Anyone with experience: TJ tuck-n-roll?

they do not have zodiac material there.i get that stuff at my place in downtown L.A.
i am going to post pictures of our first trip real soon...maybe tonight....they look like old barris pic's!
muffler work is pretty decent....if you dont care about show qulaity they will do a set of 12" glass packs dual exhaust all the way out to the rear of the car with chrome "pea shooter" tips for about $100.00!
i just love 50's prices!

 

terry - hollar if you need a shotgun for the trip down.... carlos knows the game down in TJ as well.

 

Hey derelict I think my buddy gets his stuff done at the same guy here in modesto we call him the pachuco its right by 4th street park, cool prices good work. He usually knows about good deals on old rides too. Maybe its the same guy.

 

You sure that's a c-section scar or a love tap from her boyfriend with a home made shank?
xxx
Brandy

 

For your information, they don't stuff horse shit like someone said above. Here's your "cheap stuffed horse shit", all chrome, paint, and interior done in TJ:

 

Aeroman... that looks like a first rate job!

What did that cost you?

And who down there did it?

Sam.

 

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh I'm in love! Where, how much, general directions for the chromer??? I have bumpers galore that need a bit of the shiney touch done to them!! God I could put my makeup on in that bumper!

xxx
Brandy

 

Yeah, it looks like a chrome run is in the works too. Now the big decision is should I do the chrome or interior first. C'mon, let's do this.

 

I'm also seriously thinking about taking the '65 Chevy pu that I am building down there for an interior job. The owner's dad, who bought the truck in '65, used to drive it down to Mexico to get paint jobs on it. He's Mexican, and his family owned a Mexican resturaunt, they used the truck to haul produce and stuff for the business.

It would be a real neat connection to take it down there... but I gotta know what kind of selection of materials they have, and can we bring our own. If so, how much is required... do they do carpeting of the floor... and if you want a little higher quality that the average job, can you pay them a little more, and get a better job?

Sam.

 

Isn't that line about stuffing the seats with horse shit from the old movie "Losin' it" with Tom Cruise?

They were taking a red '57 Chevy to TJ for a tuck and roll job.

 

Ya know what Sambo, I'd bet good money that you can take your own materials with you. Just go to a fabric store and ask them how to figure how much material you will need then buy a little extra for good measure!! As for more $ = higher quality job....well ya know MONEY TALKS!!
xxx
Brandy

 

Bumpin this for the current requests, no credit to me, I didnt find it!

 

ULTRA-VIOLET STABLE THREAD for use on vinyl, canvas and endless other outdoor uses. will not rot. Non-UV thread will rot in a few years!!

 

What I'm wondering is, was $600 on the wagon for full leather or half and half or vinyl ?? You have to figure in what your time is worth when taking things to TJ..... Can you afford to sit on your ass all day while your car gets done or is it easier to drop it off locally and get back to work... Also, factor in the time it takes to get back accross the boarder. I have heard you can sit in that traffic line for 4-6 hours trying to get back accross. It once took me 6 hours just to get from San Diego back to L.A. once it was so bad..... just soemthing to think about.

 

If you missed it in GARAGE Issue #12, we decided to put the rumors to the test and took George Lopez' Chevy coupe to TJ for an upholstery job.

First of all, as if he really needed verification, Axle is exactly right – that district is FULL of shops that'll fix you up in a matter of hours. And, in addition to his recommendation, I would throw Carlos Barbosa's J/C Classico's shop into the mix. He's got a secure shop, a good (though small) staff of guys and he's also one-stop shopping for chrome work, trim repair, trim fabrication (if you're missing some that just can't be found) and some minor general repair. I wouldn't recommend him for body work, but that's not what you were asking about, anyway.

Also, Carlos will show you around town and he's got lots of relatives and contacts to get you just about anything you need. For instance, we were interested in incorporating matador conchos into the interior design and Carlos said, "Sure, I got a cousin..." and that's all it took!

The other good thing about Carlos is that he lives here stateside in NorCal as well as in TJ, so he can meet with you, take materials (like Zodiac) with him when he goes to his shop and generally make you feel better about being able to make some plans before you even get there. He's an overall good guy, and just remember: you'll still be dealing with MEXICO. Proceed accordingly...

And give him a call:
Carlos Barbosa
J/C Classico's
Cbclassico1@aol.com

If you want his phone number, drop me a line: chief@garagemagazine.com

STONER

 

A few more shots...

