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Thrush
Dodge Dakota
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7/07/2002
19:05:41

Subject: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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I'm looking at buying a S/C for my heavy ass Durango. I believe that a centrifugal S/C would not be too good of an idea, due to it makes power with RPM. It takes alot to spin RPM up with this weight, so I was looking at crank driven S/C like KenneBell. Price difference though is $2500 (Vortech, Paxton, etc.) versus $4500 for KenneBell. Has anyone had a Kennebell? Were you happy with the low end and midrange power? Please let me know. Thanks.



kota on 20s
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7/07/2002
22:02:07

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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if it is for a 5.2 or 5.9, i would think twice about the kennybell. they are verry hard to tune. one guy in hawaii has one and he basicly threw the kb fuel system in the trash and made his own.

Eric, 98 5.2 5speed, K&N gen II, 50mm TB, 2bbl M-1, 1.7RR's, JBA ciramic headers, carsound cat, dumped gibson, and a lot more

Signman
Dodge Dakota
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7/07/2002
22:59:22

KenneBell S/C - Go for it!
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If it's on a 4.7L I say go for it! I LOVE mine. Not a single prob. in allmost 20,000 mi.

I talked to "Surfa" in Hawaii after buying my R/T and asked him about his. Basically he recommended it, unless you plan on tinkering with the system and trying to squeeze more boost out of it. With say a 9lb pulley instead of the 6lb pulley that comes with the unit. In his own words he's a "player". So if your thinking of putting the unit on with the 6 lb pulley and leaving it alone, then the 5.9 kit may be OK as well. Just passing along what he told me directly in a private e-mail.

You are correct in the fact that a Twin Screw (Kenne Bell) type blower would be better for the heavy Durango. I've been looking into blowers for my R/T and I was under the impression that a Vortech or Paxton was going to run more like $3,500 or so, depending on the options you can get with those kits.

-------------------------------------------------
00, 4X4, CC, 4.7L, 5sp., 3.92 limited slip
Kenne Bell Supercharger
Borla Headers, 180* Thermostat
Magnum Performance Throttle Body
3" Cat-back w/ Flowmaster
Roadmaster Active Suspension
Line-X bedliner, ect., ect.

98 Black, CC, R/T
4.56 gears, MP PCM, Ported TB
Cold air intake w/ K&N
3" Cat-back w/ Flowmaster
Lowered 2" front & back
Waiting to go on:
MPP Headers (on back order), 3" cut-out,
electric cut-out plate, & 3" Catco hi-flow cat



kota on 20s
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7/07/2002
23:49:23

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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i agree that the kb for the a 4.7 is a good unit, and it is true that surfa turned the boost up, but remember the "killer bee" package that dodge offered on the R/T? i have heard that they recalled all of them because of problems and shelved the projects. notice that the dont make any more shelby durango's either.

one of the problems is that the kit gives you a knock sensor, so when it starts to ping the "optimizer" retards the timing. under 3,000 rpm the blower screames, but over 3,000 the thing retards the hell out of the timing and the truck is a dog. i have heard the pcm and "optimizer" try to overide eachother and problems happen.

again this is what i have heard from other owners. i dont have a kennybell or ANY blower for that matter, but i have talked to a lot of people about differant SC's because i plan on getting one. if there are any kennybeller's out there im sure they will jump in...if there are any besides surfa..lol

if you have a 4.7 get the KB!!

Eric, 98 5.2 5speed, K&N gen II, 50mm TB, 2bbl M-1, 1.7RR's, JBA ciramic headers, carsound cat, dumped gibson, and a lot more

cadetdak
Dodge Dakota
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7/08/2002
00:32:13

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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where'd you find a vortech for 2500?



Thrush
Dodge Dakota
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7/08/2002
10:03:30

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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Yes it is 5.2L 4X4. I wouldn't be trying to squeeze anymore boost than what it comes with stock. So the KB is no good huh? What type of centrifugal would you guys all recommend?



Thrush
Dodge Dakota
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7/08/2002
12:07:17

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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$2500 is just average. I'm sure they go up, but they're definately cheaper than a KB. So KB's are no good? Thanks for the advice.



