Jack, The 1957 Eldorado Seville I am working on needs a replacement for the original Turbo-Hydramatic. Having refreshed the original engine considerably, bored and stroked to about 400 cubic inches, upgraded with LS-rods, light weight forged aluminum pistons with ultra-slender metric rings, reconditioned dual 4-barrels and a performance regrind of the original cam by Isky Cams, bolting the old transmission back up to this rejuvenated power plant would be futile, like encouraging one’s grandmother to compete in a wet “T-shirt” contest. Even the most ardent desire to compete could never conceal the near total lack of the attributes necessary for success . . . Thanks again, All best, Robert Goodrick
MoreCorvette Model 1970 Corvette Convertible, with two tops – removable hardtop in Torch Red body color & black Al Knoch soft top Body Modifications Vacuum systems removed. Replaced with 1973 style hood with custom hood latches, 1973 windshield, custom firewall cover and wiper cowl cover in body color, and ECPB electric headlight opener kit Paint Torch Red Interior Stock standard black interior, with Comfort-weave vinyl seats Interior Modifications Console bezel updated to incorporate Kenwood stereo, with i-Pod and Bluetooth capability, cut pile black carpet, Dynamat heat shield/sound barrier on floor and doors, lap seat belts, Chuck Pelton black leather-wrapped C3 Corvette steering wheel, and Vintage Air AC with updated controls. Engine LS 376/480, with custom-designed fuel rail covers Exhaust System MagnaFlow stainless steel, custom exhaust system Transmission Tremec TKO 600,5-speed manual Chassis Street Shop, Inc. (see detail specifications below) Suspension C4 Corvette suspension, with QA1 Ultra Ride coil-over adjustable shocks Rearend Super Duty Dana 44 rearend, 3.50:1 Brakes 11” rear & 13” front C4 Corvette disc brakes Wheels CCW Classics, polished aluminum, 18x9 front & 18x10 rear Tires Kuhmo Ecsta LE Sport, 245/40/18 front & Rear Axle 275/35/18 Street Shop, Inc. Rolling Chassis – Components: Street Shop’s C3 Corvette replacement chassis is an all new “mandrel formed” chassis made by bending 4” x 2” x 0.120” wall steel tubing, then powder-coated in semi-gloss black. The Street Shop chassis for this 1970 Corvette Convertible “Restomod” includes the following components and options --- Mandrel formed tubular frame, powder-coated in semi-gloss black Removable transmission cross-member C4 Corvette suspension front & rear HD 3.5” diameter aluminum half shafts Billet aluminum adjustable rear camber bars Billet aluminum rear toe assembly Billet aluminum lower coil-over mount Front sway bar kit, 1” diameter QA1 Ultra Ride Series single adjustable coil-over shocks Complete custom brake line kit Wilwood tandem master brake cylinder, polished, 1.13” bore 11” rear & 13” front C4 Corvette brakes, with Level III HydroBoost Brake Assist Red powder-coated C4 Corvette brake calipers DSE power rack & pinion steering Column adapter kit for AGR rack to steering column Rock Valley stainless steel fuel tank, with in-tank electric fuel pump DeWitt Aluminium Radiator, with dual chrome fans GMPP LS3HO 480hp crate engine Polished/Chrome LS engine accessories kit PowerMaster XS chrome torque starter Spectre polished 90 air intake, with K&N filter Vintage Air heat/cool/defrost kit
MoreFriends, I had a special day yesterday and would like to share my experience. Just as I was getting in my '57 Chevy convertible to go home from the car show in Eagle River, three men with a blind teenage girl came up to ask questions about the car. What engine, How long have you had it ? etc. long story short.. Her dad asked if he could show the car to his blind daughter. How does a person show a blind person something ?? I didn't know what to expect but said "Sure". Her dad showed her the car by holding her hand and touching almost every area, both inside & out and explained to her what it was or did.. Fenders, hood, chrome pieces, grill, glass even the tires. He was very thorough. When they approached the passenger door, I opened it and offered her to sit inside. Her dad showed her the dash, clock, door handles and window cranks with his & her hands, explaining each as they were touched.. I asked her to hold her hands out and I dropped the keys in her hands then folded her hands around the keys. I told her to give the keys to her dad and take a drive around the parking lot.. I closed the door and he slid in behind the wheel.. I felt a lump in my throat.. This was something special for me. He drove her around the parking lot for about 5 minutes. She was smiling when she got out and her dad had tears streaming down his face.. I asked her for a hug and I got a one of the best ever.. It was an emotional time. My eyes leaked too.. We all shook hands and they went inside to see the car show.. I was smiling the most. It was really nice to help bring an experience like that to someone less fortunate... Taylor is 16, a near 4.0 student and completed Alaska's Blind education program. Soon Taylor will continue her advanced education in New York . Several people watched as Taylor's dad drove around the parking lot and waved as they drove by.. I am blessed in many ways.. and yesterday, being a car guy with Taylor was a very special day. Ben Ben also shared some photos with us of his car and his recent visit to beautiful Mt. Denali in Alaska. His 57 Bel Air has a Silver Sport Transmission Tremec TKO 5-speed kit in it!
