Tuesday, December 3, 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 July/August/September 2024 on other work previously performed e.g. clutch, transmission, steering, brakes, etc.
In June 2023 it was discovered by Cambra Speed Shop (third party) that the engine had internal damage (flattened cam lobe, lifter damage, crankshaft scoring, 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 which are extensive.
The blueprinted engine build, dyno testing, breakin, and tuning performed by JBA Speed Shop in San Diego, California. Images and digital documentation of the blueprinted engine build posted in April/May 2024.
Note: We have to redo and/or repair much of the work Cambra Speed Shop performed on C8DENCE from August 2021 to June 2023. As of Tuesday, December 3, 2024, I’ve incurred an additional $60,000+ in repair and replacement costs.
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.
During an initial discussion, symptoms described by the customer pointed towards a cam and/or valvetrain issue. Disassembly is required to determine the root cause of the issue.
AAOC:
The area in question has a very heavy layer of bondo. The under layer of material between the metal and the bondo appears to be either a high build primer or a spot putty, neither of which should be applied between the bondo and the bare metal. There appears to be an adhesion issue, which means the panel needs to be removed and stripped of the material on it. Then the panel can be repaired properly and repainted. The panel is installed in such a way that it appears to be lapped under other panels and to remove it would mean essentially removing the right fender and front bumper to access the panel that needs to be repaired and refinished.
2024-07-19 – Metal shavings found in transmission fluid. Transmission is out for inspection, repair, upgrades. This toploader transmission was rebuilt and installed by Cambra Speed Shop in 2022.
2024-07-26 – Transmission complete teardown and overhaul completed. Replaced worn/damaged first and second gears and worn synchros along with all bearings. Replaced any and all worn or damaged parts. Replaced all seals. Refinished outer case in original gunmetal color. Mate Gear Vendors Overdrive/Underdrive to transmission once completed.
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 informed 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.
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, December 3, 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.
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.
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.
Breaking News: Cambra Speed Shop named 2024 GNRS Builder of the Year!