4.7JeepGuy
Dodge Dakota
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7/08/2002
12:20:51

Interesting KB on 4.7 Info
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http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?s=5c3c30f41496e1a72c0b4a2b758bd0f3&threadid=253758



kota on 20s
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7/08/2002
19:53:49

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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you might be able to pick up a powerdyne for $2600, but the paxton novi 2000(vortech is no longer making superchargers for dodges) are like $4200

Eric, 98 5.2 5speed, K&N gen II, 50mm TB, 2bbl M-1, 1.7RR's, JBA ciramic headers, carsound cat, dumped gibson, and a lot more

kota318
Dodge Dakota
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7/09/2002
19:47:11

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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what would be the best s/c for a 1997 dakota
5.2 auto ,2wd its stock except for dual
exhaust?
thanks




scott
Dodge Dakota
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7/09/2002
22:51:52

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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Thrush...the only people that had anything negative to say about the KB superchargers are people that don`t own them.
Signman HAS one and loves it,and has had NO problems. So to say that they`re "no good" would probably be a bad conclusion .
I am really interested in getting one myself , but everytime I get some $ saved , something else comes up.


Signman...what do you think about the added power? Is the seat of the pants feel what you expected. What do you think it did for your 0-60 and 1/4 mile times? I`m pretty much sold on it , I just have to come up with the cash.




Thrush
Dodge Dakota
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7/09/2002
23:16:00

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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S/C is just too much money right now. I think I'm gonna change my puke 3.55 gears (front and back) to 4.10's. That's sure to wake up this torque ailed motor. Thanks alot everyone for the replies.



kota on 20s
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7/10/2002
00:43:05

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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scott, have you read all of my posts? i said, "
{if you have a 4.7 get the KB!!" that was in 7 posts above yours!

i have talked to surfa (the ONLY guy that i have found that has a kennybell on his R/T) and he told me "if you like to play, get a kennybell. if you want to put a blower on and dont want to worry about it, go with a vortech"

im not saying that he is the ONLY one with a kb, but out of all of the people that post on these sites, he is the only one that i have found with a kb. ALL of the rest use paxton, vortech, and powerdyne.

(READ).... again, I have heard the kennybells are GOOD units for the 4.7!!

why would you want instany boost with the kb on a 5.9/5.2 anyway? it would just boil the tires, because they already have the lowend torque.

Eric, 98 5.2 5speed, K&N gen II, 50mm TB, 2bbl M-1, 1.7RR's, JBA ciramic headers, carsound cat, dumped gibson, and a lot more

Thrush
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2002
09:30:51

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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I want the instant boost and torque offline, because I have to motivate 5,000 lbs.



kota on 20s
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7/10/2002
19:29:39

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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for what it's worth, i talked to Scott Q on sunday and his wife has a 2001 durango R/T. mods include, M-1, headers, powerdyne blower, and some other odds and ends.

she ran it at carlsbad raceway and got a 14.2@99mph while SPINING ALL 4 WHEELS!! and that is with a centrifical blower.


Eric, 98 5.2 5speed, K&N gen II, 50mm TB, 2bbl M-1, 1.7RR's, JBA ciramic headers, carsound cat, dumped gibson, and a lot more

scott
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2002
19:45:35

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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My bad....sorry I read all of the posts , I just didn`t realize that Thrush has the 5.2. I had a brain fade and thought he had the 4.7.
Again, sorry about that , I wasn`t trying to slam anyone , it`s just that he wanted to hear from people that actually owned a KB charger and get their opinions on it , as would I.
I guess I get to aggravated when someone asks a direct question around here and gets a lot of heresay responses. No offense meant kotaon20s , as your posts were helpful to all ...if only I could read them correctly.



kota on 20s
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7/10/2002
19:55:19

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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its all good.

Eric, 98 5.2 5speed, K&N gen II, 50mm TB, 2bbl M-1, 1.7RR's, JBA ciramic headers, carsound cat, dumped gibson, and a lot more

Signman
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2002
21:04:05

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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Scott, you asked me what I thought about the added power and new 1/4 mile times. I love the added power! I never took it to the track before the SC so I have nothing to compare it to unfortunately. After it was installed along with all my other mods I managed a 14.7 out of it. (I'm 4X4)

I think on average, adding a SC of any kind with 6lbs of boost you can expect to see 1 - 1&1/2 seconds shaved off your 1/4 mile time.

Kota, on the KB, instant boost is available at low RPM's, but you don't have it kick in all the time. I can drive normal all day long and never see any boost at all, unless I really get into the throttle hard. I've even learned how to work the throttle so I can watch the boost climb slowly, or get it up to say 3-4 lbs of boost and keep it there if I want.

