Shipping outdrive
 

Looking for suggestions on the best way to ship separated Bravo upper/lower to Max Machine in Havasu from Toledo. I am tired of UPS (oops!) dropping my expensive items and denying responsibility for damage.

A couple years ago, they destroyed an original '67 Corvette bolt-on rim when they dropped it and broke a large piece off the bead. After inspection, they denied responsibility, stating that "it was not packed properly". The sender had to eat the cost. I have one of only 720 documented '67 Corvettes equipped from the factory with these wheels. There are not alot of them left in the world. :mad:

I've had lower units sent from Max Machine on two different occasions by UPS. The tips of the nosecones were flattened on BOTH from being dropped. :mad:

When I took an empty Bravo lower housing to the UPS Store for shipping, the rocket scientist at the counter drops the box onto a concrete floor from waist level RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! After hearing a loud thud, she has the balls to tell me I didn't pack it properly. :mad:

I'm tired of these overpaid low-life idiots destroying my stuff!

Anyone have experience with DHL?

What about shipping on a pallet with a trucking line? How "secure" would this item have to be to prevent damage/theft?

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

My company is the largest shipper of UPS in Ottawa County. They incessently lose and damage product. The max award they pay without insurance is $100.00. And you have to fight for that.

We also use DHL and Fedex on a very limited basis becasue of their service is not as user friendly for us as UPS. (hours of pick up, we are in that one remote area that they slightly mention at the end of their ads).

Anytime we ship something expensive, fragile or marginally large for UPS we use common carrier. If you have something to ship LTL and do not have the ability to package etc you can bring it to the metropolis of Oak Harbor and we will ship it for you. Charge would be cost of pallet or any special packaging other than just std stuff we have laying around and exact freight cost. :D

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

A friend of mine has switched to Fed Ex. Seems better than UPS and way cheaper :D Big block heads(iron) NJ to CA $98 UPS...$46 FedEx :eek:

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

I've had good luck with FED EX and "common carrier". Something like that I'd build a box, "lock" it in place, and ship common carrier.

RD, what do you have for a 67' Vette, my all time favorite Vette. Have a friend in NY that has an all original 67' L-88 with less than 40 thousand miles on it. Only takes it out when radar says no rain within three thousand miles.

The car is in unreal condition, showroom and I mean absolutely showroom new condition. He keeps it on a lift in his garage so he can detail the undercarriage after every time it gets driven. One of the two best sounding vehicles I've ever heard.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

I have shipped many parts via UPS including drives, drive cases, props and alum. heads as well.

I only had one somewhat bad experience where the package that the heads were shipped in, looked like it was broken open and retaped. But no damage to the heads.

I think, no matter who you ship with, you must pack your product in anticipation of it being mishandled. lots of bubble wrap, peanuts, foam, ect ect. If you go with a common carrier and ship on a pallet, It may take longer depending on the shippers schedules.

For your Separated bravo, pack all your gears in separate box and wrap them all up. wrap up your cases in heavy bubble wrap, surrounded by crumble news paper or packing paper, which has some cushion to it.

I would also recommend insurance.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

We ship stuff out LTL all the time. Secure the drives to a small pallet and they will pick them up with a lift, not by hand. At least if the mess it up, it will be destroyed!!! and buy the insurance!
Russ C.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

Wrapped and strapped down to a pallet. Common Carrier LTL.

Wannabe

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

Sorry for my ignorance. what does LTL stand for?

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

I had a Bravo drive shipped from Florida to NJ, via UPS and it arrived damaged. When I had to send it back, I brought it to UPS waited on line for 1/2 hour and then UPS decided to open it up. Then they tell me they will not ship it, bla bla bla...
I then went to Fedex/Kinkos sent it via Fedex and it took a few minutes, (I did have to retape the box. ) Cost was less than a $100.00 with insurance.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

Bruce,

LTL "Less Than Truckload"



OR

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

The only way to be sure is to have me drive it out there in my pick up.
It will take a few days to get it there. Then Reginald Denny can fix it for you and I will wait at the bar at the Nautical. Maybe I will play a round of golf, drive up to Vegas. Then I will bring the drive back to Toledo for you.
I figure two grand oughtta cover my "expenses." :D

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

I have had a few drives (TRS and SSM3A drives) sent from FL to NY overnight for around $150 using Delta airlines cargo. They actually put it right on a commercial flight.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

strap it down on a pallet, cover with cardboard to protect from scratches, etc. and wrap in plastic ( i shrink wrap them). I ship them all over the country like this -- usually Roadway or similar freight line.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

As it was explained to me, UPS has a 48" rule. In order to be classified "Packaged Correctly" the package has to be able to sustain a drop of 48" with no damage to the package or the contents.

