When Jerry got back home to the green country of Oklahoma, he began doing some research on the Lingenfelter kit. He called Tim Dyer at the Lingenfelter shop and quizzed him on the kit. He found out that only five or six kits-to Tim's knowledge-were ever sold, partially because when body packages were first introduced, only those with Lingenfelter engine mods were allowed to purchase them. Jerry went back to searching Internet forums trying to find any information about a ZR-1 LPE Aerobody in existence. He found one ZR-1 with a 415-cid stroker engine built by Lingenfelter with the kit on it. Then he saw a photo of John Lingenfelter's personal record-setting ZR-1 that was wearing the rear fascia part of the kit. When Jerry could only find one other ZR-1 with the entire LPE Aerobody kit, he knew he had to have one.
The kit was ordered, and the car was taken to Corvette Body Works in Oklahoma City where they sprayed both the ZR-1 and the new LPE Aerobody kit in Triple Black DuPont Polyurethane. A 60-light LED was added in the rear spoiler and an Auto Meter A-pillar (windshield) pod was installed to the left of and behind the wheel. Jorge Lopez recovered the seats in black leather and laid new black carpet down as well. Other modifications include C-Beam plates, '96 Grand Sport calipers and Power Slot rotors, and a 3-inch diameter, Jet Coat Ceramic exhaust installed by Texas Quality Exhaust Systems in Houston, Texas. A pair of Fikse 18x10-inch rims with 275/35ZR18 Michelin Pilots were placed up front and another pair of Fikses, measuring 18x12-inches with 335/30ZR18 Michelin Pilots, were bolted up on the back.
The ZR-1 currently puts out roughly 430 hp at 7,000 rpm, but not for long. A 368-cid LT5 engine buildup should be in process by the time you read this. The package will include Ron Davis Radiator, custom ground hotter cams, a single mass flywheel and clutch, and 3.90 Dana Super 44 Gears. The engine compartment will also be detailed, and the aluminum block will be painted metallic high-gloss red.
What started as simple project turned into a full-on tribute to two of the greats in the Corvette world, John Lingenfelter and the original King of the Hill, the ZR-1.