Between what Axle's got going on and the friends and connections we've got in TJ, you'll be in good shape.

And stay tuned for the Part Dos of our TJ upholstery story with George Lopez' car – it gets better (as if getting arrested down there wasn't enough)...

STONER

 

Welcome to Mexico,Gringos.....

 

Yeah, TJ is a blast and the people are great. Federales con slingshots, not so much...

The one thing we learned is that the labor is cheap and these guys are more than happy to help. Good peoples...

 

Thanks Stoner, great story! Okay so what did it cost and how long did it take?

 

OK so everyone seems to be happy with the work they have had done down there. BUT..... has anyone paid attention to the current issues in TJ and the surrounding area? There is a huge drug war going on that has casued a drop in tourism by 90%! Do a search and read up on the current events in the area. I have been going south of the boarder for years and have never had an issue, although last summer while down there I felt a whole differnt vibe.
I have also heard some storys that I would not belive but have been confirmed true.
Just my 2cents.....

 

I know it's "traditional" and all... but why take your US money "overseas" to Mexico when there are many good US upholstery shops in the US... many of them even here on the HAMB. Everyone complains about parts coming from overseas, and US companies outsourcing jobs overseas, and immigrants coming here and taking US jobs... but revels in the idea of doing a little outsourcing of their own to Mexico. I don't get it.

 

It's probably not so much the economics as it is the "experience" and bragging right that you have a "traditional Tijuana" upholstery job.

When I'd be on the west coast on business or vacation I'd go visit Tijuana. Been over the border at least a dozen times . On one trip I was by myself. The first place I headed was to the section of town where they do the upholstery work. Again, that was part of "My Tijuana Experience". I have some pics around here someplace of those trim shops.

I remember going by a body shop and watching a guy repairing a dented quarter panel on a Caddy with a carpenters claw hammer. I can still see him swinging that hammer inside the trunk with no dolly on the outside. When he got done he stretched the metal so bad there was enough there to make another fender . That told me this was no place to get body work and paint jobs.

I feel sure the sale of one overseas container of Chinese junk tools at Harbor Freight on this shore has a bigger impact on our ecomomy than a whole bunch of Tijuana upholstery jobs .

If I lived in SoCal, I'd be a regular down there.

 

Lol, I was thinking the same thing! My Dad got his dentures there, and sevral friends get their work done there as well. One dentist even sends a car over and brings you back.

 

It's not about the amount of money that your one little job takes across the border, it's that this is one project you have control over. You have no control over AT&T having operators in India, or Ford building trucks in Mexico, but you CAN make sure your upholstery money stays in the US. Everyone goes out of their way to buy American made parts and tools, why not do it for every part of your car? It seems hypocritical to me.

 

Without stating a million specifics, I'll say this, the world's economy has gone global. The international walls are so small anymore, you can hardly see them. If you don't think so, reach for the first packaging label you see.

 

So I got the number to that J.C. Clasico shop in one of the photos Stoner posted. Called them up but apparently they are no longer located in the same area and are under different ownership. I spoke to the guy for a few minutes, speaking only in spanish to him cause i figured that might earn me some points ^_^
They are now located in Otay near the bus terminal. He said hes doing most of the work himself so the turn around time is significantly longer. One to two weeks he said. That bummed me out big time. His name is Javier and he seems legit but I just cant see myself leaving him my 54 Cadillac for longer than 24 hours. Just doesnt seem right.
Any other people have reviews on the tijuana tuck and roll? Pics?

 

I got the interior in my 54 chevy done in Tijuana.If you go,buy the insurance for your car.Your car insurance is no good there.I went to Los Panchos #2.It took a day and a half.The guy who runs the place put 8 guys on the job to get it done quick.Work was very,very good.He has 3 grades of leather to choose from.I chose the most expensive US leather.The stiching was incredible.The owners of the shops there pay for security in the evenings,so there is not too much to worry about.They did carpet,headliner,door panels,seats,and carpet and upholstery in the trunk for $800.If you go to TJ,ask where you can find "Stitchers Row".It is where most of the upholstery shops are located.I had the job done about 2 years ago.They did say that the prices were going to be going up soon,but they didn't say how much.There was a guy there who just got his 64 el camino done for $550.Good job also.I hope this helps.

 

read my post on the other thread !

 

deville54 is being a pussy. go to TJ take a gun and shoot your way to some awesome tuck and roll.desmadrosos my ass