The TMI TRIM Awards at The SEMA Show 2022 set the industry on fire. With the lack of awards from a few companies that are normally at the show, TMI Products stepped up to give the recognition that these builders deserved. Builders from all over the world entered for the coveted title of Best of Show – but only one amazing ride was able to take home that trophy.

ENTER HERE: https://www.tmiproducts.com/blog/tmi-s-trim-awards-2023

Seven other winners were awarded in their respective classes and the TMI TRIM Awards were firmly cemented into the SEMA Show history books. After the week, coverage spread like wildfire of the TRIM Awards and they were seen by over 57 million enthusiasts.

The TMI TRIM Awards pay homage to the craftsmen who hand cut, stitched, and designed all the amazing interiors at SEMA. Too often though, the paint, wheels, or engine received most all of the recognition – no longer is that the case where TMI is now honoring fellow tradesmen who have perfected their craft.

TMI Products has been hand crafting some of the finest automotive upholstery for over 40 years now. With 40 years in the rear-view mirror, it was time to give back to the community and recognize those special builders. TMI is continuing this new tradition with the TRIM Awards for the 2023 SEMA Show.

Last years Best of Show winner wasn’t even a TMI Products interior, showing how serious TMI is about recognizing the best of the best. In fact, TMI doesn’t even choose the winners; for that, a completely independent panel of six industry veterans go over every inch of the car and then determine the winners.

The expert panel of judges include:

  • Kevin Oeste- The Voice of the SEMA Show and TRIM Awards Host, V8 Speed & Resto Shop Owner
  • Sean Holman- Owner of Use For Adventure and Co-Host of The Truck Show Podcast
  • Sara Morosan- Owner of LGE-CTS Motorsports, 2021 SEMA Person of the Year, Multi-time Ford Design award winner
  • Theresa Contreras- owner of Baja Forged, Multi-time Ford Design award winner, PPG Brand Ambassador
  • Marcel Venable- co-owner of AutoRevolution on Amazon Prime, OBS-Clash, Car Guy Confessions Podcast
  • Jason Mulligan- co-owner of AutoRevolution on Amazon Prime, OBS-Clash, Car Guy Confessions Podcast

The TMI TRIM Awards are designed to not only honor the builds and the craftsmen behind it, but to celebrate them in a public fashion. Wednesday November 1st at Noon all the judges and builders will convene at the stage in the TMI Products booth. Here, the judges will go over some of the highlights and announce winners in front of the entire Central Hall at The SEMA Show 2023.

The trophies are just as unique and custom as the interiors and can easily be hoisted in the air in a show of appreciation and accomplishment during the awards ceremony. While there are a few winners, only one ride will be crowned as the Best of Show!

To be eligible for the TRIM Awards, you need to have a vehicle that’s registered and on display at the SEMA Show 2023. There are categories for TMI-equipped vehicles, and categories for non-TMI-equipped vehicles. Having a TMI-equipped vehicle though does not offer a better chance of winning, as proven by last year’s Best of Show winner, that was not TMI-equipped.

TRIM Awards Categories include:

  • Best Car –Open to any car that features TMI seats
  • Best Truck –Open to any truck that features TMI seats
  • Best Custom SUV or Wagon –Open to any SUV or wagon, either two-door or four-door
  • Best Full Interior –Open to any vehicle of any type that is running a full TMI interior. A full TMI interior includes all the available components from that model line
  • Most Creative –Best usage of patterns, colors, and overall execution
  • Best Color-Matching –Best usage of patterns, colors, and stitching that matches vehicle exterior
  • Best Custom Car Interior (open to all Cars at the show) –Can be any vehicle with any type of custom interior
  • Best Custom Truck Interior (open to all Trucks at the show) –Can be any vehicle with any type of custom interior
  • Fan Favorite (Chosen Online) –Finalists that the TRIM Award Judges have chosen will be voted online by fans worldwide.
  • Best of Show Champion –Judges will vote on their favorite interior of SEMA 2023 and crown it with the TRIM Award’s highest honor

SEE WEBSITE FOR COMPLETE RULES AND INFO AND ENTRY FORM

https://www.tmiproducts.com/blog/tmi-s-trim-awards-2023

Judging for the 2023 SEMA Show TRIM Awards will begin Tuesday afternoon October 31st with the announcement from TMI’s SEMA booth of the top 20 vehicles. Competitors are encouraged to register online to let judges know where to find their vehicles.

The crowning of the inaugural TRIM Champion will take place on November 1st at TMI Products SEMA booth #24477, 12:00 noon PST.

