Callaway, Lingenfelter or Henessey
08-26-2016, 10:18 PM
#61
Melting Slicks
Okay, as one of the people who has owned both Lingenfelter and Callaway cars I can speak to the pleasure of driving both.
I had a '05 Z-51 coupe with a Lingenfelter 403 ci engine that could/would pull a 3-foot oak stump out of the ground with ease. It had an amazing amount of torque and I occasionally proved the point by employing "super CAGS" (the ability to shift from 1st to 6th) with no problems. However, as has been stated earlier, there are two problems with LPE, one being no warranty outside of their shop in Decatur, IN, and two, the inability to add long tube headers to the car. They are a CARB certified manufacturer and cannot, under California law, install headers on a car - however, if the headers are there when the car is sent to them they can re-install the headers and tune the car.
There is another way to get Lingenfelter engines and equipment which is through 21st Century Muscle Cars in Texas. The guy who runs it is the former son-in-law of the original John Lingenfelter and does not have to put up with the CARB requirements. They get the parts at a discount and their installed costs are the same as shipping the car to Indiana.
As for Callaway, I purchased a '11 GS and had it converted to an SC606. It ran smooth as silk but did not feel as if it had as much "off the line grunt" as the Lingenfelter. However, at engine speeds above 2,500 when the supercharge kicked in it was "Whoa, what a ride!"
Now, to the present. I traded the SC606 last month for a new '16 Z06 SC757 that I will get tomorrow at Corvettes at Carlisle. That will be a big step up from a 606 HP/587 lb-ft C6 to a 757 HP/777 lb-ft C7.
Needless to say, I can't wait. . .
And like everyone else around here, I wouldn't trust the third option in the OP's list as far as I could throw the starboard anchor of the USS Nimitz with my teeth.
I had a '05 Z-51 coupe with a Lingenfelter 403 ci engine that could/would pull a 3-foot oak stump out of the ground with ease. It had an amazing amount of torque and I occasionally proved the point by employing "super CAGS" (the ability to shift from 1st to 6th) with no problems. However, as has been stated earlier, there are two problems with LPE, one being no warranty outside of their shop in Decatur, IN, and two, the inability to add long tube headers to the car. They are a CARB certified manufacturer and cannot, under California law, install headers on a car - however, if the headers are there when the car is sent to them they can re-install the headers and tune the car.
There is another way to get Lingenfelter engines and equipment which is through 21st Century Muscle Cars in Texas. The guy who runs it is the former son-in-law of the original John Lingenfelter and does not have to put up with the CARB requirements. They get the parts at a discount and their installed costs are the same as shipping the car to Indiana.
As for Callaway, I purchased a '11 GS and had it converted to an SC606. It ran smooth as silk but did not feel as if it had as much "off the line grunt" as the Lingenfelter. However, at engine speeds above 2,500 when the supercharge kicked in it was "Whoa, what a ride!"
Now, to the present. I traded the SC606 last month for a new '16 Z06 SC757 that I will get tomorrow at Corvettes at Carlisle. That will be a big step up from a 606 HP/587 lb-ft C6 to a 757 HP/777 lb-ft C7.
Needless to say, I can't wait. . .
And like everyone else around here, I wouldn't trust the third option in the OP's list as far as I could throw the starboard anchor of the USS Nimitz with my teeth.
Dan
08-26-2016, 10:22 PM
#62
Former Vendor
Member Since: May 2001
Location: Callaway Cars - Old Lyme, Connecticut
Posts: 6,125
Received 738 Likes
on
419 Posts
Thanks for checking out Callaway. If we can help, please drop us a note,
info@callawaycars.com
08-26-2016, 10:26 PM
#63
Melting Slicks
Chris and Mike from Callaway made my decision easy. It's a great car with a warranty you can trust built by guys that love what they do. Struggling to see a downside.
08-27-2016, 05:28 AM
#64
Safety Car
08-27-2016, 11:26 AM
#66
Burning Brakes
And btw, take your Vette to Steven over at LMR.
08-27-2016, 11:37 AM
#67
And he should be.
We are talking about business (and ultimately, personal) ethics.
https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/commen...ke_himself_so/
Most of these people have NEVER opened, then built a business much less made any mistakes in life. They are perfect little people.
https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/commen...ke_himself_so/
08-27-2016, 11:43 AM
#68
Burning Brakes
^ I already know his past. It's been well documented. But, we live in a country where others cheer at seeing others fail.
I should know. I've spent 12 years building 3 companies. And every day I'm having to dodge some *** hat on the net trying to diminish our success. It's the same thing with the Hennessey fans. They can't wait till he closes up shop. That way, they can say.....Told you so, he deserved it. Little do ya'll know, that is the fuel that keeps John going. To remind everyone, he isn't going anywhere. No matter how big the haters cheer for his demise.
But, anyhow, yea, he did do some folks wrong for sure. That, I'll agree on.
I should know. I've spent 12 years building 3 companies. And every day I'm having to dodge some *** hat on the net trying to diminish our success. It's the same thing with the Hennessey fans. They can't wait till he closes up shop. That way, they can say.....Told you so, he deserved it. Little do ya'll know, that is the fuel that keeps John going. To remind everyone, he isn't going anywhere. No matter how big the haters cheer for his demise.
But, anyhow, yea, he did do some folks wrong for sure. That, I'll agree on.
Last edited by txapezl1; 08-27-2016 at 11:45 AM.
08-27-2016, 12:32 PM
#69
Le Mans Master
Sending one's corvette to a tuner for work, should be a fun filled stress free experience. I've sent 2 C6's to Lingenfelter for supercharger installs and other items in their packages, one of them being a forged bottom end in the second one for an even more fun ride. They did a first class job and both cars yielded totally reliable many years and smiles per mile.
To me, Callaway and Lingenfelter in the OP's query both have excellent reputations and have been around doing this a long time. Why go anywhere else ?
To me, Callaway and Lingenfelter in the OP's query both have excellent reputations and have been around doing this a long time. Why go anywhere else ?
08-27-2016, 04:17 PM
#70
Racer
Member Since: Aug 2016
Location: North Richland Hills Texas
Posts: 346
Received 44 Likes
on
39 Posts
My situation was mild in comparison to others I have read about. I made the mistake of sending them a $5,000 cashier check for a set of wheels and I damn near never heard back from him.. for about a MONTH. No one would return my calls, no one would email me back. FOUR WEEKS. So I had to start a negative thread on the VoA forum and within an hour I did get a call from him. He offered to refund me $2,000 and took my stock Viper wheels for another $750 on swap, BUT the wheels I got were used (perhaps off another customers car even, I don't really know). It wasn't a good way to conduct business.
Back in 2004 I took my 2004 Z06 in to 21st Century Musclecars and I spent $30,000. No issues, TOP NOTCH customer service.
Last edited by pelotonracer2; 09-07-2016 at 11:11 AM.
