Best way to package/ship engine cases, etc.

Yetanotherkzrider wrote: Has anyone here shipped their large engine parts before? I've decided that I'm going to have my cases, head, covers, and all that from my spare engine vapor blasted at some point. Any tips on packaging and shipping? And does anyone have any experience with this company? What I've seen on their site looks beautiful.
www.restocycle.com/#!vapor-blasting/cuy0

NobleHops wrote:

Yetanotherkzrider wrote: Has anyone here shipped their large engine parts before? I've decided that I'm going to have my cases, head, covers, and all that from my spare engine vapor blasted at some point. Any tips on packaging and shipping? And does anyone have any experience with this company? What I've seen on their site looks beautiful.
www.restocycle.com/#!vapor-blasting/cuy0

Sorry I didn't see this earlier!

Yes, that's my outfit (and thank you and Steve for the kind words!), and my Z1 build thread is here on this site too.

kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/600077-the...1975-z1?limitstart=0

Here's what my Z1 engine looked like after vapor blasting (and a wee bit o reassembly):

The absolute best way to get stuff here safely is to double-box as was suggested. The two problem parts are the head and cylinders - they are so much heavier than everything else they are like wrecking balls in a box with other lighter parts. I wrap those two parts tightly in cardboard, then put them into a larger box surrounded by the heaviest dunnage I have, stiff crumpled paper, folded cardboard, etc. Dense stuff. Do that and they will arrive with those delicate fins intact and no problems.

The case halves I zip-tie or lightly bolt together, with strips of cardboard in-between for padding and to facilitate disassembly. I wrap these in very heavyweight bubblewrap and then these get boxed. Lately I have been buying sheets of 1/2" rigid insulation and lining the boxes. That costs about $12 per box (Home Depot etc) takes some fussing-with, but that creates a super sturdy yet lightweight impenetrable box. The cases are much easier and cheaper to pack and ship if the studs are out, enough so to pay for this excellent stud removal and installation set:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00063UMZ4

Highly recommended, that's a great tool. Use that with a little heat and penetrant and it will ease those studs right out.

The other parts are much easier to deal with, being much smaller and lighter, Wrap them in bubble wrap or in a few layers of stiff paper and pad between them. I really suggest that nothing be left directly against the walls of the box, as UPS has a propensity for piercing boxes at times =8^0. Shake the box - did you hear anything clink? If so you didn't pad well enough. Sorry!

With regard to shippers, I am happy to send folks prepaid shipping labels that can save as much as 50% over the retail rates at a place like Pakmail or the UPS Store. Just pack and weigh your boxes and relay that to me, and I'll email back a PDF. Print, tape and drop at any UPS store for free, done. I'll bill you for everything when I ship and send tracking. I use UPS ground most frequently, but Greyhound is also a very cost-effective option for shipping freight, and that's not far out of my way to pickup, so that's an option too.

Best,

Nils

Street Fighter LTD wrote:
Nice to see you on here Nils

Dave