In our previous video, we showed you our 1978 Pontiac Trans Am project and talked about our plans for a high-end pro touring build. This means that we’re designing the car to drive and handle really well, have great power, but also be very comfortable and serviceable anywhere in the country.

FIRST VIDEO: https://youtu.be/WrxW69RGQv8

The 1978 Pontiac Trans Am features a GM Performance Parts LS3 engine swap, along with a Detroit Speed subframe and front suspension. The brakes are Hydratech boosted WIlwood units, and a Heidt’s independent rear suspension will make the Trans Am handle better than it ever did. We’ve added Vintage Air, and American Autowire harness, YearOne 19” Snowflake wheels, and much more to this TA.

In this video, we’re going to focus on the exhaust system. This is a critical part of any pro touring build, as it needs to be able to flow well enough to support the engine’s power output, but it also needs to be quiet enough to be comfortable on long drives.

We started at the engine, using Hooker cast iron exhaust manifolds for the LS engine. These manifolds package well and flow very well, making them a great choice for our build. We ran the exhaust pipe underneath the center section of the independent rear suspension, which allows us to keep the exhaust tucked up and out of the way.

We also installed a pair of catalytic converters and a set of mufflers underneath the rear seat. The original muffler on this car was a transverse unit that went left to right over the rear axle well, but there’s no more space for that with the independent rear suspension. So, we modified a set of mufflers by cutting them open, reworking the internals, and making the inlet and exhaust on the same side. This gives us a turbo-style muffler that is still able to flow well and keep the sound down.

Since our customer wanted to keep the signature split exhaust tips of the Trans Am, we needed to find a way to route the exhaust pipes to the back of the car. We did this by making a custom muffler that lives underneath the rear axle. This muffler is filled with perforated pipe and packing material, which helps to reduce noise without killing performance.

Finally, we snaked the mandrel bent tubing from the custom muffler to the back of the car. We wanted to exhaust the car all the way at the back, rather than dumping it in front of the rear wheels. This is a much cleaner way to go, and it keeps the fumes out of the car and preserves the classic look of the Trans Am.

We’re really excited to hear how this exhaust system sounds! It’s been a really cool project to figure out how to make all of the pieces fit together and work properly. It is all mandrel bent 2.5” stainless tubing that is TIG welded together. We’re confident that this system will give us the performance and sound that we’re looking for.

In addition to the above, here are some other things to consider when designing an exhaust system for a pro touring car:

Ground clearance: The exhaust system needs to be routed in a way that avoids any ground clearance issues. This is especially important if you plan on driving your car on rough roads or tracks.

Heat management: The exhaust system can generate a lot of heat, so it’s important to make sure that it’s properly insulated. This will help to protect the car’s interior components from heat damage.

Aesthetics: The exhaust system is one of the most visible components on the car, so it’s important to choose a system that looks good. There are many different types of exhaust tips and pipes available, so you can find a system that matches the overall style of your car.

We believe that we have achieved all of our goals with this exhaust system. It is well designed, durable, and will produce a great sound that is both aggressive and refined. We can’t wait to hear what our customer thinks of it!

If you have a pro touring dream car, a custom car, or a cool hot rod that you need help with, please reach out to us at V8 Speed and Resto Shop. We have the experience and expertise to help you create a unique and amazing vehicle that you will be proud to own and drive.

V8 Speed and Resto Shop
817 S. Main Street
Red Bud, IL 62278
314.783.8325
https://www.v8speedshop.com

#protouring #customexhausts #v8speedshop #exhaustfabrication

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We’re honored our friends at Street Muscle Magazine chose to feature the 1964 Chevrolet Corvette custom restomod we built at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop! They clearly understand the concept behind the car, and said some very kind things about it. Read the article here, or watch the build video on this fun Corvette!

Contact the V8 Speed and Resto Shop for your latest custom Hot Rod or Muscle Car!

V8 Speed and Resto Shop

817 S. Main Street

Red Bud, IL 62278

314.783.8325

This 1968 Dodge Coronet 500 has had extensive metal work done to it, and before it goes to the body and paint shop, the team is test fitting all the trim to make sure it fits properly. This is an important step to ensure that the final product is everything the customer wants it to be.

The video shows the car in the fabrication shop, where it is completely media blasted and sprayed with a gray epoxy primer. Certain areas are bare steel where the team has been doing welding, panel gap fitment, and rust repair. However, the car is now at the point where the team wants to see how the trim fits before it goes to the body and paint shop.

