LINGENFELTER AEROBODY PROJECT

[-=Jeff=-]

Originally Posted by G8nightman

Adding some sound/cooling material completed passenger side.

IS this the first time you are using this particular stuff or have you used it before?

Curious how well it works and where to get it

[G8nightman]

Originally Posted by -=Jeff=-

IS this the first time you are using this particular stuff or have you used it before?

Curious how well it works and where to get it

Hi Jeff first time I'm actually using it but it is in another Z I have and it does seem to be cooler inside that car. Zip corvette carries the brand am using called flat line.

[Raykahn]

Originally Posted by -=Jeff=-

IS this the first time you are using this particular stuff or have you used it before?

Curious how well it works and where to get it

6 years ago I did a fairly robust installation in my Tacoma when I was in Florida. I spent a lot of time researching it all before diving in.

80 mil sound dampening butyl mats, a layer of 315 mil closed cell foam (CCF) overtop that, and on the roof I used a sheet of Melamine foam instead of the CCF. It works extremely well I'd say. HUGE difference in the Florida sun, and now that I am in Virginia I see it have an equally appreciable effect during winter keeping it insulated from the cold compared to non-insulated vehicles.

I am a bit of an audiophile so aside from the benefits of temperature insulation the sound dampening is just as impressive. Using some Butyl rope I chased down all the vibrations I heard throughout the cab so the ride was rattle free. Another effect the butyl mats have is increasing the efficiency of your speakers, since the more mass you add to the panels means less energy is lost vibrating the panel and is instead expelled out of the speaker properly. You get less road noise coming through into the vehicle AND your speakers get noticeably loader. The layer of CCF plays in here, too, not because it provides any sound dampening quality on its own, but its a 'decoupling' layer and helps prevent rattling noise from panels vibrating against each other.

Ordered everything from Amazon: Noico brand for the butyl mats and CCF, Second Skin for the Melamine foam, Poweka butyl rope, a generic applicator rolling wheel, and some basic auto shims and wedges for popping panels off. At the time Noico was the best bang for the buck, though the market landscape could have changed that in the last few years.

Money well spent, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Technically my installation isn't 'the full works' as I have no layer of Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) which is really what takes the project from 'sound dampening' to 'sound deadening' and blocks road noise rather than reducing it.

If you go beyond just using the butyl mats and want to do the CCF don't go as thick as I did. 315 mils made panel fitment an issue in areas and I had to shave the foam thinner for some things to fit right and made the carpet bulgy in areas until it got matted down over time, though I am positive that thickness helps with temp insulation.

I am kind of a nerd with this particular thing, so feel free to ask me anything.

[CT944]

Looks great, hope to see it in person.

[Corvette95]

That looks wonderful! Thanks for all the in process pictures. May I ask why you painted it with the hood on? I think I know the reason ( pain to align hood to car and make all the gaps right- and that's just the stock hood). I would like to hear how you adjusted the hood to body and have it open and close properly ... they have always given me fits! (even using Gordon Killebrews method).

[G8nightman]

Originally Posted by Corvette95

That looks wonderful! Thanks for all the in process pictures. May I ask why you painted it with the hood on? I think I know the reason ( pain to align hood to car and make all the gaps right- and that's just the stock hood). I would like to hear how you adjusted the hood to body and have it open and close properly ... they have always given me fits! (even using Gordon Killebrews method).

Correct for alignment and space while in the spray booth

[Z51JEFF]

Would it be a close estimate to say from the parts out of the box,all the the fitting,bodywork and paint,this would be in the area of $30,000? I've thought about what it would cost for the Callaway Aerobody kit complete on a car. $20,000 for the kit,fitting everything and paint the cost would be insane.

[G8nightman]

Yes only difference is this kit isn't available for purchase and only 6 made but fitting to the car really depends on how good of a job is being done and what bodyshop is doing the work but yes its not cheap but it will for sure be different then most ZR1's out there.

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by Z51JEFF

Would it be a close estimate to say from the parts out of the box,all the the fitting,bodywork and paint,this would be in the area of $30,000? I've thought about what it would cost for the Callaway Aerobody kit complete on a car. $20,000 for the kit,fitting everything and paint the cost would be insane.

There was a time that the Cheapest Aerobody kit to install was one that was already on the car and simply buying the car.

[G8nightman]

Some interior/audio progress. Also redoing the sheldys.