I couldn't find the right combination of words or it there aren't any topics I can find about getting freight to an apartment complex.

I have a small one car garage which currently houses my 86' RX7. I think I can either make enough room or some how find the room to put the NA motor while I put in a new one.

I don't know what to do about getting the engine off of the fright trunk if I get it shipped (which is probably how it's getting to me if I order). What tools do I need (if any) to get the engine off of the truck and into my garage? I already need to find a friend with a truck so I can go buy a engine hoist from harbor freight. Do the freight companies even ship to apartment complexes? Will they deliver to my garage (which is in the complex) if I take a day off from work to wait for it? Hopefully the cold and snow won't get in my way (I live in Colorado)

BTW my rx7 is not my daily driver, it's actually had it's steering wheel removed and the sun roof off for about a month and a half lol, need to get around to getting out to my garage and bringing in the sunroof for cleaning.

 

Are you getting a keg or complete engine? 2 people can easily pick up a pallet with a keg on it. If its a complete engine, stick some long 2x4's under the pallet.

I usually transport mine on a pallet with a 2x4 under one side of the oil pan, trash bag over it, and a rachet stap to hold it down.

As for pulling an engine, I prefer to use a cherry picker over an engine hoist. I can easily move the engine back and forth instead of moving the car. This means that I can leave ramps under the car, and can leave my hood on while pulling and replacing the engine (Thanks Ben @RotaryExtreme for the hood struts!).

I usually reserve the engine hoist for lifting things that don't need moving... Like the front or *** end of my street bike when I'm working on it.

 

It should be a complete engine (still looking at getting one) Most places ship them complete on a pallet. Will a cherry picker fit in a one car garage? Will it fold up? If it's a whole engine can 2 people lift the pallet without a forklift (I'm in an apartment complex remember lol) I did think about maybe having it delivered to work where we have a loading dock and possibly renting a truck to get it home but it sounds like it would be easier to get it at home. Does the fright shipping guy usually have stuff to get the pallet off the truck?

 

almost all freight companies will only ship directly to a commercial address. any other deliveries you must go and pickup personally from a depot in a larger city nearby.

you don't really need anything to move the engine aside from 2 non wussy persons lifting and moving the engine by hand.

 

My experience with shipped pallets is that most trucks won't deliver to an address that doesn't have a dock (or a forklift).
You can check with your (eventual) shipper to see what their policy is and, if the truck does have a lift, what the charge is for using it.

Where in CO do you live?

 

I live in Westminster. I work in Denver and I might be able to persuade the dock guys to accept my shipment but I would be much happier if they would just drop the pallet at my house lol. I could drag the pallet into my garage at least. Biggest problem I have with picking it up is a truck, I would probably have to rent or ask one of my coworkers.

 

or if your FC is operational still you can throw it in the back. use the cargo straps to hold it down with some old junk towels. i've had 2, maybe even 3 engines in the back of my turbo II a number of times.

 

My FC is operational. If an entire engine fits in the back of the car that might not be a bad idea. I was going to pull the engine and then wait for a new one then just drop it in, although with the limited space in my garage I would have to roll the car out and get the pallet(or engine) in and then push the car back in.

If there is anyone in the Denver area that knows of a place that rents garage space (that I could use for the day to drop the new engine in) that might also be an idea. Would they ship an engine there?

 

well maybe not a complete engine but a short block fits quite easily.

 

I figured I would get 'creative' with how I store and transport the engine. My fiance is actually helping me so I don't think she would be opposed to it maybe coming into the house, I would rather it not come to that though lol. I'll figure something out, thanks for all the knowledge that has been bestowed upon me. I'll just need to get the engine puller so I can start the process of gutting my current car. Everything will need to come out when I paint the car anyway. It's grey and I am going for the Initial D look so white is the new grey so to speak lol. I was suppose to work on the car this winter with my Dad but he passed away in October, luckly my fiance is still on board with helping me. She installed the tail lamps and did a pretty good job. Gave her a wrench and I said have at it, I'm gonna rip the inside out and get the sun roof clean.

