Using C4 Suspension & C5 Powertrain
1957 Corvette RestoMod
Basic Chassis Build Instructions for the Beginner
1957 Corvette RestoMod - BUY NOW!
About the Book
When I started my project, I knew
practically nothing about car restoration,
mechanical details, or fiberglass repair. Oh,
I knew where parts were supposed to be and
basically what their jobs were, but I had
never personally accomplished any of the
work. But that didn't stop me.
This book is written for do-it-yourselfers, by
a DIYer.
Like most of us, I also had a limited
budget. The book describes in detail how
a novice can build a performance
restomod in his garage. I show you how
to build your car without the high labor
costs associated with restoration shops.
This book is for the less experienced, but
will also appeal to the most savvy
veterans of Corvette rebuilding and
restoration.
Sometimes trial and error was how I
worked, sometimes research showed me
what to do, but mostly I used my head.
I make mistakes, always put safety first,
and you get the benefit of both in my
book.
Dana 36 & C-Beam Installed
My project is unique and uses three
generations of Corvette: C1, C4, and
C5. If your project uses any of these
eras of Corvette, this book will help
you.

The body and trim are from the 1957
Corvette - the icon.
This was the last year for single
headlights and thirteen teeth in the grill.
It was the first year that horsepower
matched cubic inches through
supercharging the engine. It was the year
Corvette went racing - and won almost
everything.
Chapter Description Pages:
And Coming Soon!
Chapter 1 - How To Plan Your Project
Chapter 2 - How To Choose the Right      
                  Frame
Chapter 11 - Chassis Mock-Up Test Fit
Chapter 12 - How To Polish the C4          
                   Suspension
283 Dual Quad Engine - 1957
Corvette Grand Sport Front Brakes
My suspension and steering are from
the late C4 era, and were bought from
salvage yards.
The front end is off of a 1996 Corvette
Grand Sport.
The GS was a limited production
edition of the '96 Corvette.
Bigger brakes were added for more
stopping power, the LT4 engine was
more powerful, and sway bars were
beefier.
The GS front end was perfect for this
project.
The rear end is from a 1995 Corvette
with automatic transmission. It includes
the Dana 36 carrier with limited-slip
differential. While I'm not building an
automatic car, the Dana 36 is stout
enough to handle the horsepower I
added.
The Dana 36 was only used on the
Corvette.
You will see how I upgrade the Dana 36,
as well as, replace all bushings, u-joints,
and braking components.
The C4 Corvette is an excellent choice
for suspension. Not only is it plentiful
and economical, but is also has
outstanding handling and braking
characteristics.
1999 Corvette LS1 with customer headers
The power for my project is the LS1.
With 346 cubic inches, it puts out 350
horsepower and 340 lb/ft of torque in
stock condition.
Purchased from GM Surplus, this
Corvette LS1 will get some upgrades
that will increase its power numbers.

Polished long-tube headers, internal
upgrades, and possibly even forced
induction will be part of my project.
With six-bolt main caps and other
structural stoutness, the LS1 will be
more than enough to get my Corvette
down the road.
Keisler T-56 Magnum
Behind the LS1 is the Keisler Engineering
Tremec T-56 Overdrive manual transmission.
The first four gears are under ratio, while 5th
and 6th gear are the overdrive gears.
Tremec bought Borg-Warner's transmission
business several years ago and they have
improved the T-56 ever since.
The T-56 and its variations has been the
manual transmission in the C5 and C6 Corvette
since those productions began.
With a tolerance up to 700 horsepower, this
unit will definitely be strong enough for my
project.
This book does not talk over your head like most
do-it-yourself manuals. It describes procedures in great
detail and with numerous photos. Sidebars are used to
help explain any background information that may help
you understand the purpose and use of the parts and
assemblies.
Photos not only show the areas you are working on, but
also use detailed pointers to explain important details of
the procedures.
In some cases, variations of a procedure are described. In
all cases, the safety of you and the parts you're working
on are always paramount.

Click on any chapter description below or at the
top of this page to learn more.
Each chapter contains a list of
required and optional tools. Many
instructional manuals do not, but I
also explain how the tools are used
and why they are important.
Also covered is parts to save and
parts to throw away.
All new parts are listed with part
numbers, manufacturer, and retail
source at the end of appropriate
chapters.
Finally, the supplies you will need to
do the job are listed with their
respective sources.
It's a turnkey book!
Keisler Engineering