photos by: the author and Ohio Speed Shops
Two Northeast Ohio Heavy-Hitters Join Forces to Offer Well-Rounded Performance Drivetrain Packages
We’ve been working with Ohio Speed Shops for the last several years, since its inception, and we’re impressed by how far they’ve come over that time. Based out of Northeast Ohio, and founded by industry veteran Chuck Fitch this quickly-growing, up-and-comer in the crate engine game has just teamed up with one of the biggest names in performance transmissions; Gearstar Performance.
Combining the expertise of Ohio Speed Shops with Gearstar Performance, which also based out of Northeast Ohio, is like a match made in Heaven. Ohio Speed Shops offers speed parts, crate engines from Chevrolet Performance, as well as unique crate engine packages of their own creation. Gearstar’s bread and butter are the electronically-controlled GM transmissions, as well as more traditional examples, such as the TH400 and TH350.
Ohio Speed Shops offers a wide variety of GM LS and LT crate engines, with carbureted and fuel-injected,
Speaking more with Chuck, he tells us that despite his very impressive roster of engine package offerings, his most popular engine and transmission package, is the 540hp LS3/4L65E engine and transmission combination. Aimed squarely at the hot-rod and restomod crowd, it’s a combination that provides all of the power your car needs to hold its own on the street, and when paired with the Gearstar 4L65E, provides plenty of reality and drivability during those summer months.
Ohio Speed Shops Dyno Tested LS3 540HP Engine and 4L65E Transmission Package Includes:
Offered in two slightly different flavors, at this horsepower level, there’s only cosmetic differences and a $400 price gap between the two version’s that Ohio Speed Shop sells. Part Number 31448139 and 41448139 offer the same Level 4 Gearstar Performance 4L65E,
The dyno-tested LS3 540HP with front accessory drive system, the combination makes 540hp at 6100rpm, and 495 ft-lbs @ 5100 with an aggressive, performance-idle street cam. The self-learning fuel injection package makes future performance cam and/or cylinder head upgrades a breeze.
Ohio Speed Shops engine packages are built as ordered, so they can provide you personalized options and service. This way, you’re guaranteed a fresh engine build, and not one that’s been sitting in the corner of their shop for months. We have the full breakdown on the engine packages below:
- FREE 48 State Truck Freight Shipping
- Initial engine break-in on dyno prior to test and tuning.
- Engine Dyno Tested and Tuned.
- Self Learning Holley Terminator X MAX engine & transmission harness, ecu and 3.5″ touchscreen display.
- Silver fabricated aluminum intake manifold.
- 102mm cable drive throttle body with throttle cable bracket.
- Air cleaner.
- Black billet fuel rails, plumbed for driver’s side rear inlet. Setup for no return EFI fuel pump.
- 522-428X Holley EV6 42lbs Injectors.
- 554-102 Holley Oil Pressure & Fuel Press Sensors.
- Installed Polished or Black Anodized CVF Racing HD 8-Rib Serpentine Drive System A/C, Saginaw P/S pump & 140amp Alt.
- Power Steering line package.
- PW30700 Painless Performance High Amp Alternator Wiring Kit.
- EMS Polished, fabricated aluminum coil covers. (finned coil covers 41448139)
- Your choice of engine block color: natural, black, Chevy orange or bright red.
- New HD PMGR Starter with bolts
- Your choice of oil pan: Holley 302-1, Holley 302-2, Holley 302-3, GM F/body, GM C6, Chevy Performance Musclecar Pan.
- GearStar Level 4 GM 4L65E Performance Transmission
- Custom built and stalled torque converter based on your vehicle’s weight, rear diff ratio, tire size and driving/usage type.
- Rated for up to 650HP and 650 ft-lbs of torque.
- Gear ratios: 1st: 3.06, 2nd: 1.62, 3rd: 1.00, 4th: 0.70.
- Fully dyno tested and break-in run equivalent of 100 miles.
- Heavy duty new internals including 5 pinion front and rear planetary gear set and hardened output shaft.
- High capacity upgraded pump assembly.
- New internal wiring, solenoids and switches.
- 6AN inlet and outlets fittings installed in trans case.
