Hey Late Brake, where the hell were you 5 years ago when I could have used this sage advise????
Oh well, I wouldn't have listened anyway. The Lamar Walden connection goes like this: Lamar did some engine work on my '55 chev. in the late 60s. He normally didn't do that kind of work but he was next door neighbors with my best friend. Also tuned a 70 LT1 vette when chev. gave up. He was going to build a 427 Hilborn injected, straight front axle '55 for me until a speeding woman hit me head-on and ended that dream. We go back a long way. I still trust Lamar until proven otherwise.
I had bought the ZL1 before I even knew Lamar was still doing engine work. My plans were to send the car to Lingenfelter or Katech. Keep in mind I was the first or second person to commit to a ZL1 according to Matt. In fact Matt offered me #2 the day I test drove the prototype.
A piece of history here. This one I observed. Matt had no intention of putting 427s in the ZL1 until I told him what I was going to do and then, evidently so did several other people. Matt did not want these cars to be known as GMMG/Katech or whatever ZL1s. At that time Matt made the 427 offer to all buyers. When I found out Lamar was still in business and willing to do the project I got Matt to assure me I could get #51 which was the same number ZL1 that GM gave to Lamar. Seemed appropriate to me.
Unless the weather is bad here a very knowledgeable tech. and I are taking the car to LWA Fri. Until then everything else is just speculation. I think there will be a logical explanation.