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Installed KB, Low #'s?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bundmar
  • Start date Start date May 17, 2005
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02LaserRed2V

New Member
Jul 30, 2004
379
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Augusta, GA
May 19, 2005
#21
  • May 19, 2005
  • #21
I understand the KB chip is tuned (very conservately) for 91 octane gas. So if your area has 93 available, then you can have the timing bumped up a bit.

360hp may be low for you, but I hope my auto can get at LEAST that. I have a feeling mine will be even lower with the KB tune alone. That's why I'm having it tuned by Tim @ MPH. *crosses fingers*

Anyways, good luck!
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
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Ontario, Canada
May 20, 2005
#22
  • May 20, 2005
  • #22
Bundmar said:
Im going in tommorow for a custom SCT Tune from a local dealer, he says it should be able to do 400RWHP. He told me KB chips are usually off
Ill let u know what happens,
Im hoping for atleast 400RWHP Id be happy with that
Click to expand...
You'd better check this out and OK it with Kenne Bell first, or you may find yourself without warranty.
 
0

02mingreyconv

New Member
Sep 27, 2003
127
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Bartlett, IL
May 20, 2005
#23
  • May 20, 2005
  • #23
Gearbanger 101 said:
You'd better check this out and OK it with Kenne Bell first, or you may find yourself without warranty.
Click to expand...

I had decent numbers with the tune supplied from KB but I was running lean. I put down 399 hp with their supplied tune. I tried to resolve it with KB but had no luck. The KB chip is an SCT chip so I went out and had a custom tune. I gained 18 rwhp and I am at a perfect 11.8 - 12.0:1 across the board.

The KB tune is pretty much a mail order tune. All cars are different and their tune might be in the ball park but it will never be dead on.

Go for a custom tune and you should be able to get 400 rwhp for a manual and 380 for an auto easily.

Joe
 

Gearbanger 101

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#24
  • May 20, 2005
  • #24
02mingreyconv said:
I had decent numbers with the tune supplied from KB but I was running lean. I put down 399 hp with their supplied tune. I tried to resolve it with KB but had no luck. The KB chip is an SCT chip so I went out and had a custom tune. I gained 18 rwhp and I am at a perfect 11.8 - 12.0:1 across the board.

The KB tune is pretty much a mail order tune. All cars are different and their tune might be in the ball park but it will never be dead on.

Go for a custom tune and you should be able to get 400 rwhp for a manual and 380 for an auto easily.

Joe
Click to expand...
It's not the power aspect I was referring to. The "mail order tune" provided with the set-up is on the conservative side for a reason. The reason why you're able to extract more power out of a custom tune, is because you're increasing timing and leaning out fuel curves in order to do so. KB's warranty clearly states that tuning is to be done by an authorized KB approved facility only. I wouldn't be surprised that if someone blew up their engine after screwing around with KB's mail order tune without their knowledge of say so, you could kiss any chances of them coming good for it (even if it was their product) bye, bye. Be smart and OK it with them first. Or....take your chances that they'll come good if there's a problem down the road.
 
B

Bundmar

Founding Member
Mar 22, 2002
377
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Ontario, Canada
May 23, 2005
#25
  • May 23, 2005
  • #25
Ok I got it tuned and it now puts out 389RWHP and 390RWTQ, still lower than I expected but its safe.
Ill post the dyno sheet tommorow
still think It should of put out more but better than 360RWHP
 
2

2002BLGT

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2003
2,945
4
59
Bedford VA
May 23, 2005
#26
  • May 23, 2005
  • #26
prsrizdgt said:
Sorry to hijack: I think you should be able to run 23*timing if your A/F is right (11.8) I am, with no pinging, on 93 octane, 9psi, on a less efficient Eaton.
Click to expand...



23 degrees is WAY too much timing on a stock bottom end .....keep it at about 18-19 and air fuel between 11.5 and 12.0 is fine also .........
 
G

green_fow_six

Founding Member
Jan 21, 2002
310
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16
Martinez, CA
May 23, 2005
#27
  • May 23, 2005
  • #27
Bundmar said:
Ok I got it tuned and it now puts out 389RWHP and 390RWTQ, still lower than I expected but its safe.
Ill post the dyno sheet tommorow
still think It should of put out more but better than 360RWHP
Click to expand...


How about the SOP difference, are you able to tell the difference?
 
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02mingreyconv

New Member
Sep 27, 2003
127
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Bartlett, IL
May 24, 2005
#28
  • May 24, 2005
  • #28
Gearbanger 101 said:
It's not the power aspect I was referring to. The "mail order tune" provided with the set-up is on the conservative side for a reason. The reason why you're able to extract more power out of a custom tune, is because you're increasing timing and leaning out fuel curves in order to do so. KB's warranty clearly states that tuning is to be done by an authorized KB approved facility only. I wouldn't be surprised that if someone blew up their engine after screwing around with KB's mail order tune without their knowledge of say so, you could kiss any chances of them coming good for it (even if it was their product) bye, bye. Be smart and OK it with them first. Or....take your chances that they'll come good if there's a problem down the road.
Click to expand...

My AF was at 14:1 during WOT past 3000 rpm. We let off at 4000 rpm. This was with the KB supplied tune. We changed chips and the AF came down to 12.8:1 and power was up to 400. I was not happy with the supplied KB tune so I had a local SCT tuner (who has done tons of 03 cobras with KB's and whipples) do my tune. AF is now at 11.8:1 and power is up to 417.

I still have the KB chip, so if anything goes bad I'll just swap it in and blame their lean tune. KB is an excellent product but they have horrible customer support. But this is just my experience and my opinion, others might have a different one and I respect that.

