Kenne Bell supercharger, Pros and cons....????

1993SSP

Founding Member
Sep 5, 2001
1,194
0
37
Ky
Im looking at getting rid of my powerdyne BD11A, Thinking about the kenne bell setup, I like it better all around, I think it will suit my needs for a daily driver and the occasional trip to the track. I love the thoughts of it kicking in at 2200rpm. Anyone ever owned one?? Just wondering if it would be a durable dependable setup, for 3K it should be !
 
just keep in mind guy's its a "daily driver" If it will be just a little better than the powerdyne I have now I'll be thrilled! I like the thought of the instant boost. How much do the prochargers cost that are comparable to the kenne bell standard kit?
 
1993SSP said:
just keep in mind guy's its a "daily driver" If it will be just a little better than the powerdyne I have now I'll be thrilled! I like the thought of the instant boost. How much do the prochargers cost that are comparable to the kenne bell standard kit?

Not sure on price...but I do know that Procharge usualy uses an intercooler with there kits (I think a 2 core air to air,maybe a 3 core)
 
dstanggt50 said:
instant boost, but I've heard they don't do as well at the top end, and something about higher intake air temps.

Incorrect and incorrect. I'll elaborate.

Twin screws do not make the peak numbers common with similarly sized (in air volume) centrifugals. This is only important if you're dyno racing. Roots blowers do have higher blower discharge tempuratures if they are pushed out of their efficiency ranges (this is where this myth comes from) but that applies to ANY type of forced induction. Twin screws are usually more efficient in higher boost ranges than Roots while roots are generally more efficient in ranges from 8-9 psi and down (dependant upon design). Blower discharge air temps coming from a twin screw are substantially lower than that of a centrifugal making similar power on a similar engine combination. usually, as much as 20 to 30% lower.
 
Daggar said:
Incorrect and incorrect. I'll elaborate.

Twin screws do not make the peak numbers common with similarly sized (in air volume) centrifugals. This is only important if you're dyno racing. Roots blowers do have higher blower discharge tempuratures if they are pushed out of their efficiency ranges (this is where this myth comes from) but that applies to ANY type of forced induction. Twin screws are usually more efficient in higher boost ranges than Roots while roots are generally more efficient in ranges from 8-9 psi and down (dependant upon design). Blower discharge air temps coming from a twin screw are substantially lower than that of a centrifugal making similar power on a similar engine combination. usually, as much as 20 to 30% lower.

I don't know about the temps, but higher hp in higher of an rpm doesn't necessarily mean dyno racing, while maybe a myth or not, from what I've seen and heard, if the car is more of a track car, would benefit from a centrifugal vs the kb. From what I've seen in mags, w/similar boost levels, in the higher rpm, centrifugal is usually on top. and quicker in the 1/4. While I've never owned a kb, and haven't finished my vortech install, don't really have any personal experience yet.
 
dstanggt50 said:
I don't know about the temps, but higher hp in higher of an rpm doesn't necessarily mean dyno racing, while maybe a myth or not, from what I've seen and heard, if the car is more of a track car, would benefit from a centrifugal vs the kb. From what I've seen in mags, w/similar boost levels, in the higher rpm, centrifugal is usually on top. and quicker in the 1/4. While I've never owned a kb, and haven't finished my vortech install, don't really have any personal experience yet.

Like most things, it's in the implementation. You don't see nearly the fanfare for KB powered cars at the track mostly due to the lack of intercooler availability for the KB on a 5oh. With that in mind, it's difficult to compare apples to apples. I'm sure by now you're aware of how potent a KB is on an intercooled 03/04 Cobra with upgrades being little more than additional fuel volume. Try finding an S-trim powered 03 or 04. If someone is going to go throughthe trouble of building up a Centrifugal powered Cobra, it's usually with a T-Trim or YS-Trim. If I were building a supercharged track only car, I'd probably opt for the centrifugal as well. It's much easier to add intercooling in order to crank up the boost. That brings me back to my post above. Two similarly configured engine combos, one with a centrifugal, the other with a KB... I'd be able put significantly more boost into the engine with a KB and more power to the ground across the RPM range provided that neither were intercooled. Even this would make it difficult to compare apples to apples because the KB equiped car would need additional suspension work in order to deal with all the power down low. One of the advantages to having a centrifugal for the track is that power does NOT come on instantly. You're already moving down the track at a pretty good clip before that centri really starts making power.

My post was not intended to begin a debate on which combo might be better for the track. It was intended only to dispell internet myth about screw type blowers. Matching the old 1.5L Kb to a modified motor will surely show you a fall off at the top end. Matching that combo with a Blowzilla or Blowzilla/Flowzilla will show no fall off in the upper RPM ranges. Ask anyone who's ever dynoed a 9 or 10 second Terminator. The fal off normally associated with twinscrews is due to either a mismatched blower (in size) or lack of the heads or cam's ability to keep pulling into that rev range.

It's not all nearly as simple as trying to say "They don't pull up top" or "Discharge temps are high".

Just for reference:

In October of 2003 Joe Zito ran 9.931 @ 139 MPH on just 15 lbs of boost from a 2.2L Kenne Bell in a 92 Fox making over 700 HP to the wheels. Not too shabby for a type of forced induction not normally used in a track only car.:nice:

Edit: It should also probably be noted that the folks making really HUGE HP (Top Fuel Dragsters) use primarily Roots and Screw Type blowers. Only mentioned that because of the track reference. Not trying to compare Top Fuel to a small block track car or 5oh.
 
700 hp to a 9.9 sec time in a track only car isn't that great but it is definitely different to see a KB on a car going 9.9s that isn't a 03/04 Cobra. You don't see that often.

My opinion

Street Cruiser (like low end torque): KB
Street Cruiser (Higher RPM Power): Vortech
Street/Strip Car: Procharger.

If this car is going to be used more on the street than on the strip I would go with the Vortech over the Procharger. If you are going to go centi go with the Vortech. I've heard good reviews about the KB though. I wouldn't use it in a street strip.
 
mackey said:
700 hp to a 9.9 sec time in a track only car isn't that great but it is definitely different to see a KB on a car going 9.9s that isn't a 03/04 Cobra. You don't see that often.

My opinion

Street Cruiser (like low end torque): KB
Street Cruiser (Higher RPM Power): Vortech
Street/Strip Car: Procharger.

If this car is going to be used more on the street than on the strip I would go with the Vortech over the Procharger. If you are going to go centi go with the Vortech. I've heard good reviews about the KB though. I wouldn't use it in a street strip.


What's significant is that it was done without an intercooler. :hail2:
 
Not foolish. It will come down to what it is you're looking for, the intended purpose of the car, and how far you want to go. If you do decide that you want a KB I'd recommend installing a 255L fuel pump, 42 lb injectors, opeing up the induction tract (your mods don't really say what you've got there), a GT-40 lower, and deciding how you want to tune it all. It would certainly be easier and require less modification to go with another centrifugal.
 
Im only looking at the kenne bell standard kit. Would you still recommend the 42lb injectors, mass air meter and 255 pump? I have reworked stock heads by thumper and lower intake done by Tmoss along with an E cam, redoing the engine is out of the question. I am completely satisfied with my current setup, i'd just rather have a charger that gets lower rpm boost as opposed to what I have now