You asked why someone would want a KB on the 5.2 or 5.9 because they already have the lowend torque. Instant boost isn't just helpful taking off the line, it's also a great thing to have for passing and such. Ex: If I'm cruising around at 40MPH or so at 2,500 RPM's and want to pass someone I floor it. Before the pedal hits the floor it seems, I have an instant 6lbs of boost available. Try that with a centrifical! It's also great for when your all out racing and shifting through the gears quickly. Your RPM's drop as you shift, and with the instant boost available you don't have to wait for RPM's to build back up to get the full potential of the SC. I try and only chirp or slightly spin the tires taking off, once I'm rolling a little I punch it. If I wanted to I could put on one hell of a smoke show, but that would be kinda pointless and get costly after a while.

A lot of people also wonder why you would want to put 4.56 gears in the R/T because of all of the low end torque. But as long as you don't floor it right off the line and roast the tires, it's a great mod. I absolutely love mine!! It's just like anything else, you have to use common sense, and learn how to launch the truck.

Because you said you've been looking into getting a SC for a while you prob. allready know these things, so I basically posted it for some of those who might be just now looking into it, and not fully understand how the twin screw SC's work. Just because full 6lbs of boost is available at 2,000 RPM's doesn't mean it comes on there all the time. Only when you want it to, by flooring the gas pedal.

When I talked to Surfa he highly recommended the Kenne Bell for the R/T. Unless I wanted to "play" and try and boost it to 9 lbs or more. He said if I thought I was going to want more power than just 6lbs to defenately go with a Vortech or Paxton because it was easier to run higher amounts of boost with these. Or at least tune them in with the higher boost levels. So I still say a Kenne Bell MAY be OK on the 5.9 and definately has advantages over a centrifical (as long as you stay at 6 lbs of boost)

This being said.... I'll probably still go with the Vortech or Paxton on my R/T because I've heard nothing but good things about them, and more likely than not, I'll be wanting to crank the boost up and see what I can get the R/T to do!

-------------------------------------------------
00, 4X4, CC, 4.7L, 5sp., 3.92 limited slip
Kenne Bell Supercharger
Borla Headers, 180* Thermostat
Magnum Performance Throttle Body
3" Cat-back w/ Flowmaster
Roadmaster Active Suspension
Line-X bedliner, ect., ect.

98 Black, CC, R/T
4.56 gears, MP PCM, Ported TB
Cold air intake w/ K&N
3" Cat-back w/ Flowmaster
Lowered 2" front & back
Waiting to go on:
MPP Headers (on back order), 3" cut-out,
electric cut-out plate, & 3" Catco hi-flow cat



kota on 20s
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7/10/2002
21:41:02

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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Signman, you make some verry good points. for some reason, i was thinking he would be racing or something. you are right, if one is not racing, and just wants a blower for the street, a kennybell (or any screw, or roots blower) would be FUN to have.

its not really a fair match to compair 4.56 gears to to 6lbs of boost at the track. the slicks will hold the gears a lot better than the torque the blower delivers.

like you, i have also heard nothing but good things about the vortech and paxton, thats why i was steering him in that direction. i also heard that all of the killer bee dakotas were recalled because they were having problems with the system. i wish more people had these blowers so we could learn more about them.
with all of the things i have heard about the kb's, i wouldnt want to put down 4k to HOPE it works.

have you ever delt with kb's customer service? if so how was the service?

Eric, 98 5.2 5speed, K&N gen II, 50mm TB, 2bbl M-1, 1.7RR's, JBA ciramic headers, carsound cat, dumped gibson, and a lot more

Signman
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2002
22:21:03

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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I wasn't really trying to compare the gears to 6 lbs of boost at the track. Just saying that alot of people don't understand why you would want to do 4.56 gears in the R/T, because of the low end torque that it allready has straight from the factory. Kinda like you stated, wondering why anyone would want a roots or screw type blower on the trucks that allready have so much low end torque straight from the factory. But it is the best mod I've done for my R/T so far.

When I did my SC install over 1&1/2 ago the 4.7L kit didn't even have printed instuctions it was so new. I talked them into sending the kit to me with handwritten instructions. Handwritting that I soon found out was very hard to read. I didn't have any pictures to go by either. I'd never done anything like a Supercharger install, so I was calling and faxing them alot, to say the least. It was very hard to get them on the phone, but not impossible. Though I've heard horror stories about their customer service, I'd have to say they treated me very well. Even considering all the stupid questions I had for them.

