anyone dealt with J.C. Whitney? a couple of years ago they carried alot of crappy/cheap products. have they come around to carrying good stuff? anyone bought stuff from them? would you again? thanks. later.
I haven't got broad experience, but I know they carry a lot of decent products from other manufactureres - Racer Brown cams and such. I used a four-speed rebuild kit from JC Whitney in my Muncie and it hasn't been a problem at all.
I just got the wrong seat covers yesterday. Ordered black with white insets and got all white. Probably a mistake of whomever they farm the work out to. I called and they are rushing the right seats and sending a packing slip to return the wrong ones.
I ordered a rocker panel for my 59 buick first the sent me the wrong one they straigtened it out and sent me the right one according to the sticker, but it still didnt seem right. The curve on it didnt seem at all right by a good inch or two.The buick got toataled before I could even attempted to put em on.
I ordered some lap seatbelts for my 4-door hardtop from them. They are really nice for the money ($45 a pair, I think). Even have the old-style, lift up chrome latches. Good hardware, installed easily. Jake
I was thinking of posting the same message today...Thank you!! www.rockauto.com is another place well worth checking out for 'stock' parts. I ordered a pile of stuff for the Valiant, and even with shipping & a $20 core charge for one of the parts, they were still almost $100 cheaper than the local Autozone/Kragen type stores. Dave
I've only bought *gasp* VW bug stuff from them.....had no problems with them....quality was ok - I mean, afterall, it's just aftermarket BUG stuff...so who really cares anyway...right?
I bought a set of window channel fuzzy strips from them a while back. The packaging was pathetic and one channel was creased during shipping. They wouldn't take it back and were kinda rude on the phone. I had to spend quite a bit of time getting it straightened for use since I was in a jamb and needed to get my window in. The metal bead is just to rocked to repair and it looks like crap.
Bought some seat (lap) belts from them for a decent price. So far, I've not fallen out of the car while wearing them, so I guess they're OK.
Ive gotten some stuff from them.. Shipping can be a little outrageous tho. Google for coupons before ordering. I found a 20% coupon online.
My experience with their stuff is mostly so-so quality. Years ago,they had a ton of stuff for Model A's and other old cars-now it's Jeeps and new truck jazz. There also used to be a place called Warshawski (SP?) that sent out an identical catalogue but with wholesale prices. If you looked at the map inside, Whitney was on one side of the street and Warshawski was the same building but the side around the corner. I agree you have to watch the shipping.
I bought seat upholstery/covers from them the kind that looks like tucknroll. They fit nice and looked good. The price was OK
Good..I've bought several items and have been satisfied. Got a "universal" radiator/fan shroud that is exactly like the one pictured in the Summit catalog, only it was a bit cheaper.
I bought VW stuff from them 17 years ago. It was ok for what I paid. I have not purchased from them recently.
The only bad thing I ever bought there was chrome water neck (the threads were chromed too) but hey it was just a $10 part. I was planning on ordering a set of those tuck and roll seat covers this spring-do they actually make them a close fit to year/make seat you tell them? -Dean
The covers I bought were for a 62 impala splitbench and back seat. I am pretty sure they were mase fore that seat. They fit real nice and tight.
Like any place, you have to watch what you buy, sometimes a little closer with them though! They get a bad wrap because they sell a lot of cheap crap, but that dosn't mean they don't sell good stuff too. I see a lot of name brands in thier catalogs, but the prices on that stuff isn't dirt cheap. The stuff that is dirt cheap probably isn't the best you can buy. Just look at thier catalog, you can buy fender skirts for a damn mustang! And I wouldn't expect the chrome on thier $5 rear view mirrors to last very long. My car had JCW bumpers put on it many years ago. I never saw them new, but I imagine that if they were better quality I wouldn't be looking for a new set right now.
I've gotten a lot of neat junk from them for many years Warshawski is the same company About thirty years ago they were kind enough to let me run thru the place....there was all kindda Voodo stuff. Went back a few years later they had tossed everything Warshawski had a huge collection of Tiffany Lamps One of their ads said a nylon motorcycle jacket raised your mileage cause it lowered your wind resistance!! Sometimes they just claimed too much but lots of the stuff is good I've a set of front springs on my ol'GMC that were a fraction of everyone else's price and work just fine
I always thought they had a reputation for crap--but in recent years I've heard good things about them. I'm giving the opinions on this forum a bit more weight though, cuz generally speaking, HAMBers don't sugar coat anything! I'm knocked out by those seat covers. That's EXACTLY what I need for my '54 Buick! Looks like I'm going to be ordering a set! -Brad
I have essentially the same review as most, so so but reasonable prices. They have a very useful brakeline kit, tubing and fittings for around 20 bucks if you don't mind flaring it yourself (doubt if anybody in HERE minds) I am flat knocked out by those seatcovers. I may re-think the Mexican blanket idea I was planning in the wagon. Randy
I wonder if their stuff has gotten better over the years, or has everybody elses stuff turned crappier. Almost everybodies parts are from asia now.
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