The following installation notes are a summary only.
For more detailed installation information,
call.
Overview
The Ultimate Fit Vette Kit is our premium kit for Corvettes. This kit features a specially modified TKO transmission designed to fit into a 1963-1967 Corvette and achieve perfect shift stick positioning without having to modify the car in any way. The following installation notes will summarize the main points of the installation and discuss any challenges that you may encounter. When you purchase your Ultimate Fit Vette Kit you will receive a complete set of detailed, step-by-step instructions as well as a DVD informational video to help the installation proceed as smoothly as possible.
Transmission Fitment
The TKO is a larger and longer transmission than your stock transmission. Although it is a tight fit, as long as your Corvette is stock and is in good condition the TKO will fit within your tunnel (see tunnel fitment notes below). Due to the limited space within the Corvette tunnel, and the fact that 1963-1967 Corvettes have a weld-in crossmembers, installing the larger TKO presents a unique challenge in that there is limited space to first lift the tailshaft over the crossmember and then swing the front end of the transmission up into the bellhousing (the input shaft will not clear the bellhousing while the motor is fixed in place). Our recommended method for installing a TKO involves first removing the motor, or moving the motor forward, and then installing the transmission. It is also possible to install the TKO without removing the motor. The detailed instructions that come with the Corvette/TKO kit outline both methods of installation allowing you to choose which method is best for you.
To mount the TKO to the crossmember a custom crossmember bracket is required. This direct bolt-in bracket is included in the kit and comes with a new transmission mount as well as all mounting hardware.
*Tunnel fitment notes:
- Due to the limited clearance between the bottom of the floorboard and the top of the transmission case, you will likely need to remove, and not use, the tunnel insulation.
- In some instances the top of the transmission, once fully installed, will hit the bottom of the floorboard. This can be caused by the stock body mounts having been compressed due to age or excessive wear or it can be caused by the use of shorter, non-stock body mounts. This problem can sometimes be solved by installing new, stock-height, replacement body mounts. Another potential condition causing lack of tunnel space is a sagging floorboard due to age or excessive wear. This condition is common, to some degree, in many 1963-1967 Corvettes. This problem can sometimes be addressed by carefully raising the sagging floorboard using a floor jack & wooden blocks and then installing two rubber spacers on either side of the tunnel between the crossmember and floorboard where the floorboard is sagging (typically just outboard of the exhaust pipe holes). To check for floorboard sag before starting your installation measure the gap between the floorboard and the top of the crossmember at the outside edge of the crossmember near the frame rail and also towards the center of the crossmember just outside of the exhaust pipe holes. A floor that is not sagging will have a similar sized gap at the sides and near the exhaust pipe holes – approximately 7/8”-1”. If there is a noticeably smaller gap towards the center, then some degree of floor sag exists and depending on how severe it is you may need to correct this in order to allow the TKO to fit within the tunnel. If you have 3/4" of clearance between the floorboard and crossmember just outside of the exhaust pipe holes, the TKO should fit without any issues.
Please note that lowering your tailshaft to allow the TKO to fit in the tunnel is not a solution to this problem. Lowering your tailshaft will result in an incorrect driveline angle which can lead to many problems.
*Please note that these potential fitment issues are not specific to the Classic Motorsports Group Ultimate Fit Vette Kit, rather they are universal issues related to installing a TKO transmission into a 1963-1967 Corvette. We are bringing these issues to your attention to help you make an informed buying decision and to eliminate any potential “surprises” during your installation.
Driveshaft & Slip Yoke
Because the TKO is longer than your stock transmission you will need a shorter driveshaft. The Ultimate Fit Vette Kit includes a custom made driveshaft with Spicer ujoints and a custom, 1310 strap style slip yoke. Due to the location of the Corvette’s rear suspension components, the driveshaft can be somewhat difficult to install and remove. Using the strap style slip yoke makes the installation much easier. Due to the length of the TKO the slip yoke is pushed further back into the tunnel where the tunnel begins to narrow. This causes a tight fit between the slip yoke, the passenger side wall of the tunnel, and the emergency brake cable, but it does fit.
Shifter
The shifter is custom made by Classic Motorsports Group specifically for the Ultimate Fit Vette Kit. The shifter is a side mount unit so that the shifter mechanism is mounted directly below the stock shifter hole in the tunnel. Mounting the shifter to the side of the transmission is required for a no-modification installation. The Classic Motorsports Group shifter for the Ultimate Fit Vette Kit is an extremely high quality unit that is simple to install and built to last. You can read more about the design of the shifter at the end of this page.