Your right about putting $4,000 down and hoping it works, but that's exactly what I did with my 4.7L kit. No-one else to really talk to about it when I did mine. I was one of the first few in the nation to do the 4.7 kit. I think it was like two months or so after having the SC on, Kenne Bell sent me a "real" instruction booklet with pictures and all. I guess in case I sold the truck or had any problems later down the road. As I've stated before though, not one single problem so far.

I called a few months after having the kit on inquiring about a 9 lb pulley. They told me then that they had one but I HAD to run RACE GAS or I would DEFINATELY see detination and have serious problems. After I heard that, I decided to leave well enough alone. I mean it's a 4X4 and I don't take it to the track enough.

I to wish that there were more people giving real worl experiences about the 5.9 kits and not just rumors. But other than Surfa that's all we got. Anyone serious about buying a SC might call Kenne Bell and let them know that you have some reservations about the 5.9L kits because of what you've read. See what they say. Ask them alot of detailed questions and see what they say. They may have been alarmed to some of the problems of the past, and came up with solutions to the problems by now. Who knows?



kota on 20s
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7/10/2002
22:36:50

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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yeah, i wish i could talk to more people with the kb on their truck, but i guess it dosent really matter right now because the person who started this topic is not getting a SC afterall...heh

so how did thoes gears affect the rpm's? do you post on the delphi board at all? i know you are on moparchat

Eric, 98 5.2 5speed, K&N gen II, 50mm TB, 2bbl M-1, 1.7RR's, JBA ciramic headers, carsound cat, dumped gibson, and a lot more

Thrush
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2002
22:37:18

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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Hey, just letting everyone know, ever since I've found this website (three weeks ago or so), I have learned a ton of info! My other car is a 74 Nova and I was really wondering if new computer engines could even be tuned up. Boy, am I surprised! Thank you to everyone who answers my questions, but remember I don't want anyone arguing unless it unleashes more information, which is usually does. Thanks again.



Signman
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2002
22:57:03

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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Yeah, I post on the Delphi board as well. This one, Moparchat, and Delphi are the three sites I visit on a regular basis. I also look over at the Lightning board every once in a while. That's where I found Surfa. Before I got my R/T I was seriously looking at trying to get a 2001 Lightning, but money didn't permit it soo...I got the '98 R/T instead and let the modding begin!!

As far as the gears go, they affected my RPM's but not by much. I think maybe 200-300 RPM diff. at 55 MPH or something like that. It's not my daily driver, and I really didn't pay much attention to where the RPM's were before and after at a given MPH. I will tell you that I find myself leaving the OD on more when driving around town.

Thrush, you might even think about doing the 4.56 gears instead of 4.10's. Talk about something that you'll feel. Jumping from 3.55's to 4.56's! Yeah! I felt it alot going from 3.92's. I mean if your gonna be a bear, might as well be a Grizzly, right? LOL



kota on 20s
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7/10/2002
23:09:10

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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you should have went to the R/T nats in AZ it was fun. where are you located?



Eric, 98 5.2 5speed, K&N gen II, 50mm TB, 2bbl M-1, 1.7RR's, JBA ciramic headers, carsound cat, dumped gibson, and a lot more

Signman
Dodge Dakota
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7/10/2002
23:22:23

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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Virginia, a bit far for me. Wife would squawl she'd have to go, if she went we'd have to bring the kids, too much money involved to make that trip.



Snowman
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11/12/2002
10:42:21

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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any of you guys know whether or not the KB will work with the M-1?

Formerly Cadetdak
"This war will end at a time and place of our choosing"
president Bush

Shane
Dodge Dakota
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11/12/2002
15:32:12

RE: KenneBell S/C -Any Help?
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I also have 5.9 r/t with KB S/C. I too am wondering if the m1 fits if a 2 barrel TB will fit, then it would probly work but if its 4BBL only then i doubt it. it also dont look as tall as the ugly ass factory one. so might need a spacer of some kind but that has to be done if you want a roller valve train anyhow.

I love my S/C and yea it dint run that great outa the box, 6# boost with 92 octain and octain booster it still likes to detonate when the engine is hot.

My personal KB recomendation, if your gona buy a KB kit get KB water/alky injection - this will help with detonation and overall performace, cold range spark plugs. If your a daily driver/weekend track kinda guy this setup should run good.

I will be running #12 on pump gas and #16 on mix, and the damn thing better be in the 12's cause thats what im looking for.



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