JBA Speed Shop

So I’ll start off by saying I didn’t get any work done at JBA. I was quoted $ 5,000 to install a camshaft, intake manifold, throttle body, intake and a tune. I am now having the work done at a very reputable competitor for less than $ 2,000. I don’t doubt that JBA does quality work but they overcharge.
Your competitors prices are market driven as well. They just don’t overcharge their customers exorbitantly.

I have been dealing with JBA Speed Shop for three years on two different vechiles (68 C10 and 66 Dodge Dart) and couldn’t be happier with the results. They have a knowledgable and friendly staff that all go out of their way to ensure you are completely satisfied. Don’t miss the Coffee and Dounuts the 2^nd Sunday of every month. Always a great time and a chance to shoot the breeze with a lot of good folks.

Cool shop with some die hard Ford guys. While I haven’t had any service done at JBA yet, I had a good first impression. The staff answered all my questions on performance parts for my 08 Mustang GT. If you like Hot Rods old and new, you will enjoy the visit.

These guys are true professionals who love what they do, are knowledgeable and always do their best to answer questions (even for us dummies) in the most helpful and courteous manner. Their passion for cars and speed shows. :-) The team at JBA has seen my 64 Olds F85 through some rough water over the last couple of months and I am truly grateful for their service. Austin, J., Rick, Bill, Mike and Rick have been outstanding partners and made me feel welcome from day 1. I would highly recommend JBA to anyone who cares about their car. Cars n’ coffee is a must!

Knowledgeable and straight forward. Good people.

Contacted them via email regarding installing my short throw shifter (I attempted to do it myself but for some odd reason the screws holding my shift knob were torqued really tight from the manufacturer) on my 2015 Dodge challenger got no response. Called them attempting to get a quote for install, was told I will call you back. Apparently this shop only works on Pony/​Sports Cars (Mustangs). If you own a real muscle car (Challenger, Charger, GTO, Firebird, Thunderbird) they don’t want anything to do with you. I’ll take my money somewhere else.

Went in there today for the first time. Guy at the parts counter was very helpful. Don’t feel like I got ripped off, the prices I saw were comparable to internet prices and in some cases cheaper. Parts guy didn’t sell me stuff I didn’t need. Overall good experience and will be returning. Felt like a kid in a candy store.

This is probably the best experience I have had in having my 1963 Galaxie 500 Convertible serviced. I took it in to have the generator checked and was quickly greeted, no hassle, introduced to Rick by J. Bittle, who serviced my car, and Mike who works the front desk. The atmosphere was friendly, professional and I can tell that Customer Service is their number one asset. Rick came out and explained in detail that I have a wiring problem and the generator had a loose wire. I will definitely take it back after the holidays for this and other items my 52 year old car needs. They have certainly earned my business!
.

After taking my car there I was quoted around 12,000 dollars. I I can get a brand new engine for less than this. Gentleman told me I shouldn’t drive the car because of the noise. I hit a hundred and sixty miles an hour on Kearny villa road and I’m still alive to talk about it. I decide to tear the engine down myself. I found the problem. It’s less than $ 300 for the parts. I wouldn’t take my car to these guys for s***

Dear Mustang People
I brought my 1965 Mustang Fastback 2+2 to JBA after striking out at 2 other North County Mechanics. JBA listened to my concerns, gave me their advice and all is gold on my freshly restored Mustang. Bill and Austin are the front me of the operation and this is the definition of family business. Rick behind the scenes is the mad scientist that can make diamonds out of coal. I cannot tell you how happy I am because you have to take your car there to get the same feeling. The weekend (think it was 50 years) anniversary party was remarkable. These guys are my extended family and a special thanks to Austin for allowing me to pester him, for him not to break, speaks volumes not to mention the remarkable end result that every Mustang owner wants. Please, take the time and go in there, you will not regret it.
John Smith
Encinitas

My car is a 2001 Mustang and because of it’s age it can be a problem child. I’ve taken my car there twice and Tim has taken care of my baby both times. Fast, efficient and they don’t pull that ‘Hey, let’s cheat that older, single woman because she’s obviously an idiot’ thing that a lot of auto shops do.
Thanks for great service!

WOW — what a pleasure doing business with JBA, they have passion for what they do.
Austin did a great job coordinating the supercharger upgrades to my Mustang. He kept me informed of the progress and got everything done on-​time. Bruce was able to get the tune just right… Awesome experience.
When you get a Team assembled like they have at JBA there is a reason they stay in business, and stay working together — well done Jay keep doing what you do!

This place is great and very welcoming. If you have not attended their cars and coffee that happens the second Sunday of every month you’re missing out. Everyone that shows up is very friendly and willing to talk. Many of the shop owners bring in their cars as well as their customers and it’s a great place to meet new people and gain lots of knowledge.
Also as a startup in the industry they have a big open door for us and are willing to answer our questions and give shop tours. Check it out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed!