Joe
 

topless98gt

Adhesive Feces
Mar 31, 2005
182
0
17
Arlington, TX
May 24, 2005
#29
  • May 24, 2005
  • #29
Bundmar said:
Ok I got it tuned and it now puts out 389RWHP and 390RWTQ, still lower than I expected but its safe.
Ill post the dyno sheet tommorow
still think It should of put out more but better than 360RWHP
Click to expand...
You're putting down what 03/04 Cobras give to the flywheel. Shoot...I'd be happy!
 
D

Delacruz1776

New Member
Apr 8, 2003
63
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California
May 24, 2005
#30
  • May 24, 2005
  • #30
What's a good price for a KB kit? Not close to supercharging yet, but I know Vortech is close to $4K. Is KB around the same? What's considered a good deal?
 

Gearbanger 101

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#31
  • May 24, 2005
  • #31
Delacruz1776 said:
What's a good price for a KB kit? Not close to supercharging yet, but I know Vortech is close to $4K. Is KB around the same? What's considered a good deal?
Click to expand...
better tack on another 2k to the Vortech price by the time you're finished with the KB. They ain't cheap.

Besides....they're overated anyway. You'd do just as well with a well set up centrifugal.
 
D

Delacruz1776

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Apr 8, 2003
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California
May 24, 2005
#32
  • May 24, 2005
  • #32
Can you explain that? What I've seen here at the Forum tells me that yes, you're right, there are all kinds of set ups that will get you what you want, but can you explain a centrifugal set up and what kind of $$ are we talking there? I wouldn't mind getting into the high 300's. :
 

Gearbanger 101

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#33
  • May 24, 2005
  • #33
Delacruz1776 said:
Can you explain that? What I've seen here at the Forum tells me that yes, you're right, there are all kinds of set ups that will get you what you want, but can you explain a centrifugal set up and what kind of $$ are we talking there? I wouldn't mind getting into the high 300's. :
Click to expand...
You can make every bit the power with a centrifugal blower, you've just got to spin them a little harder....which is what they were meant for. Yes KB's make serious torque down low and pull hard to redline, but making brute low end torque isn't everything. Centi's still make awesome torque too, it's just not applied right off idle like a positive displacement blower is. What the KB guys don't want you to know is that when the Centi does pour it on, it tends to bridge that gap between the two in a hurry. Check out the track times....they're pretty even.

Don’t get me wrong, The KB is a kick-ass set up, but not worth the premium they’re asking for it IMO.
 
D

Delacruz1776

New Member
Apr 8, 2003
63
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California
May 24, 2005
#34
  • May 24, 2005
  • #34
Thanks for the info! Sounds like you can have your power at the get go with the KB set up and get the jump but your set up will close the gap quickly. I guess it's a personal preference, huh? I'm at the research stage so every bit of info will help in making a decision. This is something I will definitely look into. Thanks again.
 

02GTKB

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
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May 24, 2005
#35
  • May 24, 2005
  • #35
Gearbanger 101 said:
What the KB guys don't want you to know.......
Click to expand...

shhhh!! dont tell anyone that!
I bet you was asking yourself why I havent posted yet
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
9,457
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May 24, 2005
#36
  • May 24, 2005
  • #36
02GTKB said:
shhhh!! dont tell anyone that!
I bet you was asking yourself why I havent posted yet
Click to expand...
I knew you'd pop up sooner or later.

I thought you were selling off your KB set up?
 

hognutz

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Nov 12, 2002
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albany, oregon
May 24, 2005
#37
  • May 24, 2005
  • #37
they are both good setups. kb has a flatter boost curve. where the centri does not make full boost as quick. your average power just suffers a little but the peak numbers will be close.

the thing that would make me buy the KB over a centri is I don't like the plasic intake. KB replaces it. this is the main advantage I see with the kit. where as people on a quest for power with a centri sometimes replace the intake as well.
 
2

2001sleeper

New Member
Nov 22, 2004
136
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0
May 24, 2005
#38
  • May 24, 2005
  • #38
you can make over 600 ponies with the stock intake, it just looks like crap. the reasons i chose the centri was the fact that it sounds awesome at idle, and i was looking in the long run and couldn't afford or make the revisions to my car necessary for a 2.2KB. KB's are bad on the street, i just have a different end goal.
 
0

02mingreyconv

New Member
Sep 27, 2003
127
0
0
Bartlett, IL
May 24, 2005
#39
  • May 24, 2005
  • #39
Gearbanger 101 said:
You can make every bit the power with a centrifugal blower, you've just got to spin them a little harder....which is what they were meant for. Yes KB's make serious torque down low and pull hard to redline, but making brute low end torque isn't everything. Centi's still make awesome torque too, it's just not applied right off idle like a positive displacement blower is. What the KB guys don't want you to know is that when the Centi does pour it on, it tends to bridge that gap between the two in a hurry. Check out the track times....they're pretty even.

Don’t get me wrong, The KB is a kick-ass set up, but not worth the premium they’re asking for it IMO.
Click to expand...

It is an eternal debate between the positive displacement superchargers and the centrifugal setups.

Twin screw and roots style huffers make 'instant' boost while the centri's build boost of the rpm's.

My recommendation has always been a KB for street / recreational use and a centri if you want to be fast at the track.

The centri has other advantages as well. It is easier for your wife / GF to drive the car since the power band is shifted higher up in the RPM range. Not to mention that the centri is $1-2000 cheaper.

The KB boost is said to be 'instant' but you really need to be above 2000 rpm before it kicks in. You will also have serious traction problems which will hurt you at the track.... unless you are running sticky tires.... which in turn means that you might want to beef up your rear end... which means more money to get up to the same times as the centris'

To each his own.
 
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