This step is essential because it allows the team to identify any potential problems early on. For example, if a new or reproduction part doesn’t fit properly, the team can make the necessary adjustments before the car is painted. This saves time and money in the long run.

The 1968 Dodge Coronet 500 is a cool project car, and the team at V8 Speed and Resto Shop is excited to see it finished. The car has a 383 engine, 330 horsepower, and 425 foot-pounds of torque. It also has a fresh suspension. Everything on the car will be essentially brand new when it’s finished.

If you have a project car that you’re thinking about restoring or customizing, the team at V8 Speed and Resto Shop would be happy to chat with you! 

Click Here to contact the shop!

 

This video was from the very beginning of the 2023 75th Annual SCTA Bonneville Speed Week. In addition to streamliners and race cars running on the Bonneville salt flats setting land speed records, each night there is a very cool custom and hot rod show at the Nugget casino in Wendover Utah. Join us for a lap to take a look at some of the cars on display at Bonneville In 2023! There are everything from gasser Corvettes, 1932 to 1934 Fords, Chevrolet Impalas, and all kinds of other hot rods and customs in this video.

The Bonneville Salt Flats are home to the Southern California Timing Association SCTA Speed Week, and 2023 is the 75th year of the event. Each year, Hot Rods and Customs converge on Wendover along with all the land speed racing cars, motorcycles, and trucks to set world records on the salt.

#v8speedshop #bonneville #speedweek

Hot Wheels: Chevy Corvette Restomod Build: Custom ’64 Corvette C2 At The V8 Speed and Resto Shop

We’ve all wanted a full-size version of our favorite Hot Wheels car, and this custom 1964 Chevrolet Corvette built at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop makes that dream come true! The restomod Corvette build features custom paint, performance suspension upgrades from Global West, new disc brakes, and a Holley Sniper EFI system install on the Edelbrock 350 crate engine.

The Design

The main part of the project was repainting the Corvette in custom colors. The goal was to give the overall appearance of a full-size Hot Wheels car, a car that is fun to look at and drive! Custom C2 Corvettes can be controversial, as changing a C2 Corvette from original can hurt it’s collector car market value. However, this 1964 Corvette did not have it’s original engine any longer, and the exterior and interior had been changed from their original colors as well. This allowed for some freedom of expression to build a custom Corvette with a new paint job all it’s own.

Building The Corvette

This custom Corvette video features disassembling the corvette, repairing the fiberglass body, and a bit of Corvette C2 history. The V8 Speed and Resto Shop paint department repaints the Corvette in Ermine White, then lays out the 3 color custom stripe design. We mask off the stripes and custom paint the Corvette in our downdraft Blowtherm paint booth, and spray a final clear coat.

Watch The Build Video

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://goo.gl/RIkdDS

Our team had so much fun with this 1964 Corvette that we even built a 1:64th scale Hot Wheels version to match the full size car!

Let’s Build Your Dream

The V8 Speed and Resto Shop is as full service custom and restoration shop, complete with a full fabrication shop, body shop, paint shop, interior shop, and mechanical departments. We perform stock restorations and complete custom builds, and everything inbetween. LS Swaps, custom body mods, modern driveline swaps, custom interior, custom consoles, high quality custom paint, and dyno tuning are all available. Contact the V8 Speed and Resto Shop today to see how we can make your custom, restomod, pro-touring, street rod, or performance truck build come to life!

1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ENGINE:EDLEBROCK CRATE 350
SUSPENSION:GLOBAL WEST
FUEL INJECTION:HOLLEY TERMINATOR X
WHEELS:ROCKET RACING
BODY & PAINT:V8 SPEED AND RESTO

CONTACT THE V8 SPEED AND RESTO SHOP

817 S. Main Street
Red Bud, IL 62278
314.783.8325
https://www.v8speedshop.com/contact-us

Take A Desert Cruise in the Corvette! (Thanks to the owner for sharing this video!)

Custom 1964 Corvette Build Photos

#customcorvette #v8speedandresto #corvetterestoration

Contact the V8 Speed & Resto Shop with all your Classic or Muscle Car needs today!

817 S. MAIN STREET – RED BUD, IL 62278

Adding some “Bad” to the Bandit!

Calling all Trans Am fans! Buckle up, because V8 Speed and Resto Shop is taking a classic 1977 Firebird and turning it into a pro-touring monster. This isn’t your average T-Top Trans Am – it’s a non-T-Top model that’s about to receive a complete overhaul.

Take A Ride In This 1977 Pontiac LS3 Trans Am Video!

