Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 Print
Normal Topic Kaiser Willys Auto Supply?? (Read 4231 times)
 
corpsman
3A Guru
****
Offline


Still Plays With Jeeps

Posts: 216
Location: Nashville, TN
Joined: 02/06/15
Gender: Male
Kaiser Willys Auto Supply??
02/26/15 at 04:16:19
Print Post  
I've been thinking about ordering some parts from Kaiser Willys Auto Supply.  has anyone ordered from them?  do they have quality parts?
  

1950 cj-3a (currently under full restoration)
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
BMIC
3A Guru
Owner Member 2012
2016 Sponsor Member
2015 Sponsor Member
****
Offline


Weekend Mechanic

Posts: 406
Location: Little Sebago Lake, Maine
Joined: 11/02/11
Gender: Male
Re: Kaiser Willys Auto Supply??
Reply #1 - 02/26/15 at 11:26:36
Print Post  
I buy about 90% of my parts through KW...
I do not think they provide better quality or pricing than the others, I just like the delivery arriving when I expect it and the order shipped in full.
I only work on my 3A on weekends so my parts arriving by Friday is very important to me. To that end KW has never let me down.
  

We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out... WC
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
garage gnome
Flatfender Master
2013 Sponsor Member
*****
Offline


Rustologist

Posts: 1931
Location: Chester
Joined: 02/16/12
Gender: Male
Re: Kaiser Willys Auto Supply??
Reply #2 - 02/26/15 at 11:50:16
Print Post  
I use Walcks 4WD way more than KW. They ship faster and have more american made parts. However, they all use the same omix ada and MD Juan parts.
« Last Edit: 02/26/15 at 11:52:16 by garage gnome »  

Nate in Western MA 1953 3A #3268, The Jalopy, '47 2A Wheelin' rig, '49 3A, #37071, unmolested, bone stock named Ted
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
garage gnome
Flatfender Master
2013 Sponsor Member
*****
Offline


Rustologist

Posts: 1931
Location: Chester
Joined: 02/16/12
Gender: Male
Re: Kaiser Willys Auto Supply??
Reply #3 - 02/26/15 at 11:51:55
Print Post  
BTW, I moved this since it isn't tech related.
  

Nate in Western MA 1953 3A #3268, The Jalopy, '47 2A Wheelin' rig, '49 3A, #37071, unmolested, bone stock named Ted
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
johnrb3b
YaBB Administrator
Owner Member 2012
*****
Offline


No such thing as too many
Jeeps

Posts: 900
Location: West burbs of Chicago
Joined: 08/05/11
Gender: Male
Re: Kaiser Willys Auto Supply??
Reply #4 - 02/26/15 at 15:06:16
Print Post  
Like Nate, I get most of my stuff from Walk's.
Walk's and KW are virtually the same on price abd delivery - each can beat the other on different items. Of course, given the world economy, they get most of their parts from the same sources. I get the feeling that Carl works harder at sourcing American made but he can do only so much.
But - here's the big difference.
I've called both on several occasions with questions before buying a part.
In every case, Carl has had the correct answer plus much good advice.
About half the time I call KW, I get someone who simply doesn't have the knowledge and background to correctly answer my question and also doesn't have the experience of actually working on old Willys vehicles.
KW is not bad people, they just don't have the weath of experience that Carl and his son have.

Another vendor who has a lifetime of experience, like Carl, is Herm Tilford - Herm the Overdrive Guy. He is THE authority on overdrives and related items. He also is willing to give you of his time and advice when you call.

Two great guys - Carl and Herm.
  

1946 2A - - - 1949 me - older than most of my Jeeps
1954 3B - - - 1957 Wagon - - - 2010 4-door JK
past Jeeps ---> '54 3B - no tub --- '59 3B - no engine
past addiction - VW ---> '69 bus --- '70 camper --- '84 camper
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
corpsman
3A Guru
****
Offline


Still Plays With Jeeps

Posts: 216
Location: Nashville, TN
Joined: 02/06/15
Gender: Male
Re: Kaiser Willys Auto Supply??
Reply #5 - 02/26/15 at 23:52:21
Print Post  
thanks for the input, guys!  i'll check out Walcks and see what I think.
  

