Crane Cams shuts down, workers laid off

[DainBramaged]

Crane Cams, a 56-year-old auto parts manufacturer, closed its doors this week and laid off its employees, a worker said today.

The news took Volusia County’s top economic development officer by surprise. City, county and state officials were working with Crane Cams and officials from its New Jersey parent, Mikronite Technologies, to keep the company open and in the community.

“We were trying to help them through this transition,” said Rick Michael, Volusia County economic development director. “They were considering a transfer of ownership. We were not expecting any closure.”

An automated voice mail system at Crane’s plant on Fentress Boulevard announced at midday today the company was closed and suggested calling back during business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A call to Mikronite’s New Jersey offices produced similar results. Six cars sat in the parking lot early this afternoon at the local plant, which employed 220 just three years ago.

Inside the lobby, a reception desk sat empty. A call from the lobby phone got an answer from Dennis Burgess, who declined to comment and said no one at the plant could provide information.

In the parking lot, 14-year employee Ronald Dorn was leaving the plant for what he believed was the last time

He said workers were told during the past week that layoffs were likely, but he didn’t expect the plant to close.

Mikronite received approval in 2006 to receive tax rebates from the state and the county amid discussion about moving its New Jersey operations here. But the company ended its contract with the state in 2008 due to nonperformance, Michael said.

“Crane has gone through a series of small layoffs recently,” he said.

Crane Cams and Crane Technologies Group were founded by Harvey J. Crane Jr. in 1953 as Crane Engineering Inc. in Hallandale. The company is well known in high-performance and racing circles for its line of camshafts and engine valve train components.

In 1979, Crane Cams became an employee-owned company. Some operations moved to Daytona Beach in 1981, with the remainder of the operation and employees relocating here in 1985.

Mikronite, an industrial technology firm, bought Crane in 2006.

In March 2007, Mikronite sold its property on Fentress to STAG Capital Partners of Boston, then signed a 10-year lease.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/breakingnews/crane022409.htm

MORE HOT ROD HISTORY IN THE TOILET. Thanks GW, thanks a lot.

[Deja Q]

1. I have never understood the logic of automobile racing.

Hell, rush hour alone is aggravating enough, but driving around on an elliptical track at 200MPH in a small car for 2 hours? Never mind doing it, watching it is just as boring.

[Stevenmarc]

3. Well there is something appealing in the irony

that a sport that appeals to the right wing crowd forces them to keep turning to the left or they hit a wall.

[DainBramaged]

9. It appeals to EVERYONE, another stupid assumption and Urban Legend on DU

[8 track mind]

19. I know a lot of democrats that love racing.

My co-worker is a die hard Liberal and he road races Ducati's. I myself have run a few enduro and cross country events and i want to participate in the Nevada Silver State Classic road race before i turn 40. If you have never experienced racing personaly, then the average person probably wont get it. Automobile, motorcycle racing is NOT a right wing sport.

[Deja Q]

29. And you're making a stupid assumption that it appeals to EVERYONE

Just saying.

Sorry.

[8 track mind]

31. no i'm not making a stupid assumtion

Just merely making a point of what it's like. The point i'm trying to get across is that its a whole different ballgame when you are competing in a race vs. watching it and in most cases it can transcend political differences (however in texas where i'm stuck, that's not exactly the case). If it's not your cup of tea, no biggie.

Sorry if i wasn't clear.

(BTW, your "q" picture is fucking hillarious!)

[DainBramaged]

8. That is your problem. For many of us, ALL forms of auto racing

are preferable to physical sports. Sorry you had to come into this thread to throw shit at the wall.

[Deja Q]

28. I was exaggerating, but whatever...

And if you want me to throw shit, I'll be happy to get into the environmental cant...
:evilgrin:

[DainBramaged]

34. Right, a few cars for a couple of hours using unleaded fuel at peak performance

causing LESS POLUTION THAN Bubba's '77 Chrysler Newport with a dead cylinder.

Go there, let's argue about your knowledge of the impact of auto racing on the environment compared to the multitude number of pieces of shit that need to be crushed and replaced.

Shit, smoothies it just doesn't stick.

[ellenfl]

11. first . . . it's longer than 2 hours and second, i can totally

understand it, but then i have a lead foot. it is only boring because you know nothing about it. once you know about the drivers and all of their idiosyncrasies (on and off the track) it becomes much more fun. my boyfriend got me interested years ago. unfortunately the track owners have been making the tracks more boring (e.g. bristol).

btw, i am a 50+ year old lifelong liberal female and i love nascar.

ellen fl

p.s. no, i am NOT a jeff gordon fan.

