I see this is a really old post, but I've missed it. I have a Jones Quick Change in my Big Red truck.
My dad drove for Levi a couple times and against him a lot back in the '90s. The car dad drove for Levi was the old #7crown super dirt modified, or "skeeter car". Dad always said that was a rocket sled. The wing said "Happy Birthday Phillis" Phillis being Levi's wife. First time he ever drove the car was at Oglethorpe Raceway (or Speedway, I was like 8 at the time). After a bad start to the day with a broken drive plate dad worked his way up through the field and finished 4th in the heat. He won the feature one the last, or next to the last lap by passing on the outside of Phil Barkin in one of his 21jr. cars, as he always had several different ones. My dad always said that was the fastest car he ever drove. My Dad, Pat Fore, and Levi had an unusual but close friendship for several years until my dad just couldn't afford to race anymore. I wish I had some video or pictures.
Marty Strode sent me this link, in reference to a Jones MiniQC I just got. Any info? Interest? Any idea what it bolts to? I read some of the possibilities above.
That is an interesting piece. With the input and output being in line with each other, there must be a countershaft with gears in the upper part of the housing. I'd like to see the inside of it.
That type of quick change was first made by Jim Collier of Seattle around 1950. The first ones were for Ford banjo rear ends. They used standard Halibrand gears. I worked for Jones for awhile in the 60's and remember seeing some of those in the shop.
Hello Levie! My name is Donnie Williams. I worked for your grandpa back in the 80’s when he was on Iowa St in Indianapolis. I programmed and ran his CNC turning center, gear cutting machine and splining machine. Sometimes all 3 at the same time. We once made 50 sets of Mag wheels for Shelby. He was an incredible man. I called him a mad scientist, but he was really an incredible engineer, machinist and mentor. We fussed a lot. He fired me 10 times, I quit about as many. I wish I could go back. Super cool place to work. I tried to find him in the early 00’s. I wanted to see if he wanted to hire/fire me one more time for old time sake. Please tell Ben I said hello and that I miss him too!
He was a crazy man in the foundry. We used magnesium that no one else could use. He would break up cold kettles of magnesium that usually went to the land fill because remelting them would cause explosions. We would break them up with jack hammers and various saws into smaller pieces/explosions. Explosions that the fire department didn’t hear. I caught the big engine lathe on fire once. The chips would burn as bright as a welders flash. Only black foundry sand would put it out.
I worked for him for several years in Indy. I loved it! I am a tool & die maker but ended up running his CNC turning center. Come to think of it, I don’t remember there being a bathroom there either. Levie had a dog, a cat, a ferret and a cockatoo. All of which ate right from Levies lunch. Great guy…
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