How to ship a transmission across the U.S. ?

[Mike Phillips]

How to ship a transmission across the U.S. ?

First the bad news... transmission is out in my truck.  I lost reverse and she's a leaking and making noises.  I don't want to rebuild it either I'm done forever with 700R4 transmissions.

Now the good news... I have a Turbo 400 Short Shaft already rebuilt by Dana Sniff out in Irvine, California all ready to go.  Problem is I'm in Stuart, Florida.

Called Dana today and he's going to build a crate for the transmission and a pallet to strap it to.  He needs me to figure out the transportation part for getting it from his home shop to Stuart.

He says it's going to weigh around 180 pounds giver or take a few pounds depending upon the woodwork for the crate.

Anyone ever do anything like this before?  Is UPS an option or?

Thanks ahead of time...

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Here's the Turbo 400...




Here's the t-case, it's actually cleaned up and painted now...





 

[timthescarrd]

I've never shipped a transmission, but I have shipped large palletized objects.  You need an L2L (LTL) freight company.  FedEx Freight will do this.  It would be shipped on a semi, so you'd need access for a 26' trailer in both pickup and dropoff locations.  if you don't have a forklift, you have to request a truck with a liftgate.  You can get a basic quote from FedEx's site, just click the frieght tab at the top

[Mike Phillips]

We have a forklift at truck and do a lot of shipping in and out everyday.  (Autogeek).

Dana runs his shop out of his garage and doesn't have a forklift.  Hmm....

I'm heading out there in March for the 2nd Annual Benedict Castle Concours where they'll be honoring Ed Isky Iskenderian of Isky Cams.

Hate to have to wait till March to process that but might come down to physically having to be there to make it happen.

[Mike Phillips]

 You need an L2L (LTL) freight company.  FedEx Freight will do this.  It would be shipped on a semi, so you'd need access for a 26' trailer in both pickup and dropoff locations. 

if you don't have a forklift, you have to request a truck with a liftgate. 

You can get a basic quote from FedEx's site, just click the frieght tab at the top

This is why I like forums like 73-87ChevyTrucks.com - ask a question and get help.  Checked out the FedEx site like you said and assuming I had the measurements and weight "close" here's what they say...

[zieg85]

I've been using Fastenal Stores.  They usually charge about 1/2 the going rate and ship store to store.  For a quote all you need is the 2 stores you want to deal with and weight.  I've shipped garden tractor mower deck on a skid.

[Stewart G Griffin]

$511 to ship a trans?  How much is the trans worth?

Just throwing this out there---try greyhound.

[roundhouse]

He doesn't need to build a crate

New transmissions come Ina special made plastic shipping container
If he can find one nearby




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[fitz]

  I shipped a 700R4 I sold on eBay.
  I bought a Rubernaid container at Walmart (about $18). I then got a cheap piece of plywood at Home Depot. I cut a piece of plywood and placed it on the bottom of the container. I put the trans in the container, then cut 4 plywood pieces and placed them between the trans and all 4 sides of the container to stiffen it up.  I put the cover on and drilled about  20 holes in the container and the top so I could secure the top with tie wraps. This was a nice leak proof set up for shipping a used trans (it was drained, but still a dirty/greasy trans).
  I used a shipping company that shipped it from Mass to Virginia for about $150 (I dropped it off at the loading dock).
  Next time, I would package it just like I did but ship it with Fastenal like Zieg suggested.

[Mike Phillips]

$511 to ship a trans?  How much is the trans worth?

It's a brand new rebuild with all the heavy duty go fast parts built by Dana Sniff of Dana Sniff Transmissions.  I'm not a transmission expert but Dana is.  He built it up for my Silverado so I'm just trusting that this is as good as it gets when it comes to a Turbo 400 short shaft.

[Mike Phillips]

Thanks everyone and fits and Zieg...

I'll check into to Fastenel


 

[Mike Phillips]

Cool.  Fastenel is right down the road from me and from Dana.

Dana
Store Code: CACOS
18001 Sky Park Circle
Bldg 49 Ste Q
Irvine, CA USA 92614


Me
Store Code: FLSTU
4362 SE Commerce Ave
Stuart, FL USA 34997


I'll call them on Monday.

Don't mind  driving the wife's car but miss my truck.

Plus I think she thinks I drive it hard....

Who me?

 

[VileZambonie]

Let's say you spend all of this $$ to have a TH400 shipped over to you and you end having an issue with it. Now what do you do? Ship it back and ship it back again? If you aren't a transmission savvy guy I would recommend either dealing with a local transmission shop or buying a unit from a reputable vendor with a good warranty. While the TH400 is stout, it's nothing special and they're a dime a dozen. Have you thought about upgrading? 4L80E? What is the 700R4 behind that you are against running one?

[NCali]

Back in the 80,s I think when the 700r4 first came out ,they were weak and easy to wreck
but through out time they have come to be a good trans provided someone that knows transmissions well rebuilds them.The last time I had mine done I went to a reputable trans shop and had it done right . That thing has been bullet proof . They are a good trans when done right. Id be willing to bet that turbo 400 cost him about 3,000.00

[Mike Phillips]

Let's say you spend all of this $$ to have a TH400 shipped over to you and you end having an issue with it. Now what do you do? Ship it back and ship it back again?

If I have problems with this Turbo 400 I'll have the local shop deal with it.  Dana has been rebuilding transmissions for 41 years.  He's owned two shops in Orange County, California from 1979-1995.  I've known and been friends with Dana for about 7+ years and I trust his work.  That's why I asked him to build me a Turbo 400 fresh for my truck.