[DainBramaged]

15. Would you marry me and let me open a speed shop in your basement?

:evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

[ellenfl]

17. my boyfriend wouldn't like it if i married you and i don't

have a basement! otherwise . . . yes!

do i have to warn you that i don't drink beer and i quit smoking? B-)

ellen fl

[DainBramaged]

21. I don't drink beer, quit smoking 3.5 years ago, and I don't have a basement either

Besides it's warmer in Florida than here.

Could I build a shed?

[ellenfl]

33. the weather has been great here.

sorry, i live in a 3rd floor condo. :shrug: you're batting a thousand!

ellen fl

[DainBramaged]

35. 6-14 inches of snow coming overnight into tomorrow

Burrchilly. Last gasp of a shitty winter.

[Thothmes]

30. Make as much sense

as trying to get down a quarter mile track in less than 7 seconds. Or running around Monaco for two hours or Lemans for 24 hours.

[madrchsod]

2. oh shit...

my brother in law raced pontiac's in the late 50`s and early 60`s using crane cams.....


another american icon bites the dust.

[flvegan]

4. Good memories of Crane Cams in my burning rubber youth.

[DainBramaged]

10. My burning rubber days never ended

Today I am driving an Impala SS. :evilgrin:

[flvegan]

12. Nor have mine, but with all the new tech

I don't touch the engine internals. My '87 Grand National was the final one to have the engine come out and the heads come off. Neither of my Mustang GTs nor my Mazdaspeed have had anything more than intake/exhaust work.

[DainBramaged]

16. I still play with all of my friends "stuff"

we have a QUALITY engine builder a couple of towns over whom I've been friends with since the 80's. We did a 4.3 V6 S10 blower motor for a friend of mine two years ago and Crane custom ground a cam to be computer compatible and take advantage of the Vortec blower. Cost $350 for the billet. no one else would do it.



I love that truck. 600+ horsepower, Vette 6-speed, 9 inch 4-link Ford rear, goes high 10's and it gets street driven in the Summer. With AC.

[Submariner]

5. My SS396 had a Crane cam

Not that it wasn't fast already. First the muscle cars go, now the parts suppliers for them. Life sux, then you die.

[guitar man]

6. damn :(

I can still remember the sound the first time I fired my '70 Barracuda up with a Crane roller cam and lifter setup, it was a .286 duration/ .500 lift if I recall correctly. Man, what a glorious sound it was to hear it at idle :evilgrin:

[DainBramaged]

7. Not like the girlyman hydraulic rollers of today

with one pound lifter assemblies for quietness.

Who's next.

[guitar man]

14. exactly!

:thumbsup:

[8 track mind]

20. probably Offy or Wieand....

I havent heard much out of them in a while. And that sucks because they still make stuff for the inline 6's

[DainBramaged]

22. Offy and Weiand have ALWAYS concentrated on the road less traveled

and Offy still sells manifolds for cars that aren't even made by others any more. http://www.offyparts.com/ There are guys that don't believe in keeping their classic muscle as garage queens.

Oldsmobile 330, 350, 403 V8 High Rise Dual Quad Manifold

[8 track mind]

23. you know thats right, they still make a lot of AMC stuff.

I had a buddy that bought an intake manifold for his 304 AMC. I rarely ever see anyone offer AMC hop up parts at all

[ThomWV]

13. I have used Crane Cams since the mid 1960's. Always a leader in quality equipment

Dam shame.

[8 track mind]

18. Crane Cams????? Holy shit!!!!

Man that really sucks! Crane makes outstanding products. I have used their Cam and Lifters for years. I have one in my van for low end power. FUCK YOU GWB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ron Green]

24. First the buggy-whips, then the ice houses, now this... where will it end?

[lumberjack_jeff]

25. Okay, that was funny. Misguided but funny. n/t

[Ron Green]

26. Hey, my first car was a '51 Ford flathead with loud pipes

whose transmission I could replace in about an hour and a half, 'cause I had to do it a few times. But I grew out of all that, and now I'm looking for zero-emission and multimodal. I'm afraid our dear nation is gonna have to grow out of it, too.

[DainBramaged]

27. Offy makes flathead heads and manifolds too...........

Edelbrock will be the last company standing among the big names when the recession is over. Maybe Comp Cams (I have been to the factory and took the tour).

[8 track mind]

32. The last time i used a crane cam

350 4 bolt main, .030" over, moly coated flat top pistons, Hastings moly coated rings, Melling high volume oil pump, Cloyes heavy duty double roller timing set, Crane Compu-Cam (Gobs of low end torque), with Crane Lifters