Review of Cambra Speed Shop

Tuesday, April 30, 2024 – C8DENCE (1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Custom) was received from Volo Auto Sales (Volo, Illinois) on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at Crevier Classic Cars in Costa Mesa, California. The vehicle was not in the condition advertised by Volo Auto Sales. After the initial visual inspection by Crevier Classic Cars, it was determined that any repairs were outside the scope of services they could provide.

C8DENCE was then delivered via flatbed from Crevier Classic Cars to Cambra Speed Shop in Orange, California on Monday, August 9, 2021 for further inspection and repairs.

C8DENCE spent 784 days (448 CSS working days) at Cambra Speed Shop during which time a multitude of repairs and upgrades were performed to the engine and undercarriage (suspension, brakes, cleanup/repair of components) only. No exterior work performed by Cambra Speed Shop.

After 43 invoices and 825 labor hours totaling $91,541.82, I have been left with a Roller and a host of repairs to the repairs already done, including repairs to new items installed by Cambra Speed Shop e.g. Third Member (4:11), Gear Vendors, etc. We have further inspections to perform prior to final assembly in June/July 2024 on other work previously performed e.g. clutch, transmission, steering, brakes, etc.

In June 2023 it was discovered that the engine had internal damage (flattened cam lobe, crankshaft, etc.), this should have been diagnosed in August/September 2021 when the engine was removed and out for repairs. Had my initial requests to remove the heads, and/or scope the engine, and/or do a compression check been performed, I would not be writing this review today.

On Monday, October 2, 2023, after 784 days in the shop, I made the decision to have C8DENCE picked up via AMZ flatbed from Cambra Speed Shop and delivered to Auto Addiction OC as a Roller to finish repairs.

The blueprinted engine build, dyno testing, breakin, installation, assembly, final testing and tuning to be performed by JBA Speed Shop in San Diego, California. Images of the blueprinted engine build will be posted in April/May 2024.

Summary of Items to be Replaced/Repaired

1. Engine (New Blueprinted 460/509 by JBA, May 2024)
2. Engine Compartment Paint/Body (Bondo Separating from Metal)
3. Wheels and Tires (Incorrect Offset, Rubbing Inside/Outside, Whitewalls Damaged)
4. Third Member (Leaking Fluid from Multiple Points)
5. Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive (Leaking Fluid, Potential Alignment Issue)
6. Hurst Shift Lever (Incorrect Position/Angle, Replace)
7. Undercarriage Cleanup (Radiator Hose Leak, Other Fluid Leaks, Excess Debris)
8. Spare Tire Kit (Return, Incorrect Size for Storage Area)

Summary of Items to be Inspected

1. All Work Performed by Cambra Speed Shop
2. Power Steering Components (New)
3. Rack and Pinion (Rebuilt)
4. Brakes (New, Rebuilt)
5. Clutch (Replaced 2x)
6. Transmission (Rebuilt)
7. Shift Linkage (New)
8. Suspension (Shocks Initially Installed Upside Down)
9. Fuel Tank Configuration (Venting, Fuel Lines)

C8DENCE is a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria previously customized in early 2000’s. The new owner bought it from a dealer online and when it was delivered was not entirely what he thought it was. There was quite a bit of stuff wrong to call it a full “show-ready” custom. The wheels were particularly suspicious. The steel wheels painted red with sombrero caps had red paint on the wide white walls. We took off the hubcaps to find “trailer” wheels brush painted red while mounted with the tires! The under-carriage was a mess and we cleaned it up as well as the engine compartment. Freshened up the engine free of leaks and a whole mess of other ancillary items. We added a new Hurst Assisted McLeod Clutch, Gear Vendors overdrive, and Ford 9” posi with 4:11 gears. We restored the Ford Racing 460 Cobra Jet, and ceramic coated the Doug’s Headers and Exhaust.

Take a look at the customer’s website at C8DENCE.com for more information.

On Saturday, September 30, 2023, I requested that C8DENCE be removed from the Cambra Speed Shop Projects page. The description of the work performed is inaccurate and does not reflect the condition of the vehicle at the time of removal from Cambra Speed Shop on Monday, October 2, 2023 – see images below.

Good day Tony. I’d like to request that C8DENCE be removed from the Cambra Speed Shop website please? It’s unfortunate but things didn’t work out for us.

On Monday, October 2, 2023, Ron Cambra replied with…

Edward, we have the right to keep your car on our website being that the work we did on it was performed by CSS. Thank you.

1. Not getting a written estimate and a timeline of repairs. One mistake I made with Cambra Speed Shop (CSS) was NOT getting a written estimate and a documented timeline of repairs along with giving them a blank check (with a limit). Those mistakes cost me over $40,000.

2. Sending engine and transmission to third party. All of the work performed by the third party had to be redone and was a major cause of delays. I was initially under the assumption that the engine issues would have been handled in house. That changed after the car arrived and AS (Cambra Speed Shop Manager) stated it was going to be at least 2 months before he could get to it. The third party just happened to be present, and it was decided to let them handle the engine issues. That was a mistake.

   EL Note: Why would you commit to helping me prior to my arrival only to tell me that it was going to take Cambra Speed Shop 2 months before touching the car? In retrospect, you should have passed on this engagement.