- Universal Hayden Automotive 20,000 BTU cooler with 6AN inlet and outlets.
- Transmission mount.
- Transmission dipstick and tube not included.
- Flexplate, crank bolts, converter bolts and trans to engine bolts.
- Complete installation instruction and maintenance manual.
- Shipped with 8QT of synthetic ATF in trans and 3 extra bottled quarts.
- No transmission core/exchange charges.
Engine Specifications:
- Power: 540HP @ 6100 & 495 ft-lbs @ 5100 with a aggressive performance idle street cam.
- Brand New GM LS3 long block
- Compression Ratio: 10.7:1
- Recommended Fuel: 91 Octane
- Maximum Recommended RPM: 6600
Engines are built as ordered so changes can be made such as: engine trim, serpentine drive configuration, engine paint, oil pan, etc. CVF Racing front accessory drives are available with or without A/C, with or without P/S, Saginaw, GM Type II or Hydro Boost power steering pumps available. Black, Polished and other finishes available.
Taking A Closer Look At Gearstar Performance
So what about that transmission, anyway? There are plenty of different transmission builders in the country, some even right here in OSS’s backyard. Why Gearstar? Well, because they stand by their products. Because they can crank these out daily, to a high-quality level, and they back every transmission they build, with a three-year warranty, whether it’s purchased directly through them, or though a third-party supplier, like Ohio Speed Shops.
Every transmission they build, is custom built in-house by one of five master techs from start to finish. Each one is dyno-tested with the converter the equivalent of 100 miles, to ensure that the transmission and converter package are in perfect operating condition before they leave our facility. There will be literally no “break-in period,” to speak of.
Each transmission is tracked from start to finish. Every one of them get a specific serial number, and tag, complete with the customer number, order number, customer name, intended vehicle, and engine type and displacement, as well as expected horsepower and torque levels. This eliminates and possibilities of confusion, and Gearstar can pull up all of the specs, and the person who built it, even years after the fact in the event of any issues, a warranty claim, or a rebuild.
Oh, and each Gearstar transmission comes complete with a Yank torque converter. Gearstar had acquired Yank Converters a few years ago, as the two companies had worked directly together for years prior to that. This truly is a merger of equal greatness, and with Gearstar working with Ohio Speed Shops, the two companies can crank out some awesome engineand drivetrain packages.
Features:
- Horsepower: 650
- Torque: [up to] 650 ft-lbs.
- Converter: Custom Built & Custom Stalled 10” or 11” Lock-Up Billet Racing
- Stall: 2600-4000
- 1300-2600 Stall Available for Diesel & 4X4
- Master Overhaul Kit with Alto Hardened Steels
- Raybestos Gen II Racing Frictions
- Filter
- New 29 Element Dual Cage Sprag
- High Capacity Upgraded Pump Assembly
- New Hardened Pump Rings
- New 13 Vane Pump Rotor
- New Vanes
- New Stator
- 500 Boost Valve
- Pressure Regulator Valve
- Updated Boost Valve
- TransGo Reprogramming Shift Kit with Shift Command
- Bushing Kit
- New Thrust Washers
- Complete Torrington Bearing Kit
- Heavy Duty Hardened Sun Shell
- Heavy Duty Expanded Capacity Input Drum with Reinforcing Sleeve
- High Rev Spring Kit
- Heavy Duty 5 Pinion Front and Rear Planetary Gear Set with Sun Gear
- Hardened Output Shaft
- Hardened Reaction Shaft and Hub
- Super Hold 4th Servo
- Corvette Servo
- Wide Carbon-Fiber 2-4 Band
- New Valve Body Spacer Plate
- New Shift Solenoids
- New EPC Solenoid
- New PWM Solenoid
- New 3/2 Solenoid
- New Manifold Pressure Switch
- New Internal Wiring Harness W/New TCC Solenoid
- New Electronic Speed Sensor
- New Original Equipment Steel Transmission Pan
- Transmission Mount
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of AutoCentric Media, the parent company to Timeless Muscle Magazine, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles. When he isn’t tuning, testing, or competing with the magazine’s current crop of project vehicles, he’s busy tinkering and planning the next round modifications for his own cars.