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Shifter Installed - No Cutting, No Modifications |
Install Complete - Perfect Shift Stick Position |
Miscellaneous
The above notes discuss the items that are specific to installing an Ultimate Fit Vette Kit into a 1963-1967 Corvette. Other than that, everything else is similar to installing a stock transmission. All required hardware for this is installation is included in the kit.
Select Your Conversion Kit
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When considering the installation of a Tremec TKO into a Corvette, from a parts perspective, the biggest differentiating factor from one kit to the next is the shifter. Achieving stock shift stick positioning in your console is an important objective for most Corvette owners. Equally as important is to use a high quality shifter that performs well and is designed to last a long time. The Classic Motorsports Group’s Ultimate Fit Vette Kit shifter accomplishes both of these objectives. The following information describes the customization to the transmission tailshaft as well as the design features of the shifter that are required in order to achieve a “no-modification” installation.
Tailshaft Modifications
From the factory the TKO comes standard with, a shifter mechanism that is mounted on the top, center of the transmission’s tailshaft housing. To install a TKO into a Corvette without having to cut the console or tunnel, a side mounted shifter is required. Additionally, the TKO has a section of webbing called a torque arm boss that is cast into tailshaft. This webbing is located on the bottom of the tailshaft and it interferes with the Corvette’s crossmember. In order to achieve a “no-cut, no-modification” installation, Classic Chevy first removes the tailshaft from the transmission case and then mills an opening in the side of the tailshaft so that the McLeod shifter can be mounted to the side of the transmission directly below the stock shifter hole in the floorboard. At the same time the torque arm boss is milled off so that the tailshaft will properly fit over the crossmember. Performing these modifications is necessary in order to achieve a “no-cut, no-modification” installation.
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Tailshaft cut out for side-mount shifter |
Torque arm boss removed |
Shifter Design
The shifter is made from billet aluminum and features a spherical bearing at the main pivot point for long life as well as a series of Belleville style spring washers which provide an ultra smooth shifting feel. The unique use of a spherical bearing and the Belleville washers, as opposed to the using coil springs (or no springs at all) as found in most shifters, is an industry first.
As mentioned the Corvette application requires a side-mount shifter. Due to this requirement the shifter housing is mounted to the tailshaft using a custom interlocking bracket located on the side of the tailshaft. The shifter stub goes down through the shifter housing and then makes a 90* turn into the side of the tailshaft where the ball of the shifter stub seats into a custom-built socket that is located on the transmission’s shifter rail. Because the shifter stub & the shifter housing absorb the brunt of shifting abuse, the Classic Motorsports Group shifter is built using a hardened steel shifter stub that is welded together at the 90* junction. Additionally, the shifter housing is securely attached to the side of the tailshaft at multiple points so that it will remain solid even under extreme abuse.
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Interlocking mounting bracket |
Solid steel shifter stub with spherical bearing |
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Bracket locked into place at bottom, side, and
on top (with screws)for a secure 3-point locking system
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Complete shifter assembly installed on tail shaft |
All milling functions are performed using a state-of-the-art, 4-axis machine. Each transmission is then re-assembled, quality checked, and bench tested. The shifters are then hand assembled and installed onto the transmission by Classic Motorsports Group.
Quality craftsmanship, innovative design, high performance, and perfect shift stick positioning. Simply put, the Classic Motorsports Group Corvette shifter is the highest quality, best performing shifter available for the Corvette/TKO application.
We are confident that installing a Tremec overdrive transmission will be one of the best improvements that you can make to your Classic Chevy and your driving experience will increase greatly because of it. With this in mind, it is also important to understand that anytime you install non-stock parts, of any type, in your car, it is possible that things will not go exactly as planned and that some minor modifications may be required to your car or to the kit parts in order to achieve proper fitment. Because of slight variations on the production line when your car was built, past modifications to your car by previous owners, past accidents that your car may have been involved in, and after 30+ years of time on the road, each car is slightly different or unique in its own way.
We have made every attempt to make our TKO kits in such a way that only minimal modifications are required and for majority of installations this is the case. However, it is important that you proceed with your installation knowing that, while not likely, some modifications other than those that have already been clearly stated, may be required.
While we are confident that you will be extremely happy with your new TKO overdrive transmission, it is important that you understand the potential realities with this install before you make your purchase rather than have you find out after the fact. Please proceed with your TKO kit purchase with this in mind.
