Tips for transporting an engine?

I'm driving 2 hours to pickup a rebuilt 3.4 longblock tomorrow. Any tips for transporting the engine in the bed of a pickup truck? Any proven method of keeping the engine upright, secure, and undamaged?

 

Go find a used tire without a rim. Perfect for transporting engines. Two or more ratchet straps forming an X.

 

If you have a old tire it helps to sit it on it it also provides some cushion

 

Like so:

 

Agree with above. Tires, and straps.

It's a good idea to bring some 2x4's with some deck screws incase you need to rig a jig if its not entirely stable.

 

I go to junkyards for a living, the tire method is what most people use. But I’ve seen people use 2x4’s or railroad ties.

Then there was that guy who was trying to load an engine into his Suburban with an overhead crane. He was actually swinging the engine like a playground swing to get it to go inside the car.

 

I'll hit up my tire guy tomorrow before we leave. I'm sure he'll loan me an old tire.

THANKS!

 

I have an Excursion but I certainly wouldn’t try that. I love the X and will probably never get rid of it. Part of the reason I bought this 98 was for hauling larger awkward items that won’t fit in the X. But I’ve seen some pretty crazy hauling ideas throughout my life. I think a refrigerator on the roof of a car takes the cake. At least they were driving slow and toward the shoulder. Geezz!

 

This ^ Much cheaper than buying an engine dolly. I've picked a tire up off the side of the road once to use.