Crane Cams Auction

[Joe L.]

All of the assets of Crane Cams go on the auction block on April 22. This includes equipment, finished inventory, raw materials, and intellectual property. The liquidators are also working on selling off assets prior to the auction and there is a chance that the business and operations as a whole might be purchased by another company. I would say that by April 22, though, the final status of the whole thing should be known.

Why the employees of Crane, which was once an employee-owned company, sold off their interest several years ago to the "vultures" from New Jersey I cannot figure out. As I understand it, the "vultures" sold off the Crane real estate to a Boston-based "hedge fund" that, in turn, leased it back to Crane at an exorbitant cost that, basically, drove the company into bankruptcy.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

[Why the employees of Crane, which was once an employee-owned company, sold off their interest several years ago to the "vultures" from New Jersey I cannot figure out.] i guess the employees did not like having to take pay cuts when things got slow.when you own the business you are at the bottom of the who gets paid list.

[Joe L.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

[Why the employees of Crane, which was once an employee-owned company, sold off their interest several years ago to the "vultures" from New Jersey I cannot figure out.] i guess the employees did not like having to take pay cuts when things got slow.when you own the business you are at the bottom of the who gets paid list.

clem-----


If that's what happened, then it's proved to be an extremely short-sighted decision.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

Just goes to show you, my fellow insomniacs, stick with what you know how to do. If you are good at designing and making valve train components, stick to it. If you are better at owning and running the business, stick to it. Cam makers make lousy business men and business men make lousy cams.

Stu Fox

[Don L.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

Kinda sad.

Maybe I'll go to the upcoming auction and bid to buy back some of the "finished goods", some of which my company sold them and they have yet to pay for. Sometimes we ALL get stung by others' choices.

My hope, of course, is that the company will be sold and will re-emerge in a similar form or as part of another organization.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

Agree Don. See a number of automotive publications are still carrying ads from them. Perhaps they were pre-paid for a number of issues or months. Is anything more known about the type/form/chapter bankruptcy they entered? i.e., where do vendors stand in the pecking order to make any recovery? Also saw an article in latest Car Craft about historical promo stickers/decals and they showed an early year decal of theirs. Perhaps they are collector items now. Truely, very sad.

Stu Fox

[Clem Z.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

unless you are doing speed stuff for "ricers" i don't know how you will survive. there are very few if any kids now days that are changing cams in ford and chevys and the guys sell the computer programs seem to be the ones doing business. the hot rodding field has changed a lot.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

I realize the economy has put a crimp in the business, but you wouldn't know it from the car magazine coverage and the recent PRI show here in Orlando. Believe that show was well attended by both vendors and industry viewers.

Stu Fox

[Dale S.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

A sad day for those that knew Mr. Crane. Dale

[Clem Z.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

I realize the economy has put a crimp in the business, but you wouldn't know it from the car magazine coverage and the recent PRI show here in Orlando. Believe that show was well attended by both vendors and industry viewers.

Stu Fox

i was there 3 days and the floor traffic seemed thin to me compared to the past years. i know holley had one booth for all their lines instead of one for each line.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

Clem;

I'm sure you are a better judge of the PRI show as you no doubt are a veteran of them. This was my first and I was only there a half day. W/O a scooter that's all I could take.

Stu Fox

[Duke W.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

Kinda sad.

Maybe I'll go to the upcoming auction and bid to buy back some of the "finished goods", some of which my company sold them and they have yet to pay for. Sometimes we ALL get stung by others' choices.

My hope, of course, is that the company will be sold and will re-emerge in a similar form or as part of another organization.

If you're really serious about the above, buy the lobe masters for the 3896929 ('67 up base 300 HP) and 3863151 (L-79) camshafts. Combinations of these are what I used in the final designs of my "Special 300 HP" (two manufactured) and "Special Powerglide" (one manufactured) camshafts.

The 929 has separate masters for inlet and exhaust. The L-79 cam uses the same master on both sides.

Right now I don't know for sure of any other cam grinders that have these lobe masters that can be used to grind any more of these designs.

Duke

[Don L.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

If you're really serious about the above, buy the lobe masters for the 3896929 ('67 up base 300 HP) and 3863151 (L-79) camshafts. Combinations of these are what I used in the final designs of my "Special 300 HP" (two manufactured) and "Special Powerglide" (one manufactured) camshafts.

The 929 has separate masters for inlet and exhaust. The L-79 cam uses the same master on both sides.

Right now I don't know for sure of any other cam grinders that have these lobe masters that can be used to grind any more of these designs.

Duke

Our parts are limited to the valve springs, retainers, etc. Should consider us lucky, in the big picture.

Thankfully, the autosport market is only a minor piece for us - www.racingsprings.com. That's the fun part of the business. Now if only the OEMs would need a few more engines, transmissions, etc - www.pspring.com.

Any word on disposition in this will be most appreciated...

[Clem Z.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

Clem;

I'm sure you are a better judge of the PRI show as you no doubt are a veteran of them. This was my first and I was only there a half day. W/O a scooter that's all I could take.

Stu Fox

i started to go when it was in columbus ohio,next was indy and now orlando.those other 2 place were a bitch in the winter,give me orlando anytime.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Crane Cams Auction

Clem;

You're welcome here anytime. I've offered the comforts of my Lakeside Manor before too, but no one has accepted yet. We're right east of the airport (10 min) and 20 minutes from the convention center, 25 to Old Town for the winter meet. That's one incentive for my move. we got good things going on year around, i.e. Daytona, Shuttle launches, etc. As fo the hima canes - well that's the price for living in paradise. We went through 3 in 04 w/o a scratch as our place was built to latest codes. Just another excuse for a party.

Stu Fox