shop, rather than asking him to go pick it up at a depot, as I'm not sure he'd be willing to do that.

Any ideas?

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #2
dickmoritz Dick Moritz Philly 'burbs, PA, USA Sign in to contact	Dec 9, 2016 12:12 PM Top Contributor Joined 14 years ago 26,258 Posts

Benny,

I ship my rebuilt overdrive gearboxes all over the country. A good choice is Fedex Ground. They'll take anything under 150 pounds, all fluids must be drained, reasonably packaged, I suggest you drop off at a regular Fedex Depot and not a Kinko's, since the office products people at Kinko's don't like to deal with unusual or heavy items. Shipping is door to door, and reasonably priced....

Dick

Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
(Often wrong, but always certain)

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #3
Benny Ben E San Diego, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1964 Ford Cortina 1964 Land Rover Series IIA 1965 Ford Cortina 1965 MG MGB & more	Topic Creator (OP) Dec 9, 2016 12:23 PM Top Contributor Joined 18 years ago 7,503 Posts

Thanks Dick,

The topic of "reasonably packaged" is a good one. Is a sturdy cardboard box box be sufficient?

Just for a ballpark estimate, what does shipping a trans half way across the country "typically" cost?

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #4
Perdido Rut Rutledge Tuscaloosa, AL, USA Sign in to contact 1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite "Scarlet" 1962 Triumph TR4 1966 Triumph TR4A 1966 Triumph TR4A & more	Dec 9, 2016 12:37 PM Top Contributor Joined 16 years ago 5,263 Posts

Benny,
I just bought a Datsun transmission today of similar size and FedEx ground is shipping it to me for $45. The seller said that you never know what they will charge and its best to call in the morning. I shipped one last year via FedEx ground and it cost $75!
Rut

1960 Bugeye,1275, 5 speed
1970 MGB, Pale Primrose
1967 Triumph TR4a
1966 Triumph TR4a
When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life. John Lennon

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #5
dickmoritz Dick Moritz Philly 'burbs, PA, USA Sign in to contact	Dec 9, 2016 12:43 PM Top Contributor Joined 14 years ago 26,258 Posts

Sturdy cardboard is fine, and you may want to invest in one of those 4-packs of orange ratcheting tie-downs from HF for added security. Overdrive gearbox without oil weighs 113. With added packaging you're probably looking at about 125 lbs total, and I have shipped these from the east coast to Florida, Carolinas, Chicago, etc for about 90-95 including appropriate insurance...

Dick

In reply to # 3409152 by Benny Thanks Dick,

The topic of "reasonably packaged" is a good one. Is a sturdy cardboard box box be sufficient?

Just for a ballpark estimate, what does shipping a trans half way across the country "typically" cost?

Errabundi Saepe, Semper Certi
(Often wrong, but always certain)

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #6
Benny Ben E San Diego, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1964 Ford Cortina 1964 Land Rover Series IIA 1965 Ford Cortina 1965 MG MGB & more	Topic Creator (OP) Dec 9, 2016 01:01 PM Top Contributor Joined 18 years ago 7,503 Posts

Thanks guys, this is good feedback.

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #7
Noble66 Noble Bradford Orlando, FL, USA Sign in to contact 1964 MG MGB "Black Betty" 1966 MG MGB "Betty White" 1969 MG MGC GT "Lola"	Dec 9, 2016 01:24 PM Top Contributor Joined 13 years ago 2,533 Posts

So an extension of this; who is rebuilding your transmission and where are they?? I have a 3 sync OD transmission with a bad 3rd gear (missing teeth). I was going to try and replace it with parts from one of the MANY transmissions I've recently acquired. Having never done any work on transmissions before I would be open to a reasonable overhaul price. I'd even disconnect the OD before shipping.

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #8
OldBloke Jim Legg Napa, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1970 Rover 3500 1970 Rover P6 "Napa NADA II" 1971 MG MGB GT	Dec 9, 2016 01:32 PM Top Contributor Joined 16 years ago 11,644 Posts

Bought a BW35 tranny shipped from Maryland to NorCal wrapped up really well with cardboard. Was less money to have it shipped to business address (my mechanics) than to my home address.

