The Chevrolet C8 Corvette changed the model’s formula with a mid-engine layout and a standard dual-clutch automatic.
For drivers who still want a clutch pedal and a conventional gear lever, Peitz Performance has developed a Tremec-based manual conversion that turns the C8 into something Chevrolet doesn’t currently sell from the factory.
It’s an expensive transformation at $74,528, but it targets a very specific kind of Corvette owner.
At a glance
- Peitz Performance has partnered with Tremec to offer a 6-speed manual transmission swap for the Chevrolet C8 Corvette.
- The package uses a Tremec TR9060 6-speed transaxle with supporting hardware including a new flywheel, clutch and modified clutch pedal.
- The conversion is priced at $74,528 and is aimed at owners who want a more traditional, hands-on C8 driving experience.
A manual answer to the automatic C8
The standard C8 Corvette uses an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, also sourced from Tremec.
That gearbox is a central part of the modern Corvette’s performance character, but it also means the C8 moved away from the manual tradition that shaped so much of the car’s earlier appeal.
Peitz Performance’s conversion is notable because it doesn’t simply add a novelty shifter to the cabin.
It replaces the transmission setup with a Tremec TR9060 6-speed transaxle, bringing the physical act of clutch engagement and manual gear selection back into the driving experience.
The hardware behind the swap
The package includes a new flywheel and clutch, along with a concentric slave cylinder.
Peitz also uses a modified clutch pedal from a Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, a detail that underlines how much custom integration is involved in giving the mid-engine Corvette a third pedal.
The electronics are handled with a MoTeC M182 plug-and-play ECU controller and a MoTeC M150 TCU.
The controller setup is said to allow for the fitment of nitrous and methanol systems, which suggests the package has been designed with modified cars in mind rather than only lightly used road cars.
Built for serious torque
The 6-speed manual is said to be capable of handling up to 1,000 lb-ft of torque.
That figure is important because manual swaps in modern high-performance cars aren’t just a question of packaging and pedal placement.
They also need to survive the torque loads that tuned engines can produce, particularly in a platform as popular with aftermarket builders as the C8 Corvette.
The result is less about chasing the fastest shift time and more about changing the relationship between driver and machine.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Chevrolet |
|---|---|
| Model | C8 Corvette |
| Conversion provider | Peitz Performance |
| Transmission partner | Tremec |
| Transmission | Tremec TR9060 6-speed transaxle |
| Standard transmission | 8-speed dual-clutch automatic from Tremec |
| Included hardware | New flywheel, clutch, concentric slave cylinder and modified Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing clutch pedal |
| Electronics | MoTeC M182 plug-and-play ECU controller and MoTeC M150 TCU |
| Claimed torque capacity | Up to 1,000 lb-ft |
| Price | $74,528 |
At $74,528, this isn’t a casual upgrade or a minor weekend modification.
It’s a specialist conversion for C8 owners who value involvement enough to spend heavily on making the Corvette feel more mechanical, more deliberate and far less like the car that left the factory.
