Grabbing Gears With An American Powertrain C1500 Conversion

So you say that old workhorse Chevy C1500 truck in the driveway has gone a little soft in the gear selection department? Maybe you’ve got designs on an LS-engine upgrade, but the soft shifts from that original  automatic transmission have got you worried? Perhaps you just miss that satisfying feeling that comes with shifting gears yourself? Then, maybe the time has come to consider replacing that worn-out slush-box, and make the transition to a manual transmission, with an American Powertrain Pro-fit kit.

There are a lot of reasons why many want to utilize an automatic transmissions in their ride, but those reasons are not so persuasive when we compare them to the advantages of a modern-day manual transmission. If you want the power, control, economy, and let’s face it… the fun of grabbing the right gear for your specific driving style, then you may need to get back to stirring a stick.

Popular and plentiful, Chevy/GMC C1500 trucks can now be upgraded with an American Powertrain conversion kit.

Things have changed alot since the old three-on-the-tree days. The folks at American Powertrain have just the right recipe to make your pickup cook with the recent addition of their Pro-Fit kit for ’88 through ’98 Chevy/GMC C1500 OBS GMT400 trucks, to their line of modern drivetrain packages. The conversion will revive your forlorn hauler into a manually shifted marvel, using your choice of either a TREMEC five-or six-speed gearbox.

If you’re replacing an existing manual transmission, the kit includes all the goods needed to make the upgrade. You can even reuse the stock GM cross member by drilling a few holes and relocating it further South on the chassis. This also helps with accommodating LS engine swaps. The straightforward installation process is also aided by using the stock clutch master-cylinder and pedal – with an adapter line to use American Powertrain’s Hydramax hydraulic clutch sleeve. If preferred, a Wilwood bolt-in master cylinder upgrade is available. The kit also includes an electronic speedometer solution, VSS set-up for EFI, pilot bearing, weather-sealed reverse light wiring, complete seamless-DOM driveshaft, a shift knob, hardware, and instructions.

If you’re replacing an automatic, American Powertrain can also provide the needed bellhousing, flywheel, pressure plate, clutch, and clutch pedal to complete your installation. If your truck makes horsepower in spades, all transmissions are available with an Xtreme upgrade to handle up to 1,100 lb-ft. of torque and high-RPM shifting. Likewise, a Pro-Touring series upgrade is available on all kits. That includes a balanced aluminum driveshaft and American Powertrain’s billet White Lightning shifter for maximum performance.

It’s not necessary to modify the tunnel for either transmission, and the kit comes with all the parts needed to adjust the placement of the shifter so that an ideal location can be obtained for both bench and bucket seat applications.

Although many of these trucks are now officially antiques, there’s still plenty of them in daily use, and they are available for reasonable prices. If you own one – or think that maybe you should – consider making this worthwhile update with American Powertrain. You’ll find it gives an old truck a new lease on life, and will improve it’s overall driveability.

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