One bit of advise if you are shipping through a UPS agent such as "Mail Boxes Etc." make certain that the insurance that you are purchasing is the UPS insurance not a second hand carrier that they sell on the side as the non UPS insurer will not pay off any damage claims and your SOL.

Also, if it can break insure the hell out of it and pack it like someone one is going to abuse it b/c you know they are going to.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

I had an outdrive shipped from NY to Fla. It was strapped on a pallet, and shipped LTL. I think it was around $100.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

reddog i own a freight co.i can help you out call me thur. 7a-5p est or tonite after 9p. if its not to late.
thanks todd 616-682-0433

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

I ship tons of things UPS, and FEDEX most all are expensive and easy to break. I have never had problems with things I have shipped. I have however had problems with things shipped to me by other people. I would say 90% of the time the problem is the packaging. If you box something up and its fragile, you should be confident that you can throw the box against the wall without it breaking, because that is how low paid workers are going to treat a box. A box is just a box to those guys.

You can use a freight company, you can use a pallet or you can build a crate using lumber if you would like.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

Fund,

Would your fee be a tax-deductable charitable contribution? :D

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

Russ,

1967 435 H.P. tri-power big block convertible with 17 factory options. Sunfire yellow with black stinger, black/white interior, bolt-on wheels, side exhaust, heavy-duty susp, tinted windows, transistorized ignition, speed warning. All original numbers.

I have the original hand-written order sheet from the dealer. I am the third owner. An extensive frame-off restoration was undertaken by the second owner who had the car since 1971. Body was being prepped for paint when he had to sell the car due to divorce. :( . I think he may have been out drowning his sorrows before giving the car up ... it was damaged in the front end (fenders split back to the front wheel well) and had taken a hit in the rear, too. I had Barry Glovik from the Cat-Can-Do race team put it back together and paint it.

The car is a blast to drive and gets lots of thumbs-ups. Great for conversations at the gas stations, too! I'm not sure the neighbors like it too well ... rattles their windows everytime I start it up (although not as bad as the boat with both engines runing). :D

I'll eventually post pics when I finally break down and get a digital camera.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

I think I will do this. I have a pallet, 2X4's, and plywood left over from a recent construction project. Also have some 1' thick rubber mats I can line the box with that would prevent damage from vibration. I'll probably put the upper and lower together and build the box so they can return it fully asembled in same.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

Todd,

I will call you Thursday.

Thanks,

Chris

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

Expresscat39,

Thanks for your offer. I will consider this if other options don't work out.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

The unit clerk I'm working with tonight has a friend who works in administration for Roadway so I might have another good line on setting this up. Thanks to all for your suggestions and offers to help get this done!

Sincere Thanks,

Chris

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

Let me throw a little story in about a shipping claim. I quite often buy parts from competition products in oshkosh wis,3 yrs ago they had bought a TRUCKLOAD of merc marine warranty motors (ALL BBC"S :D :D ) and they were selling them as dissassembled complete cores. They would tear them down,inspect them,tell you what was damaged,give you a fair price and ship it pallatized with the crank in the block. I had bought three of them,got them with no problems and sold them to local hot rodders. A buddy of mine wanted one so i had him call up and order it himself and it showed up with the pallet broken in half (was blueline trucking or holland motor freight). Nothing appeared to be damaged but once he tore it down he discovered when they dropped it the CRANK HAD SNAPPED near counter weight next to # 1&2 rod journal. We called comp up,they said let's turn in a claim. It turns out because the parts were shipped as used automotive they were insured for 55 cents a POUND!!!! :eek: :eek: . So freight company gave my buddy 30 $ for his broken steel crank!!!(by the way,the gm 1053 steel crank snapped just like cast iron). My salesman there made good on it and sent another perfect crank but when we asked the trucking company how to avoid this from happening again they said used automotive is used automotive,you are unable to buy extra insurance beyond the weight and shipping category,period. I guess they have a category for each kind of item and it is insured by the pound accordingly if its not new. Now i find this hard to believe and i'm sure someone else out there can add to this but the point to all this is if you ship a used motor or outdrive by truck you need to ask,if this gets damaged or dissappears,EXACTLY HOW IS IT COVERED/INSURED?? On a side note,Max machine sent me a outdrive in june overnight air ups but they were real reluctant because they said they were having ALOT of problems with stuff getting busted up by ups.I was lucky and they shipped it in a original merc outdrive box that was extremely hd,it showed up with no damage. Part of the problem with shipping bravo outdrives whole by ups is they are real close to their 150lb weight limit bare which doesn't leave much leeway for alot of extra packaging. Best thing if shipping one ups is to seperate upper from lower and package seperately,Smitty

