JC Whitney? Any good?

Was going to grab some carpet and maybe a gas tank from them....heard some horror stories......

 

You spin the wheel and take your chances. I heard and read those same stories over the past 50 years. But I have gotten good stuff from them and have a friend who swears by them.
But I have a beautiful set of chrome tight tuck big block Chevy Headers that I bought dirt cheap through JC Whitney that came straight from Immerso Enterprises a few years ago. Works of art header wise.
Probably 70% of what they sell now is dropped shipped. You order something, they send the order to the supplier an the supplier sends the item straight to you.

 

Thank you sir, your words of wisdom will be put to the test. I shall order the gast tank or the carpet and report back with my findings.

 

I agree with the above. It used to be guaranteed lowest quality but now you may very well get name brand stuff.

I ordered some stuff from them recently on sale, it turned out to be great, go figure.

I gotta go ask for a catalog now, who knows what I'll need?!?

 

Well back in the 70's that was a good place to score some chrome for your car and van !
I haven't ordered from them since then but still get their catalog set to me ever now and then .
Of course you kida take your chances from many other places too like ! So much chinese crap sold today you just never know till you get it !

Retro Jim

 

These days, I would say, they are comparable to other suppliers (since "other" suppliers have now also started selling offshore shit..er parts). They have been around a long time, which is one way to gauge a successful company. Years ago they were looked down on, seems like all you had to do, was order a car magazine subscription, and soon after you started receiving their catologs. I personally have never ordered from them..can't get over the cheap/offshore stigma. My experience strictly comes from people I know who have bought from them, and that has been awhile ago.

 

Well I said the hell with it. Ordered both the carpet and the gas tank..they dont have a sending unit available though......I used the online chat helper thingy, and they got me right where I needed to be....I will let ya'll know in 2 weeks of my experience.

 

Many a teenagers car was put together on the pages of a JC Whitney catalog. My experience with them is from over twenty years ago, but when we got parts they were usually good stuff, sometimes they need some tweaking. Of course there was always the $20 stereo equipment and junk like that, but if you were honest with yourself you knew you were getting what you paid for.

 

Lots of JC stuff on my 51', headliner, seat kits, floor shifter, to much to list and it was all fairly decent stuff. all brand name. I dont know if they have changed at all in their quality but I wouldnt be afraid to buy it again

 

Very good answer/advice on your question.

I have a torque wrench I bought from them in '68. My father-in-law used it until '97 when he gave to me for my birthday. I guess I left it in his garage at some point. I retired it in 2000. Used and abused.

But I bought some other things from them that I have sent back.

They used to sell pretty good quality seat covers not show quality but good covers.

Its a crap shoot for sure but anything you buy from a catalog is.

 

Bought a ton of stuff from them starting in the very early 60's (I turned 16 in 1960). My first av8 had a lot of J. C. Whitney parts on board. Having not bought anything in the last few years I cannnot comment on the quality but I think others that have posted seem to have a good handle on what to expect.

Frank

 

My parents used to get stuff from J.C. Whitney for their old cars, trucks and motorcycles but that was 20 years ago! I was looking into a universal floor shift kit from there but haven't ordered it yet, so let us know how it goes!

 

I always thought of J.C. Whitney as the Walmart of car parts................

 

JCW carpet in my Chevy along with a reverb equalizer for the radio...been in 12 years now and could probably use replacements...eh?,....naw, spend money on another project !!

 

Like Frank. I have been dealing with them for 50 years, never a problem. Last carpet I got from them came from ACC.

 

Just do it.....there fine, and have really improved their quality in the last ten years.

 

Thy always had the lowest prices but killed you on the shipping.

 

Not a bad place at all. I live a few miles from the warehouse and go out and pick up stuff when I need it, my buddy has worked there since they built the new warehouse and moved out of Chicago. Like anywhere else, some great quality and some poor. About the sending unit, I just went out last weekend and picked up a 12v sending unit with the gauge in the kit for $29.....can't beat that.

 

I've bought a lot of stuff from JC Whitney over the years. If they sent me any junk/shit I'd have sent it back, haven't had to send anything back yet............

 

I once needed a rear window seal for a '62 caddy sedan deville. Where the devil do you find one of those? Much to my suprise, Dad called them and asked them if they had it, and they did! Go figure, its not something they even listed in they're big catalogs we used to get. Ya never know if you dont ask.

 

I ordered some lowering leaf springs from them year before last and it was Belltech stuff.

 

Well I will keep my fingers crossed. I just hope the carpet actually fits properly....Thanks brothers, and ride safe!