PR,
We have a very active ZR-1 community here in Chicago. Members in our group have engine configs from the stock 5.7L up to 7.2L. Several of them are using the AES closed deck approach with very good success. Really helps when dealing w the stroke involved. There are several turbo installations on the
LT-5 as well, one of which was done on a 3rdGen Camaro.
So if your friend needs help, point him our way. With the limited production of the LT-5, any performance enhancements for this platform are pretty much DIY. Nelson has shown a billet based block but we've never seen that used w the LT-5 cylinder heads.
And then once you've done all that, there's tuning the car. Needless to say, most tuners aside from Callaway and Lingenfelter have never seen an LT-5.