But is it possible to slap a shipping label on a 2.3 SVO engine and then mail or UPS it from Chicago, IL to Soldier, IA? How much would it weigh or cost?
I think UPS has a 70 pound weight limit. You could try UPS freight,they used to be called Overnite, or any other common carrier.
Tercin
UPS's STANDARD weight limit is (or used to be) 150#, which is probably still much too low when packed. Freight would be a better bet.
Many freight companies will have larger size and weight limits than standard UPS and USPS, and something like this is actually small stuff for them. For a one time shot like this, it would probably make sense to call a couple of locally based freight forwarders in your area for prices on whichever way shipping Chicago to Iowa, to at least get an idea of prices from them so that if you do end up using a highly advertised brand carrier like UPS, you'll know if it's a better deal or not.
You know, for the distance you're talking about, (Chicago to Iowa this time of year), it might be well worth paying the gas and beer money to a buddy who owes you a big favor to just stick it in his pickup and drive it there or back, (or pay the seller if you're buying it, to meet you half way) or do it yourself, so as to not have to jump through all the common carrier required hoops. Or use a car and a tiny trailer.
Whoever you use, as far as common carriers go, they will require you to drain all the fluids and SECURELY package it, or they will not accept it. No one wants a loose, leaking engine rolling around in the back of a truck. With engines, that usually means building a wooden crate, or using a pallet and then metal or plastic strapping the engine to the pallet, unless you have access to preformed structural plastics for a "box" and expanding foaming equipment to fill the space between a sturdy bag with the engine inside and the "box".
P.S. Don't forget to ask about insurance, and delivery confirmation services, and if what you are getting is "tailgate delivery" (which means that they will NOT unload it for you)Extras can be expensive from some sources, and although UPS and some others do include a minimal amount in their basic price, ($100/$150?) plus tracking, you CAN pay an additional amount and get higher coverage.
Will, probably have to do something practical like wait for a 2.3 turbo drive-train to pop up in the Omaha or Sioux City area.
But what fun is that? ::)
Cheapest way out freightwise, would be a LTL company like estes or overnight that specializes in many individual small loads on one trailer. but you can expect to pay a minimum of 1.50 per mile. (based on what ive seen as a truck driver). If it were me I would go get it myself before I would pay big truck shipping costs. Figure a big truck gets between 4 to 7 mpg loaded, at close 3.00 a gallon for deisel. just 100 miles would be around $60 in fuel. I dont know where Soldier is, but from chicago to Cedar rapids is 250 miles. So you're looking at $150 just for fuel. plus approx. $0.40 per mile to the driver, another $100. plus the companies take, you would be looking at a minimum of $350 to ship the motor 4 hours away. wonder why everything in the stores is getting so expensive?