collinsr

I have an 04 Z16 and am seriously considering an engine upgrade. I am looking at: 1) the Callaway NA 6.8L advertised at 550 hp and based on a GM Motorsports C5R block ($26,300); and 2) the Lingenfelter NA 7L advertised at 530+ hp and based on a "custom" aluminum block($19,995).

I would like some knowledgeable feedback on the respective merits of the two engines and shops. Price at this level is not quite as important to me as quality (that is, unless there was not a qualitative difference between the two--then price would be the key issue).

Thanks for your help!

Bob

ps I am located in the middle of Missouri, obviously closer to Lingenfelter than Callaway, but still quite a distance from Decatur, Indiana.

meadowz06

Hands down Lingenfelter. I could go on and on about their products and customer service. #1!

01QSZ06

Or you could check out some of the other very reputible shops and get a forged/blown 347/402 and end up with more power, driveablitiy, and half of your money left. My .02

Independent1

They are both very well known and respected tuners. Their prices reflect that fact. There are a lot of options out there for increasing your car's power levels that are a whole lot less expensive and IMHO just as good.

There are a number of tuners getting over 500 rwhp out of the stock motors with heads and cam mods. I believe the numbers Calloway and Ligenfelter are quoting are at the crank, not the rear wheels.

ECS (East Coast Supercharging) got over 500 rwhp from a stock 346 Z06. I believe the car had some extras like headers, catback exhaust, and a cold air induction (CAI) system. The cost of the heads/cam was around $6500. ECS is a supporting vendor on this forum and has a sterling reputation. ECS is in New Jersey.

I recommend doing some searches in c5 general and tech to find out all the good stuff going on.

I don't know if the packages you are considering also beef up your drivetrain, but you will need to do that with all the extra HP. Same applies to the ECS package I mentioned.

Probably need a RPM tranny and a DTE differential and a new clutch. Textralia seems to be the hot clutch right now.

Might want to go over to LS1.com for more info on engines. They are really into engines over there.

Good luck.

ICaughtVetteFever

Don't forget to check out Mallett.

meadowz06

Lingenfelter is the MOST RESPECTED TUNER! Period.

ICaughtVetteFever

That is a personal opinion, IMO Mallett is just as good or better.

PeteZ06

If I had that kind of money to build up my Z I'd have no doubts knowing where to go.

Lingenfelter!!!!!!




Not only because theyre the BEST, but also because their cars hold their value the most out of Mallet and Callaway.

meadowz06

Actually it is not personal opinion. It is based of the facts that they provide the best customer service, warranty, and beyond the call of duty help. I had a LPE that I bought from the original owner, and LPE treated me as the ORIGINAL OWNER. They are the most highly respected Corvette tuner, and their cars have better resale value than any other Corvette tuner car. I could go on and on, but they are simply the crown jewel of Corvette tuners.

SomeGuy

I suppose that is why they are recognized by various value guides like CPI, NADA, etc., right? Actually, last I checked, they were not.

That is not to say that that shop is not a fine choice, I just wonder where yo get your (biased) information from.

Mallet and Callaway ARE actually recognized in some value books (important for when you try to get a loan on a resale car).

A guy in my area had a twin turbo 427 car for sale about a few years ago. I think it was a 2000 coupe. Anyways, I was offered the car for 140k ( ) and it ultimately sold to another guy for appx. 80k.
Last I saw it, it was down about 10 grand less in the paper. Great residuals

Someguys use facts in posts, others stick to opinions when all else fails

PeteZ06

I dont care who's recognized by who.

If you look around and see what USED Lingenfelter modded cars vs. others are selling for, you will see that they hold their value best.

Of course the more you spend on modding a car the more youre going to lose. But I guarantee you that if you spent 70K on modding a car at Callaway it wouldnt bring what a Lingenfelter car would bring. I've seen this many times over and over.

Theres a LPE and a Callaway car on eBay right now, see for yourself what people are bidding OVER the stock value for yourself.

Z06 R.Ph.

For that kind of $$$$, to build a 427 engine for my Z06, only Lingenfelter.

PeteZ06

Since the 427TT package is about 65K and the car in stock form is worth around 30K at most even a few years ago, he only lost $15K.

Youre forgetting that these cars will still lose money every mile you put on them and every year that passes by. That car in stock form would lose about $10K over 2-3yrs on its own.

You just proved me right

Thanks

SomeGuy

Since you know this exact car, please tell me exactly how much money the guy had in it (clue time, it wasn't a standard package from them and neither was the conversion to an automatic transmission, etc.).

The guy lost at least 1/2 his money in a few years, that is HUGE on any car.


When it comes to this discussion, you would be out of depth in a puddle

Please come back when you have facts. And no, ebay is not a guage for any sort of reality, sorry.

zeevette

If I planned on selling my car in a couple of years, and had way too much money, I'd go with Lingenfelter. Of all the overpriced tuners, they have the best reputation with the uninformed, and there's no denying the cachet value.

SomeGuy

Best post of the thread. How true this seems to be here

J Z06

LPE

JG853

Boith are good shops. In fact, as others stated, why not call a few others including LG, ECS, and a host of others. See who you feel the most comfortable with.

JG853

PeteZ06

SomeGuy is mad cause he's wrong


A car is worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.


Check out http://www.lingenfelter.com/class_lists.htm and see for yourself what these used LPE cars are selling for.

Barret/Jackson auctioned off a LPE 427TT C5 this past season for over 100K.

Please prove me wrong because you still havent, other than your friends neighbors dog walkers cousin who was selling a 140K car

FactoryRaceCar

Personally, with that kind of budget, I would go forged motor and forced induction.