1950 cj-3a (currently under full restoration)
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
corpsman
3A Guru
****
Offline


Still Plays With Jeeps

Posts: 216
Location: Nashville, TN
Joined: 02/06/15
Gender: Male
Re: Kaiser Willys Auto Supply??
Reply #6 - 02/26/15 at 23:52:49
Print Post  
garage gnome wrote on 02/26/15 at 11:51:55:
BTW, I moved this since it isn't tech related.

no problem here.  thanks!
  

1950 cj-3a (currently under full restoration)
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
J Metz
Project Jeep
*
Offline


Still Plays With Jeeps

Posts: 18
Location: SillyCon Valley, CA
Joined: 02/13/15
Gender: Male
Re: Kaiser Willys Auto Supply??
Reply #7 - 02/28/15 at 20:16:59
Print Post  
johnrb3b wrote on 02/26/15 at 15:06:16:
But - here's the big difference.
I've called both on several occasions with questions before buying a part.
In every case, Carl has had the correct answer plus much good advice.
About half the time I call KW, I get someone who simply doesn't have the knowledge and background to correctly answer my question and also doesn't have the experience of actually working on old Willys vehicles.
KW is not bad people, they just don't have the weath of experience that Carl and his son have.


I agree with this. For the most part, if you know exactly what you want KW is a decent place to get it, especially since their threshold for free shipping is lower than Walck's. However, I had one experience that completely echoes John's.

I tried talking to "Mike," (there is more than one Mike at KW, so this was their "senior parts guy") about a problem I was having trying to find a replacement for a hub that got damaged when I was trying to remove a fused brake drum. Despite sending them pictures (and the link to the blog), they kept asking me what kind of brakes I had - which lead me to believe that they hadn't even bothered to look at anything I sent.

There was a lot of back and forth, because what they were telling me made no sense, and ultimately I ended the call without actually getting an answer.

Sometimes KW has parts I can't find anywhere else, however, so I'm forced to use them but overall I try to avoid anything that might require asking questions later.

Just for what it's worth, at least...
  

-----------------
It's a Jeep thing.
-----------------
1952 Willys M38A1 "Porkchop"
1952 Willys CJ-3A "Honey Badger"

"Jeep is America's only real sports car." -Enzo Ferrari
Back to top
IP Logged
 
bretto
3A Guru
****
Offline


OD 3A cousin

Posts: 486
Location: Orem Utah
Joined: 12/09/10
Gender: Male
Re: Kaiser Willys Auto Supply??
Reply #8 - 03/01/15 at 14:07:00
Print Post  
If your ordering important core parts, ie tranny, engine, any gears, stay away from KW.  That's not their bailiwick. Most of their stuff, as other had said, is overseas garbage.  Source OEM USA made parts ONLY.  And I'm not saying that just to say buy American, there is a big difference in the quality.  You will pay a little more but it's better than the frustration of having to redo a job.  A good source for that is guys like John Bizal @ Midwest Military, Peter DeBella, Advanced Adapters or Novak.

To be honest, I just use KW as reference, their catalog is pretty ;)
« Last Edit: 03/01/15 at 14:09:30 by bretto »  

Brett Orem, UT  PHOTO DIARY OF MY BUILD
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
corpsman
3A Guru
****
Offline


Still Plays With Jeeps

Posts: 216
Location: Nashville, TN
Joined: 02/06/15
Gender: Male
Re: Kaiser Willys Auto Supply??
Reply #9 - 03/02/15 at 04:36:53
Print Post  
bretto wrote on 03/01/15 at 14:07:00:
If your ordering important core parts, ie tranny, engine, any gears, stay away from KW.  That's not their bailiwick. Most of their stuff, as other had said, is overseas garbage.  Source OEM USA made parts ONLY.  And I'm not saying that just to say buy American, there is a big difference in the quality.  You will pay a little more but it's better than the frustration of having to redo a job.  A good source for that is guys like John Bizal @ Midwest Military, Peter DeBella, Advanced Adapters or Novak.

To be honest, I just use KW as reference, their catalog is pretty Wink

hey, I really appreciate the info.  I will definitely keep that in mind.  I would much rather have a quality, made in USA part.
  

1950 cj-3a (currently under full restoration)
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Print
Bookmarks: Facebook Google Google+ Linked in Twitter Yahoo