These guys sold me a top dollar distributor for a SBC saying it would correct some performance issues. They installed it and the car ran horribly. The tech stated that I had a fouled plug and sent me home. After changing all spark plugs car still ran horribly. So back to the shop I go, this time the tech disconnected the vacuum advance feature stating it would run better on mechanical. Not total in agreement with them since they recommended the vacuum advance in the first place and zinged me on the price. My ultimate solution, buy a distributor on Ebay and plug it in myself. I appreciate what these guys do for the hot rodding community as a whole but really? Send me home with a «fouled plug» after you empty my wallet? NOT COOL.

Supposed to be one of the best in the business. I’ve had issues with them in the past. In 2003 or 2004 I had them dyno tune my car and even though my car didn’t have an after cooler they tuned it that way and I blew my brand new 347 stroker motor. They swor up and down it wasn’t their fault and didn’t try to compensate me in any way. Fast foward to now the shop I used to use went out of business I joined the military and have to move. Their the only shop I know of around. So seeing as its 10 years later and had them do a tune up 5 years ago I figured I would give them a full on go again. Drove down 19 hours from Washington state (told them that when the appointment was made) picked up my car from my brother in laws dropped it off. They said they would start on it Monday. I called them that morning at 0830 to make sure they would call me in the middle of the day for an update. Their hours are from 8am –5pm. I called them at 1430 and they said «we haven’t started on it yet,“and I said «thats pretty disappointing and unacceptable.» They said «thats just how it is somtimes.» Must be nice to have the monopoly on southern California. Will literally never be using them again. Going to takey car back up to Washington and find myself a new shop!

I have a 1975 Blazer that Jay and crew have done extensive work on; custom motor, rebuilt transmission, rebuilt transfer case, etc. I have been extremely pleased with their work and it is the only place I have it worked on, including oil changes. I highly recommend JBA regardless of what vehicle you have.

A bit pricey but you get what you pay for. The service here is paramount, Bruce, Jay, and Mike all know how to make you feel at home.
I have a 1997 Cobra i can barely afford to drive but i refuse to let it go because i bleed blue and this is my baby. when it broke down and i realized it was going to be over 5,000 to fix i told them that i couldnt do it and i would do it myself and Jay did everything in his power to make my car running again within my budget and it really meant a lot to me, even offering to pull my block for essentially nothing. It has a pretty extensive built engine from them and tuned by Bruce who is the best in the business. I put down over 350hp, to a stroked engine and still get 27mpg while running 11sec passes.
Jay is a great guy and a celebrity in my eyes and is never hesitant to help push a car on a trailer or jump start one, i wish my boss was as cool as him!

First off I used to like this place a lot, now I am sad to say I won’t go back.
The people who work there act like you know nothing about cars immediately upon meeting them, when asking for them to inspect or give advice on anything. This has happened to me twice now previously with a carb ignition tune-​up and now with brakes.
I have been working on old Mustangs since I was 14 and have owned 3 which I personally rebuilt. The people at JBA don’t even try to imagine you know anything and give attitude from the start.
Finally you win them over with your knowledge and they begin to help you. To precursor this I have changed and done full brake overhauls and let them know this. So recently I brought my Mustang in for what I thought was a possible drum brake pad replacement given the amount of time since they were changed last. I don’t have a garage currently so I decided to save time I would bring it in.
They immediately acted like this was beneath them but would do it anyway.
So after lots of mis quoted time frames of when it would be done, I finally I come back to pick it up and they continually emphasize they adjusted the brakes and that they COULD have changed them all but they saved me money (like they were doing me a favor) only charging me $ 130 for a brake adjustment (which if they were a nicer shop would have been a lot less for a reoccurring customer but I wont complain about that) They tell me they test drove it and the brakes are solid.
So I take my car home and notice the brake pedal has a lot of play still, its better then before but still a lot of play which was why I brought it in the first place. Play = almost stepping to the ground to stop with about ½ inch clearance.
So I check the master cylinder and realize the cap is stuck on so tight I can’t undo it by hand. Which to me is a tell tale sign nobody has opened it in awhile. So I get the appropriate oil filter wrench and get it to nudge and unscrew it by hand and low and behold its completely empty, I mean bone dry. I know I don’t have a brake leak after inspection and the fact that I added more fluid in and my brakes were back to the firmness they should be immediately.
I am writing this review in hopes they read it and change there ways. No job is beneath anyone so try to not overlook the small ones because I was about to spend 5 thousand on new suspension this Month but the result of this small brake job has me now looking elsewhere.
To bad.

I have had good luck with these guys and wish that I had gone to them for engine work. I have a 1995 Jeep Wrangler that another company had done horrible work on. JBA has been fast, honest, and very good about communicating what SHOULD be done versus what is a «nicety» to have done.
If you need to get an engine re-​worked or some other improvements made to your vehicle, I recommend them.

The big day finally arrived! Dyno Day at JBA.
I had been looking forward to this for a while and finally my schedule permitted. Bruce spent an earnest amount of time running calculations based on what I wanted out of the car; then he and the guys ran multiple dyno tests and re-​calibrated and re-​tuned…
It was fascinating to watch and finally understand both what the results mean and what it takes to get you there. And Bruce and everyone was awesome in translating that info.
Bruce also took time to ask me what I wanted out of the car; gave tips on what to expect, etc.
It was awesome. It’s like a totally different car and it sounds even meaner than it did before, which I didn’t think was likely.
Gotta go. I’m gonna go drive my car!