 

If you get an old crappy tire and set the engine keg on it,that works good.Prevents the engine from falling over and acts like a cushion!

 

I asked the selling on ebay (which has great feedback but mixed reviews from honda and nissan guys about on their forums) (jdm engine depot) If they would ship to my apartment, do they have a lift, and how much it would cost. They said they could accommodate and they would send me a quote. Still waiting on a quote and I don't like that the engine is on auction, one of you might snipe my motor from me hehe. If there are any other sellers that sell COMPLETE engines with tranny (I'll buy the drive shaft from mazdatrix that connects the TII tranny to the NA diff) Let me know and I'll see what kind of freight/delivery accommodations they can make.

 

Usually they will ship an engine liftgate service for ~ 100$ extra. The 13b is lightweight enough 2 people could pick it up with medium difficulty. Or if you've got an engine lift you can easily get it off a truck. I just pick them off with my lift and roll them inside the shop.

 

That is a great idea. I'll probably do that. Then I can try and sell my old S4 NA motor after I get the turbo II working.

 

Totally worth the extra 100$ for me. I don't have the room to store a ton of stuff + my car in the garage. Just waiting impatiently for the quote to come in so I can put my money down Thanks for the information.

 

FYI, many of these engine importers have a bad reputation on this forum. For some horror stories, search for tigerjapanese. https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...tiger+japanese Hate to have you end up installing a bad motor and trying to get it to start. The only reputable importer for engines seems to be a member on here, Japan2la, or get a rebuild.

 

My 13b is in transport as of me typing this. Here's what I do...



My cherry picker folds up and honestly doesn't take up much space even when picking. I'll take a picture later if you want.

As for the carrier, I have a business and a payloader at home. Find a loading dock locally and have them slide it off? I'd contact the shipper if you need to make arrangements. They could probably tell you what you should do better than I.

 

I have heard mixed results. But the squeaky wheel is always the loudest. I'm right there with ya on the not wanting to buy anything that I'll get screwed over on. I'll talk with Japan2LA and see what he can do for me.

 

if you do end up getting your engine from jdm engine depot i'll just let you know i actually just had a fairly good experience with them a few weeks ago when i got my engine from there made 95+ compression on all faces and had a few jdm goodies on it too i picked it up myself though since i'm about 15 min away from them

 

Thanks, I also PMed some guy on ebay that bought an rx7 engine from them. I'll see what japan2la can do since jdm was offering 300$ shipping to my apartment complex. I read one post this one actually: NA->TII JDM conversion That talked about getting a motor from an ebay seller and it had rust int he housing, yuck! I have no idea who he bought from but I'll still cover my bases. I have pounded jdm engine with questions about the engine. Just want to be sure before I pull the trigger on $1500 out of my back account lol.

 

Ended up ordering from Japan2la. Good deal, more expensive than the JDM guy but Japan2la give guarantees that it has good compression and 30 day warranty. JDM motor doesn't do that. Worth the extra few hundred bucks.

 

When I ordered my engine swap, the pallet was over 700lbs. It had a bunch of other stuff besides the engine and trans on the pallet (ie complete wiring, drive shaft, oil cooler, etc.).

It took me and 3 of my friends to wrestle it into my shed where I stored it. The good news was the truck that arrived at my house had a lift gate and the guy had a pallet jack to move it around. We unloaded it straight into my buddies truck and drove it back to my shed, where we man handled it into the shed.

 

Ugg, don't tell me that lol. Hopefully the guy has a pallet jack. I paid extra for the lift gate service since I don't have a truck, can't get a truck, and don't know anyone with a truck that will help. My coworker will help me get my engine hoist. But keep in mind the other 2 cars we have at the house are a 11' Camaro and 06' Honda Fit, I think you can guess which one is mine

Ah I can't wait until this this is ready to rumble. Have so much work to do after the mechanicals are working correctly. Still need to strip the paint and do a white paint job on it. Luckly I know a friend with a compressor that i can borrow to do my spray coats, just have to hope I get lucky and the apartment complex doesn't notice my paint spray coming out of my garage.