shipping a transmission, facts and figures

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I now know that an AMC T-35 type trans, drained, wrapped in burlap, plastic, strapped to wood base, spray foamed at the ends, finally boxed in cardboard, surrounded with recycled packing peanuts, weighs 153 lbs! Costs $80.37 to ship from Morgantown, WV to Lomita, CA. The weight includes , dipstick and tube and torque convertor. If the trans makes it safely, FEDEX has gained new loyal customer! The counter guy only hesitated a minute before saying he would take it even though it is overweight by 3 lbs. He said they wouldn't say anything about three lbs, that he would just enter the weight at 150 lbs. I aske dh=if it wouldn't be weighed again later. He said they would weigh it, but that they had a "fudge factor" and three lbs was well within the limits! 
YEAH! Also the box demensions ended up being 37"X22"X22"
So, all you guys that do this kind of thing once in a while, save this email for reference.
Another note, FEDEX grounds webbased shipping calculater is right on the money. Just don't forget to add your state tax! UPS's webbased calculater has always lowballed the estimate evrytime I used it in the past, not once or twice, but EVERYTIME! It is was so bad that I wouldn't ship heavey items without taking them in to get an on site estimate. I was losseing my shirt evertime I shipped with UPS.
 FEDEX ground rates are lower and they have a terminal not 5 miles from my house. WIN/WIN for me, Plus I now have more room in my shed and a 66 American has used trans coming it way.
I figured that trans would go to waste, I'm glad to see it get a new home!
Mark Price