Be sure to stop by TCI’s space and say, “Hello” to VP & GM, Sal Solorzano.

Some people might be put off by the idea of building a custom car or upgrading a classic car because they want both a stylish vintage vehicle, but also need something reliable to get them through the daily grind. For those of you that fall into this category, don’t worry. There is a company right here in So Cal that may allow you to have the custom car of your dreams that will get thumbs-up at traffic signals without sacrificing reliability.

Total Cost Involved Engineering (TCI Engineering) allows you the opportunity to take your old ride and turn it into a reliable daily driver that will turn heads to the point where the local chiropractor might send you commission checks. Don’t just take our word for it, either. The TV program Overhaulin’ just worked with TCI to customize a vintage pickup truck, turning it into a fast and reliable machine. But, as they say in Hollywood, there’s a back story that is really worth telling here.

TCI opened its doors in 1974 in Norwalk, California. In those days they would start with a reproduction frame for Model A’s that could handle the kind of horsepower that was being dropped into a hot rod without getting bent out of shape, literally. It would seem that old Henry Ford and his engineers had no idea that we would be throwing a few hundred horsepower at the Tin Lizzy but fortunately, the guys at TCI Engineering solved this problem for us with a good rigid frame.

The idea caught on and the company took off. In 1979 they moved to Ontario, California where they still reside today. Forty-three of your fellow Californian’s are hard at work making a variety of parts used to upgrade that old Chevy or Ford in a big 32,000 square foot facility. What is more, they’re doing it with the kind of old-fashioned care and quality control that makes you proud to show-off your “Made in America” parts. TCI keeps it local by using local subcontractors for some of their parts. The wheel spindles, for instance, are cast locally out of American metal. Not to mention that this helps keep Americans working on the parts you’re going to need to turn your car into a resto-mod, hot rod, street rod, classic truck or muscle car that you’re proud of.

“We pride ourselves in building American-made quality products” says Salorzano.

Sal Solorzano is the VP & General Manager of TCI Engineering. When asked about his products, Solorzano stated the following: “We pride ourselves in building American-made quality [products]. Californian’s started in the 50’s making hot rods. We machine everything in-house, we manufacture in-house and we keep Californian’s working. We test everything we make.” It is impressive to keep a manufacturing company alive and kicking in California’s struggling economy. Not to mention that it seems like our local politicians love to stick their business into our business, especially if we’re making stuff.

So let’s talk catalog for a minute. What does TCI have to offer? If you were restoring a ’66 Fairlane, you could replace the whole front suspension with a much more capable unit, go with four-wheel discs, and upgrade the suspension all around. But there are all sorts of parts for all sorts of Chevrolet and Ford vehicles ranging from pieces you’d need if you’re doing a relatively tame restoration to things that will help you win at the drags. Do you wanna race a Shoebox Nova? TCI can help you handle the power. Restoring an old Mustang? Cool – how ’bout a set of disc brakes for each corner or a better suspension to make that car handle like a new Mustang?

Where does a company like TCI get the ideas for all these nifty bits? Some of their ideas come right from you. In fact, this is one of the reasons they love doing the Pomona Swap Meet.  They get some of their best ideas from people who stop by their vendor booth and ask about their products. As a result the company carefully engineers the products, tests the daylights out of them, makes them here in So Cal and finally puts one heck of a great guarantee on them.

So once you’ve got your ride all finished and you’re getting firsts at car shows or firsts at the drags, remember that you are supporting the local economy.  Not to mention that you’ll appreciate American-made quality and style that makes your ride a fast and reliable machine.

You can find out more about TCI by visiting them virtually with your computer at totalcostinvolved.com or in person at the Pomona Swap Meet. TCI’s vendor space is the one that feels like you are walking into a showroom housing a variety of parts needed to customize your vintage Chevrolet or Ford. TCI’s vendor space is located on Road 22, Spaces 10, 12, 14 and 16. Map of Vendor Spaces (PDF)

This article was written by Tony Barthel from the Curbside Auto Column and Car Show Calendar. For auto articles, news and an on-line calendar of automotive events, please visit www.curbside.tv.

TCI has a great display (Road 22, Spaces 10,12,14 and 16) showing off all of the products they custom build at their Ontario shop.