MoreCharlie Owens first drove this 1974 Camaro when he was 16. It belonged to a friend of his from high school. Sean Cagle was days away from graduating, enjoying some time at the lake, when he dove in and broke his neck. It was May 22, 1983 and he would've graduated in just four days on May 26th. His brother, Jeff, stored Sean's 1974 Camaro away as a tribute to the brother he lost. Thirty-two years later, Jeff runs into Sean's good friend Charlie Owens. Charlie remembered Sean's 2nd Gen and even got to drive it when he was 16. Jeff sold the car to Charlie and Charlie got to work restoring his buddy's car. The first thing Charlie updated on his car was the engine with a 383 Stroker Kit with an Eagle Rotating Assembly built by James Grey of Greytech Autobuilt. The new engine was great and he loved it, but the original Muncie 4-speed just wasn't cutting it. He turned to Silver Sport Transmissions and soon he had a Tremec TKO 5-Speed PerfectFit Kit installed. Charlie loves the car now. He says the Tremec TKO 5-speed made it so enjoyable to drive, especially on the interstate and highways. He knows he doesn't have a show car, he doesn't want one. He just wants to drive his friend's car, a tribute to a friend who was lost too soon.
MoreFrank purchased the Tremec TKO 600 PerfectFit Kit for his 1969 Camaro I just took on the transmission on its madden voyage this week and it all works great wow what a difference!!! Thanks Jack!
MoreHi Jeff, Took the car about 20 miles to a cruise, and it drove beautiful. With 3:55 gears my 1st gear is effortless, and it cruises great at 70 to 75. Your trans kit is probably the one best modification a person could make to a classic. I also included some pictures of my cross member mods. Like it or hate it, it made putting the trans in a snap, and it's not going any where. All of the staff are wonderful also. Thank's for helping me make the right decision. Lonnie
MoreWe often hear an overdrive transmission is the single most dramatic improvement our customers make to their cars. Not too many of them back it up with dynamometer results. Our customer, John P. sent us this email with his dyno results: I bought a TKO600 kit for my 1973 Corvette from you last April. I got it running last weekend, and the difference between my TH400 and this TKO600 is astounding. I can hardly believe I ran that TH400 for all those years. It was nicely built with higher stall, shift kit, 34 tooth sprag & good clutches & steels, but it is still an absolute slush box compared to the performance of the TKO. This was worth every penny of the cost. And the kit was beautiful, everything was there and of excellent quality and perfect fit. The thing that impressed me the most was the increase in power and response to my wheels. I had expected to feel some of course, but the amount I did feel was much greater than my expectations. I put it on a chassis dyno this morning and the numbers prove it: The TH400 used up fully 25% of engine power, this TKO600 uses only 12%. Half! I got an increase of 60 lb/ft of torque and 48 horsepower to the rear wheels! I did not expect that great a difference, but the numbers prove it. And I shall show you: Attached are my dyno sheets. One for the engine on the engine dyno with full exhaust and air cleaner as on the car, one with the TH400 on the chassis dyno, and one with the TKO600 on the same chassis dyno. I'll also send a photo of the engine on the dyno and one of my car. It is a bit of a street rat. The paint is original, with chips, stains and faded front bumper. So is the interior, with ripped driver seat and some loose trim. Radio, A/C, and other useless stuff has been removed. None of that helps it run better. But underneath there are many suspension, brake, drive train and other upgrades. The engine is a mildly built 383 with AFR heads, smallish roller cam and OEM Quadrajet. I run a 3.36 rear end. Thanks for your help & the great kit. I love it. The 500 miles I have on it so far have been the most pleasurable and fun I have ever had driving this car. It is the best thing I have done for the car and really adds a crowning touch to all the other modifications I have made --and will keep making. Sincerely, John P. Loveland, CO As you can see, John is really happy with the Tremec TKO600 5-Speed and his PerfectFit™ Kit. His results made us curious about why his horsepower and torque improved exponentially, so we asked the smartest guy we know, our in-house engineer, Dick McCord. Dick examined the dyno test results and took inventory of the drivetrain components in John’s car. This is what he found: The TKO has a lower rotating mass (inertia) than the larger, bulkier TH400. Energy is lost as the heavy gears rotate. The TH400 torque converter efficiency (even with a higher than stock stall speed) would affect the dyno results. The TKO was designed to be more efficient than older model transmissions; so many considerations were made to reduce parasitic power loss. The A41 automatic, LGT-700, and Magnum 6-Speed would have all had similar results for the same reasons as the TKO. Dick also pointed out that when the car is in 5th gear with an overdrive ratio of 0.82 verses the TH400’s 3rd gear at 1:1, the reduced engine RPM at highway speeds will increase gas mileage and reduce cabin noise. These are some impressive results.