3. Not removing heads to inspect internals. RC initially informed me that we didn’t need to do that, the engine only had a claimed 3,500 miles from the dealer (Volo Auto Sales) and it was “assumed” that everything was fine. It’s unfortunate as that assumption is what led us to where we are today, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Of course that is going to be “my fault” for not FORCING the issue. I thought Cambra Speed Shop were “the professionals” at this.

   Original C8DENCE Task List

   Engine – Overall visual inspection, test drive, etc. I’d like to know what I have under the hood (460 Ford Crate, 2x4 Holley 650s). There are no dyno sheets. The HP has been claimed to be 515, 560, and during this sale at 540. I’m guessing the engine would need to be disassembled to know exactly what’s going on. I’m not real keen on putting her on a dyno either. Not this soon anyway. Her and I will need to become acquainted before we go there.

4. Not performing an engine borescope as originally requested. It’s unfortunate as this request and the compression check were verbal requests during multiple visits to the shop to discuss the project. I asked AS a couple of times during my visits “Have you done the compression check yet?” AS replied, “Not yet”. I also reached out to Ryno (Previous Cambra Speed Shop Employee) to confirm these verbal requests just to make sure my age wasn’t catching up with me. He recalls the multiple requests.
5. Not performing a compression check after numerous reminders. Had we performed the compression check, we would have discovered there was a valve sticking which appears to have plagued us from the very beginning. Apparently that valve sticking was due to a flattened cam lobe. I don’t understand how this vehicle was tuned (twice) with a valve sticking and a flattened cam lobe. Had we discovered that valve sticking and other engine issues in the very beginning, we would not be in the situation we are today. After researching this type of build process and the steps that are suggested, Cambra Speed Shop did things backwards. CSS slapped lipstick on a pig as they say. During this time, we had continual engine issues, all of which were signs of the eventual damage discovered.
6. Numerous incorrect guesses at what was wrong with the engine. We ended up wrapping headers, ordering a new starter, installing a starter shield, and installing a second battery. All of these were thought to be a solution to the issues related to engine challenges. This cost me a considerable amount of time, money, and more extended delays.
7. Constant delays due to misdiagnosed engine issues. If Cambra Speed Shop had performed the services I initially requested in writing and verbally, we could have avoided the delays and the $40,000+ in costs associated with those delays along with the final outcome of this engagement.
8. The new clutch had to be replaced after multiple test drives where the clutch was slipping while I was driving, but could not be detected/replicated by Cambra Speed Shop during their test drives.
9. Incorrect air cleaner ordered. While I am okay with what was done, it IS NOT what I wanted to do. Cambra Speed Shop did all the work first and then “sprung” it on me. I couldn’t have asked RC/AS to order the correct air cleaner after all of that. I settled.
10. Shifter ball not ordered, it was forgotten. Had the correct shifter ball been ordered when the Gear Vendors unit was ordered, I would have had what I originally requested. But no, CSS forgot to order it. And, when it came time to order it, they were out of stock, so I had to settle. I would have preferred the white ball as originally requested. We ordered the black one and painted it mandarin copper. It’s okay.
11. Aldan American Coilovers installed upside down. It was discovered while I was viewing images that I took, that the coilovers were installed upside down. I called Aldan American to confirm this. Cambra Speed Shop “assumed” you could install them either way. That was incorrect. I do hope there was no damage done to those coilovers for the time they were upside down. There were multiple test drives and just “sitting” in the shop for extended periods of time. The upside down Aldan American logo should have been a hint that they were upside down?

12. Wrong tires ordered and installed after a very specific request. This really surprised me. It was difficult for me to fathom how the wrong tires were ordered when this was an issue I was VERY SPECIFIC about.

    Not only that, but CSS also installed them back on the car with the new wheels which were “clearly” damaged from the tire changing. Who does that? That was kind of ghetto if you ask me.

    I’ve invested a little bit of money in those wheels and tires only to have them damaged in some way. The hubcaps have been on and off too many times, I would imagine the wheels are pretty beat up from all that activity. Recent images taken reveal that they are rife with scratches front and back.

13. Improper offset for custom wheels from Wheelsmith. Rear whitewalls are now damaged, not repairable. Cambra Speed Shop should have taken into consideration the tire width and sidewall flex differences between the original Coker tires and the new BF Goodrich tires. CSS had the rear wheel offset adjusted. Due to the changed offset of the rear wheels, I cannot rotate wheels and tires. Valve stem extenders forgotten, there is no way to get to existing valve stems unless you remove the hubcaps. Will install at new shop.
14. Incorrect size for emergency spare, does not fit in designated area. Do not force fit either. Ordered and measured by Cambra Speed Shop. It was claimed by RC that I ordered this and CSS was not involved and that I worked with Ryno (Previous Cambra Speed Shop Assembler), and that he and I specked it out. That is not true. I believe the measurements for this were taken by AS.
15. All of the engine and undercarriage detailing needs to be redone due to various fluid leaks during test drives e.g. valve cover, cut radiator hose. All of that was spotless and then the leaks started. The radiator hose leak sprayed quite a bit of fluid under the car and into quite a few nooks and crannies. Sprayed all over the newly polished components throughout the entire engine compartment. What a mess that created.