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

Smitty,

I am basically having Max rebuild and upgrade a XR upper that was about ready to let go. Lube was black, smelled burnt, and had large metal shavings in it. I am sure the clutch is smoked. In addition, the lower had twisted vertical and prop shaft from previous owner's 950 H.P. blower motors and heavy throttle hand.

I would prefer to send just the upper, but the problem is that one of the lowers they did leaks drive lube between the upper/lower. I have reassembled this drive three times, the last using aviation sealer and it still leaks. I believe I am not getting enough compression of the O-ring in between. I'm not sure the shimming is adequate to raise the tab washer high enough to compress the O-ring. Aaron suggested I send the lower unit back and they will evaluate and correct the problem free of charge. I figured I might as well send it back and have them assemble it to the rebuilt upper.

I know you have extensive experience with Max and rebuilds. Any ideas what might be causing this problem (leaking)?

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

yes, your receipt will say "The Human Fund."

In all seriousness, the wood box idea is the ticket. Make a lid with screws so that they can re-use the same box really easily. Put in a few cross members that will keep the drive in place and wrap those with your rubber stuff.
Write the weight on the outside of the crate so that the shipper doesn't try to move it without a truck and then drop it. Or better yet... Strap it to a pallet.

Good luck.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

One thing to note if still using UPS (I have had bad luck with them also), is NOT to go to "the UPS Store". It is a franchise (most are old Mailboxes, etc) , not UPS themselves, and can set their own rates which are very high.

Try Staples, as most have a UPS shipping desk, and I have found the rates to be much lower than the UPS store. A UPS driver first turned me onto this saying off the record that UPS store rates were the worst he'd ever seen.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

True Dat.

I worked (in college) at a "Wrap and Ship."
Our shipping rates were about DOUBLE the UPS card rate.
And we scrwed people on packaging, too.

I wish I was a partner in that puppy.

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

I used to be a bellman at a hotel. There was a convention at NASA and a lot of spacey guys showed up, one had a $10,000.00 lense for his telescope in our package room. I was carefull with this thing all week and asked the UPS guy to load it upright, the thing had NASA and fragile and up stikers all over it. it was a tube crate about 4 feet tall and 16 inches in diameter. The UPS guy takes it out to his truck on a dolley and then perceded to throw it into his truck. He threw it so hard that it hit the back side of the cab and almost bounced back out of the truck. I *****ed him out about it and wouldn't sign for the pickup. His reply was if the guy can afford one he can buy another when this one shows up broken. What an *******, I'll never use UPS just because of this guy

Ernie

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

I'm sure there are a lot of conscientious UPS folks out there BUT supposedly UPS also stands for Untrained Package Smashers! Can ya imagine that?

Re: Shipping outdrive
 

There are 2(if i remember right) o-rings between upper and lower,the main one goes around groove in bottom of tower,are you sure the lower doesn't have a scar in the bore?It sounds like you tried alot to fix it,sometimes someone else can look right at something and see something youve looked hard for(its happened to me before),I'm sure the'll figure it out,post what they tell you when you get a answer from them,i'm curios too,Smitty
If they can't find it they will need to pressure check it and look for first wet spot to determine where the seepage first starts,i would insist they pressure check it unless they find a clear 100% reason why it leaked,you'd hate to get it back and have it still leak!! :eek: