TREMEC and Peitz Performance Launch C8 Corvette Manual Conversion

TREMEC and Peitz Performance have launched the first manual transmission conversion for the Chevrolet C8 Corvette. The six-speed TR-9060 transaxle debuted at the 2025 SEMA show and can handle up to 1000 lb-ft of torque and engine speeds of 8600 rpm. TREMEC expects pricing for the transaxle itself to be around $20,000, with a full installation by Peitz Performance costing approximately $75,000. The conversion fills a gap left by Chevrolet, which has never offered a manual option for the mid-engine C8 generation.

Brad Denniss of TREMEC confirmed the company test-fitted the transmission in its in-house C8 test mule. One year after TREMEC first unveiled a compatible manual concept, a working version is now installed in a C8 Corvette. The team developed the high-torque transaxle specifically for the aftermarket, designing it with a rear-housing-to-frame bolt pattern similar to the C8 and Ford GT platforms. TREMEC also plans a potential top-mount configuration for McLaren and other European cars.

Integration and Engineering Details

The conversion is a complex integration of custom and adapted components. A Porsche aftermarket shifter was modified to fit the C8, with about 20 percent of the original shifter remaining. The clutch system uses a modified Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing pedal assembly with a pedal stop and hydraulic assist, paired with a McLeod flywheel that retains the C8 Corvette’s ring gear and starter teeth. Alex Peitz of Peitz Performance noted the extent of the modification, saying, "That started off as a CT4-V Blackwing pedal, but there's not much of that left, either."

Electronics posed a significant challenge, as the Corvette's engine management, chassis controls, and shift strategy were designed exclusively for the factory dual-clutch transmission. Peitz Performance's solution uses two MoTeC controllers-an M182 for the engine and an M150 to manage ignition cuts during shifts and transmission control. This ECU package handles transaxle electronics and communicates with the engine over a CAN bus, enabling features like no-lift upshifts and throttle blipping for downshifts. The system also supports the factory instrument panel, ABS, power steering, and other stock systems. The entire package will be offered as a single part number for customer conversions.

Production Timeline and Availability

TREMEC plans to begin production of the TR-9060 transaxle next summer, initially building a batch in cast aluminum housings after having previously used billet aluminum for prototypes. Peitz Performance, which installed the first working Tremec gearbox into a track-modified C8 owned by Alex Peitz, expects to have three-pedal conversion packages ready for customers by the 2027 SEMA show.

The driving experience has been described as major. John McGann of HOT ROD tested the car, praising the McLeod clutch’s heft, the precise shifter with short throws, and improved acceleration from different gearing. He stated that a C8 is much more fun to drive with a manual transmission and predicted high demand for the conversion. The 2026 SEMA Show is currently underway, and Alex Peitz will demonstrate the manual transmission at the TREMEC booth throughout the week.