MoreCharlie was 8 years old in 1969 when his Step-Dad let him drive his 1960 Vette for the first time. He caught the Corvette itch that day and through his life many Corvettes have come and gone, but the one he always remembered still sat in his Step-Dad's garage. Once he started rebuilding the 1960 Vette, he knew he needed a new drivetrain to turn the wheels. He also knew the TKO PerfectFit™ Kits SST acquired from Keisler and continue to develop are by far the best on the market. Here's his email to us and some photos of the Vette that stole his heart. Hello Silver Sport Team, I want to personally thank you for helping me make progress on my 1960 Corvette project. I also enjoyed reading about the SST story and how you revived the Keisler dream. I always thought that they had a great product to offer the market, and was disappointed when they were gone. I am glad that I stumbled upon your website last month and asked for help. Of the four emails I sent out requesting guidance and help on my transmission dilemma; SST was the only company to reply.... Again, thank you. Attached are 11 pictures of my Vette. One from when my Dad started removing the paint back in 1967 (that is me doing the “Photo-Bomb” hiding behind the car in the background), a few from when I resurrected it from his garage in San Diego, and a few of what she looks like now here at her new home in Houston. I have the motor ready to drop in, and now the remaining transmission parts thanks to SST. Interior is almost completed as well. It has been a slow (and rather expensive) project. Should have it finished in November or December, so the total project timeline will be a two year adventure. But well worth it. This car has been in my family since the mid 60’s, died a slow death 30 years ago, and will be alive again in 6 months. Many Thanks, Charlie M. Houston, Texas USA
MoreHello Jack, I just wanted to let you know that my transmission is on the way and I can't wait to get it installed in my car. Your customer service is top notch, and the 10-10-10 payment plan is a great way to pay for the conversion kit. I attached some pictures of my car and will update you on the install. Thanks again, Derrik
MoreBen, Thank you so much for the quick response and the manuals. I did all the body work, fabrication, assembly, for the car. The only things I did not do was the final paint (primed and block sanded it), install front and rear glass, and the headliner. I also installed new Recaro style seats and matched the houndstooth pattern to the rears. The transmission install was totally me, and I had never done anything like that before. Great manuals. Again, thanks for the help, look forward to getting into this portion of the build. Loch
MoreSome first generation Corvette customers find they don't have to notch the ashtray while others do. Rick had to modify his and he sent us some great images of the modification. He also reviewed the performance and installation. Hello Jack, Jeff and Ben, So glad I talked to you at Carlisle and I bought my TKO 600 from you guys. Installation went relatively easy on a lift. I think it would have been harder to do with the car on jack stands. If you're young probably no problem. My kit arrived within the week after placing the order with you while at Carlisle. I test fitted the transmission without a clutch installed which made it easy and took my drive shaft measurement at that time so you guys could get that made up. Had the drive shaft in a few days. Took the car out yesterday for a test drive. It was fantastic. It was quiet, no vibrations, and what amazed me was my speedometer was right on. I used a GPS to check it. I figured you guys set the gearing correctly but my old speedometer would be off. It’s like driving a completely different car now. It accelerates different, it sounds different and the gear combination I’m running is perfect for driving around town in 5th gear. Now I’m ready for some long distance car shows. Can’t wait to see how much my gas mileage has improved. I am more than happy with the kit. I know you’ll have some more orders coming your way. Rick & Peg
MoreHello Tami and Jack, I received a nice card in the mail. Thank you. Just a note to tell you the transmission kit I purchased for my '76 Corvette from Silver Sport Transmissions was delivered in good order to my mechanic, Vernon Dickson. He owns a shop and worked in the install between his regular customer jobs. He was pleasantly surprised that your kit seemed to be complete instead of other so called complete kits which are short several parts to actually be "complete" and then have to cherry pick other sources for them. I did have to buy a different starter, the starter from the previous automatic transmission will not work with the manual transmission. Tami, I would also like to brag on you. You were thorough and answered all my questions or got the answer I needed. Your attitude, knowledge and ability to handle a quote (and a customer) and make a couple of requested changes on the quote helped me make the decision to make my purchase from you. Jack, I've had a great experience with Silver Sport Transmissions. I have talked up your company and already have 2 other local prospects who will be contacting SST when they order their Tremec transmission. Thanks again, for the great service, product, and follow up. If you ever need a reference.... Sincerely, JD Prather - Skiatook, OK
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