"Not all who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #9
dipstick Kenny Snyder (RIP) La Center, WA, USA Sign in to contact 1941 Ford N-Series 1958 MG MGA 1500 Coupe "Rosie" 1970 MG MGB GT "Pat's GT" 1971 MG MGB "Gifted To Me" & more	Dec 9, 2016 01:59 PM Top Contributor Joined 15 years ago 7,564 Posts

I shipped a 4-speed all sync from Battle Ground, WA to a Austin, Texas residential address. The lady helpers at the UPS store unloaded it out of my van, crated and packed it into cardboard, and shipped it that day; it arrived in Texas intact on time. Total cost $180.26. Packaging materials, fragile pack, and tax was $69.83, so the shipping alone was $110.43. This gearbox was close-ratio straight-cut so I bought the "fragile pack" feature to insure soft handling.

Be safe out there.
Kenny

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #10
Mickey Richaud Townsend, TN, USA Sign in to contact	Dec 9, 2016 02:28 PM Joined 13 years ago 1,451 Posts

If you want to pack it yourself, go to a U-Haul store and pick up two dish pack "barrels" (stout boxes, really). Transmission will fit partway into one; slip the other one over the other end and over the first barrel. Pack tightly with cardboard, bubble wrap, newspaper, etc., and tape up securely. Fedex will take it.

And oh yeah, as mentioned above, be sure and drain it thoroughly.

Mickey

'73 MGB (Sold)
'69 MGB GT/V6 Conversion (Sold)
Victor TF 1800
'03 Jaguar XK8

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #11
lewisrn Bob L Danville, IN, USA Sign in to contact 1980 MG MGB "The "B"	Dec 9, 2016 03:16 PM Top Contributor Joined 13 years ago 13,189 Posts

Here's how my OD showed up on my front porch. It was shipped from New York in a plastic tote with lots of packing (paper & cardboard). It has worked great ever since I installed it over 5 years ago.

“Ideological certainty easily degenerates into an insistence upon ignorance". Daniel Patrick Moynihan

In any debate, the side which strays from civil discussion is usually the side that lacks confidence in its debate position or in the merit of their arguments. Making personal attacks on the opponents instead of staying on the subject is also a sign of weakness.

Anyone who feels compelled to respond in kind to any perceived slight is often suffering from narcissism.

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #12
B-racer Jeff Schlemmer Shakopee, MN, USA Sign in to contact 1950 Willys Jeep Pickup "Ratrod" 1964 Land Rover Series IIA 1971 MG MGB	Dec 9, 2016 03:30 PM Top Contributor Joined 17 years ago 19,999 Posts

Those totes are pretty cheap this time of year, as they are commonly used to pack up fake Christmas trees.
Trucking a pallet with a transmission strapped to it is around $100, if you don't opt for a Tommy Lift (extra $40).

jeff@advanceddistributors.com

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #13
barrybarnes Barry Barnes Reno, NV, USA Sign in to contact 1978 MG MGB "ZoooomB"	Dec 9, 2016 04:00 PM Joined 17 years ago 787 Posts

Shipped mine "freight" with Yellow Freight Truck Lines as "scrap." I built a a small pallet from 2x4s, wrapped it all round in bubble wrap, and used ratchet straps to strap it on chriscrossed in every 45 degree angle.

It was quite inexpensive to ship and arrived in perfect condition on the other end.

I've also sent other bulky things (like two seats) by Greyhound Bus Lines with good results. They can't guarantee you a specific arrival time but it works.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-12-10 12:00 AM by barrybarnes.

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #14
Rufus Harry Singleton Deep in the East Texas Piney Woods, TX, USA Sign in to contact 1967 MG MGB "The White Car" 1967 MG MGB GT Special "Rusty"	Dec 9, 2016 04:09 PM Top Contributor Joined 17 years ago 4,521 Posts

Benny,
What Dick said.

Have fun

If ignorance is bliss, I must be the happiest man alive!
Signed

RUFUS
67 Roadster

HS Carburetors www.mgexp.com

Restoration Services. Complete SU carburetor rebuilding services. Complete SU carburetor sets available for RB retro-fit. SU's bought, any condition. MGB's bought and sold. Performance consultation. Rufus-h@hotmail.com 214-686-8692

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Re: Shipping a transmission within US? #15
benhutcherson Ben Hutcherson Maryville(St. Louis), IL, USA Sign in to contact 1970 MG MGB 1974 Austin Marina	Dec 9, 2016 10:49 PM Top Contributor Joined 8 years ago 3,643 Posts

I'd listen to Dick both in terms of shipping and also as a good resource if you need transmission work.

BTW, I don't mean to speak for Dick but he did describe his method of packing O/D transmissions over the phone one time. As I recall(and I'm sure he'll correct me) he basically sets them on a couple of 2x4s, builds some cribbing to protect the shift linkage, and shrink wraps the whole thing. That's at least what I gathered from his description.

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