530 Horsepower Heart Transplant

The centerpiece of this transformation is a brand new LS3 V8 engine. This beast pumps out a whopping 530 horsepower, a far cry from the original engine’s output. To handle all that extra power, the shop is also installing a 4L70E overdrive transmission.

Straightening The Curves

But it’s not just about straight-line speed. V8 Speed and Resto knows that a pro-touring car needs to handle corners like a dream. That’s why they’re outfitting this Trans Am with a Global West suspension system. This upgrade will ensure precise handling and confidence-inspiring grip. YearOne 17″ wheels complete the look for any Trans Am!

Comfort is also important, even for a car built for performance. The shop isn’t forgetting about everyday usability. They’re installing a Vintage Air A/C system to keep things cool on those hot summer days.

To keep the driver informed, the classic instrument cluster is being replaced with a modern Dakota Digital gauge setup. This will provide all the essential information in a clear and stylish way.

Follow Along as we complete the transformation of this Trans Am and set it free on the open road!

 

This 1978 Pontiac Trans Am is transforming into a high-end Pro Touring car at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop. Power comes from a Chevrolet Performance LS3 V8, and it is installed in a Detroit Speed hydroformed front subframe. It’s backed by a Tremec T-56 6-speed manual transmission, sending power back to a fully independent rear suspension IRS system from Heidts.

The Trans Am is a full build at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop, and was stripped to bare steel before being sprayed in a protective epoxy primer. The body had minimal rust, so it is in the test fit stage in this video. Subscribe to be updated on the progress of this car as we do all the mechanical upgrades, body and paint, complete interior, and tuning.

#transam #protouring #independent #v8speedshop

V8 Speed and Resto Shop
817 S. Main Street
Red Bud, IL 62278
314.783.8325
https://www.v8speedshop.com

SUBSCRIBE: https://goo.gl/RIkdDS

We recently got our 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS back from the dustless media blaster to find what type of previous repairs, rust, and corrosion were hiding under the paint.

Getting a car back from a media blaster is exciting because you’re always hoping for the best – meaning that the body or frame will need as little rust and damage repair as possible. There are many questions surrounding the media blasting process. For example:

What is the best blasting media to use for an old car?
What is dustless blasting?
What is glass bead?
What is the best blasting for classic car restoration?
Does sandblasting warp panels?
Is dustless blasting safe?
What can I expect when my car comes back from the media blaster?
What is the best way to strip paint and rust from an old car?
What is the best method to remove paint from a muscle car?

We attempt to answer all these questions in this video where we walk around and take a close-up book at the body shell of this 1967 Camaro after dustless media blasting.

Dustless blasting involves using high-pressure water and glass bead media to remove paint from the surface of the body. It is an excellent way to remove paint from highly contoured surfaces and areas that would take far too long with a traditional sanding tool. Here at the V8 Speed & Resto Shop, we will still manually strip the big flat panels like hoods, roof skins, decklids, door skins and quarter panels, just to minimize any risk of warpage and to have better control over the process. However, the dustless blaster will quickly strip the paint from the fire wall, floors, underside of the car, the trunk floor, door, jams, and all of the little pieces and parts, including the chassis and frame. It is a great way to go.

We’ve restored many Camaros here at the V8 Speed & Resto Shop, and we are looking forward to doing some sheet-metal repair on this car. Plans call for work in the quarter panels, inner wheel houses, trunk floor, dashboard replacement, repairing the outer cowl panels, (or tulip panels), and many more little holes that we found throughout the body shell. We’ll share updates as this 1967 Camaro goes through the fabrication center here at V8 Speed and Resto.

If you have a restoration project like this Camaro, or would like a custom built Hot Rod or classic, you can reach our shop anytime at https://www.v8speedshop.com and we are happy to chat about your project.

Custom Coatings STL / TTT Dustless Blasting

V8 Speed and Resto Shop
817 S. Main Street
Red Bud, IL 62278
https://www.v8speedshop.com/contact
314.783.8325

#v8speedshop #restoration #camaro

SUBSCRIBE: https://goo.gl/RIkdDS

Plymouth named it the Duster, but this freshly restored 1973 version by the V8 Speed and Resto Shop is too clean for the name! Unless you’re referring to the hot 340 V8 under the hood.. then it all starts to make sense. You’ll get to hear the thumping Comp cam under the Edelbrock Performer aluminum heads when we post the video feature.   The V8 team was honored for the opportunity to restore every aspect of this car.  But that blue though! The secret of the color is also revealed in the video… stay tuned!  

#PlymouthDuster, #Restoration, #ClassicCars, #V8SoeedAndRestoShop,  #CarPassion

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