Crane Cams is BACK!!!

[Duke W.]

Although their online catalog does not show the OE replacement camshafts that were previously available, a phone rep said that all are, and the online catalog is being updated.

In particular their part number 968711, which is the 3896929 ('67-'80 base small block camshaft) is available, and these lobe masters are what is needed to manufacture the "McCagh Special" camshaft that you will be hearing more about later this year in The Corvette Restorer.

If anyone wants to build a "Special 300 HP" configuration from a 327/300 or base 350 let me know.

This configuration's visual appearance and idle characterisitics are just like an OE 300 HP or base 350 engine with equally good low end torque, but makes L-79 type top end power and revs.

Duke

[John D.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

Wow!!! Thanx be to God Duke. Maybe now we can get some good CS113R cams again. JD

[Duke W.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

Well, remember the CS-113R is the Federal Mogul number. I think Crane also made the Duntov cam. I remember I couldn't find the lobes in their master lobe list a couple of years ago, but a call to them yielded that they have the lobe masters.

Duke

[Gary R.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

Duke,
What's the story behind this, did someone buy up the tooling,machinery and building or just the name?

[Ridge K.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

Thanks for the delivery of good news, Duke!

We've all been needing some good news for a change......

[John H.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

What's the story behind this, did someone buy up the tooling,machinery and building or just the name?

Gary -

Part (but not all) of the Crane assets were purchased out of the Crane bankruptcy by S&S, the folks that make custom V-twin motorcycle engines.

[Steven B.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

Duke,
What's the story behind this, did someone buy up the tooling,machinery and building or just the name?

Gary, see the mid-June 2009 Crane Cams postings of Joe, John, Duke, et. al. S&S (Motorcycle) purchased Crane.

Steve


(Joe's Post) S&S Purchases Crane Cams
For those of you that like Crane camshafts and other engine parts, there is now some hope. It seems that S&S Motorcycle has purchased most of the assets of Crane Cams. S&S is an old-time motorcycle parts manufacturer that's been around since the 50's. Although S&S is based in Wisconsin, they are going to set up shop for Crane in Daytona Beach, FL, but I don't think they intend to use the old Crane property and factory. Just what their in-house manufacturing capability is going to be, I do not know. But, it's nice to see this storied engine parts brand "rise from the ashes".

[Joe L.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

Duke,
What's the story behind this, did someone buy up the tooling,machinery and building or just the name?

Gary------


That's the "unknown quantity" here. S&S (the motorcycle engine manufacturer) purchased the name, patent rights, intellectual properties and other "intangible" assets of Crane as well as existing inventory of finished product and raw materials. As far as I know, they did not purchase any of the Crane real estate (it had been sold off long ago to some Boston-based "hedge fund").

As far as I know, at the time of the sale of Crane to S&S, they did not purchase the machinery and tooling. It's possible that they later purchased it or acquired other machinery, though.

I believe it was the intention of S&S to locate the new Crane operation somewhere in the Daytona Beach, FL area where the old Crane was last located. I don't know if that happened, though.

[Duke W.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

For the past several months a single "Crane" web page has essentially said "stay tuned", but gave no indication when they would be back in the automotive camshaft business.

I checked it once in a while, and yesterday the page had more info including a link to an online catalog. If fact, the Website looks pretty much as before.

It looks like S&S bought the tooling (which would include the lobe masters) if not the machine tools. In any event, they are in Florida, but I assume in a different building than before, and even my old contact for custom cams, the irascible old Jerry Clay is on the job, but I did not talk to him today.

It appears that S&S will operate Crane as a wholy owned subsidiary, so it should end up pretty much as before and with good owners who are not just going to bleed all the cash out of it and throw it away.

Duke

[Gary R.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

Thanks guys, good to hear about the company. I just had to close down our screw machine shop, all the work is being shipped to china.Pretty sad to see and have to do. Anyone need B&S screw machines in custom enclosures for a steal!

[John D.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

Well, remember the CS-113R is the Federal Mogul number. I think Crane also made the Duntov cam. I remember I couldn't find the lobes in their master lobe list a couple of years ago, but a call to them yielded that they have the lobe masters.


Duke

Unconfirmed rumor has it that Crane made the FM CS113-R cam Duke.

A customer told me this two weeks ago. Wonder if this is true?

[Duke W.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

I don't think the Duntov cam was in their catalog, but when I asked about combining a 30-30 lobe on the inlet side with a Duntov exhaust lobe on the exhaust side, they said they could do it. That design turned out to be not manufacturable because it had a wide LSA and there was not enough material on the blank.

It could be that Crane would have to do the Duntov cam on a "custom" basis. As long as the CS-113R is available from F-M that will be the least expensive alternative. Give them a call and talk to Jerry Clay. They now have a toll-free number for sales and tech support: 866-388-5120. The price for a "custom" cam using existing lobe masters from their library is $245.

BTW if anyone does have a custom Duntov ground by Crane for a 283 I recommend increasing the LSA to 114 from 110 deg. and setting the inlet POML at 110 deg. ATDC. The OE LSA is 110 with an inlet POML of 108.5. The modified timing is essentially the same as the L-79 cam albeit with less lift, and reports are that the L-79 cam works well in 283s. It will tame the idle on a 283 a bit and combined with head work should make for decent low end torque and good top end power to about 7000 revs. It's still an okay cam for a 283, especially with less overlap, but I still recommend the LT-1 cam for 327s and 350s.

www.cranecams.com

Duke

[Michael F.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

Duke, would the LT-1 cam be a better cam if it had more lift, say around 525???

[Gene M.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

[QUOTE=Duke Williams (22045);476029]
........BTW if anyone does have a custom Duntov ground by Crane for a 283 I recommend increasing the LSA to 114 from 110 deg. and setting the inlet POML at 110 deg. ATDC. The OE LSA is 110 with an inlet POML of 108.5. ......

I was under the impression that widen the lobe separation angle will reduce the cylinder pressure. This may be good for idle but will reduce mid range torque. During mid range does not exhaust opening help pull in intake charge? Keeping in mind most performance set up's have more rear end gear. What do you say?

[Joe C.]

Re: Crane Cams is BACK!!!

Although their online catalog does not show the OE replacement camshafts that were previously available, a phone rep said that all are, and the online catalog is being updated.

In particular their part number 968711, which is the 3896929 ('67-'80 base small block camshaft) is available, and these lobe masters are what is needed to manufacture the "McCagh Special" camshaft that you will be hearing more about later this year in The Corvette Restorer.

If anyone wants to build a "Special 300 HP" configuration from a 327/300 or base 350 let me know.

This configuration's visual appearance and idle characterisitics are just like an OE 300 HP or base 350 engine with equally good low end torque, but makes L-79 type top end power and revs.

Duke

The McCagh Special?