KB 1.7L owners a little help please

[cvgtpony03]

Hey guys. Question about the 1.7L 9psi intercooled kit form Kenne Bell with the big tube/cold air/90MM mas and TB......I plan on getting it early next year after the chassis and drivetrain is done. It comes with the 'switch chip' thing. I have combed every page on the Kenne Bell website I think and I can not find out exactly what it does. I believe it changes fuel and/or timing to increase HP but what do you have to do when you switch it. In other words do you need to increase fuel octane? What octane can you run in the two modes? And were their HP and torque #s done in the higher mode? If so what octane fuel do you have to use in that mode to get those #s without detonation?
And what the hell is up withh Kenne Bell? I have tried to call them like 50 times so I would not have to ask what is probably a dumb question on here but I can never get them on the phone. Either a busy signal or no answer at all. Even the phone # to purchase stuff. How do they sell stuff if they never pick up the phone?
Thanks for any help....Ken

 

[cvgtpony03]

Well crap

ASK AND YOU SHELL RECIEVE. After posting this I went and read more at Kenne Bell and found all the info about it. I swear I have spent HOURS on that site researching. Could be the beer.....So the 'power' mode can be run with 93 octane (that is the highest available around here) with no problems right? And the other mode or lower one can be run on 87 octane. Is this correct? I believe that is the way I read it.
My other question still stands though. How the heck do I get a hold of Kenne Bell when Iam ready to buy. I really have tried to call them many, many times with never an answer of any kind????????????
Thanks again.
If you have any experience or advice about the Kenne Bell and the switch chip and would like to share it I would love to hear about it........Ken

 

[Hoppy]

Two modes on the Switch Chip; Power and Shootout.

Power mode: A:F ratio is ~10.5:1 and the timing isn't as aggressive as the Shootout mode (I think it's 18°); run a fuel with a minimum octane of 91 (your timing may differ if you have higher rated fuel available as supreme)

Shootout mode: A:F ratio is ~12:1 and timing is more aggressive than Power mode (I think it is 24°); run a fuel with a minimum octane rating of 100 (the entire tank should be = or >100)

If you run in the Shootout mode with a tank average octane rating below 100 you run a greater chance of detonation than if it is at or above 100.

Starting your car in the Shootout mode automatically disables traction control. Note you should install the switch in a place that isn't in plain site to avoid someone accidentally flipping the switch. Mine is mounted in the glove box with a larger warning.

Hop

 

[cvgtpony03]

That sucks

I am copying this from the kenne bell website..........

"This two pronged Kenne Bell approach (PREMIUM) increases engine HP (up to 25HP) and reduces trans slippage.
How does it work? We programmed 2 easily switchable calibrations into the SWITCH CHIP® - PREMIUM (91-94 octane and optimum engine and transmission performance) or REGULAR (87 octane and factory calibrations).

It gives the impression you can run the 'shoot out' mode on 91-94 octane. You say 100 or greater. I don't doubt you my friend but they also claim it is for a gain of roughly 25 HP. If that is the case, why the heck would I-or you-spend 50 bucks on octane booster for every tank of gas for only 25 more HP? That makes no sense to me since I should already have a ton of extra HP in the regular mode in the first place.

Do you get a greater increase than that out of the 'shoot out' mode?

Although relatively new to this aftermarket scene, I have learned real quick to believe about 50% of what manufacturers 'claim'. (And to expect most things to not fit, be a pain in the a$$ to make fit or just be the wrong piece in the first place). I spend more time at UPS than with my car.

Anyway, what's the deal? Please elaborate if you can. Thanks again.....Ken

Heck I can never get in touch with them so it probably is a lost cause anyway

 

[cvgtpony03]

Here's another...

Q&A from Kenne Bell

"Do I need to run high octane fuel? Yes, but the increase in performance is well worth it. Typically, the OEM manufacturers calibrate their vehicles ONLY for the cheaper low performance and low 87 octane fuel. They aim to please everyone. We re-calibrate for the higher 91-94 octane fuel and optimize the engine's performance. You simply can't have higher performance without higher octane."

I'm confused and going to bed. Later.. By the way Hoppy, I looked at your car on your link.........Sweet. I usually don't go for the flames but that is nice.

 

[00s281sc368]

When I dynoed mine, we tried the shout mode while I had 91 octane. We stopped right away as it was meant for 100 octane and pegging as low as 2000rpm. Don't count on it on pump gas...
Regarding ordering the blower, I also couldn't get hold of them. I sent a fax with my ordering wishes and they called me back within the hour

 

[MT1083]

You must use 100 octane to run "shoot-out" mode. 91-94 is fine for the regular power mode.

 

[GOKBGO]

Suggest you visit the Kenne Bell forum on Modularfords.com.

 

[Hoppy]

I am copying this from the kenne bell website..........

"This two pronged Kenne Bell approach (PREMIUM) increases engine HP (up to 25HP) and reduces trans slippage.
How does it work? We programmed 2 easily switchable calibrations into the SWITCH CHIP® - PREMIUM (91-94 octane and optimum engine and transmission performance) or REGULAR (87 octane and factory calibrations).

It gives the impression you can run the 'shoot out' mode on 91-94 octane. You say 100 or greater. I don't doubt you my friend but they also claim it is for a gain of roughly 25 HP. If that is the case, why the heck would I-or you-spend 50 bucks on octane booster for every tank of gas for only 25 more HP? That makes no sense to me since I should already have a ton of extra HP in the regular mode in the first place.

Do you get a greater increase than that out of the 'shoot out' mode?

Although relatively new to this aftermarket scene, I have learned real quick to believe about 50% of what manufacturers 'claim'. (And to expect most things to not fit, be a pain in the a$$ to make fit or just be the wrong piece in the first place). I spend more time at UPS than with my car.

Anyway, what's the deal? Please elaborate if you can. Thanks again.....Ken

Heck I can never get in touch with them so it probably is a lost cause anyway

The average user sees an additional gain of 20-30-HP with the Shootout mode; which is what I saw.

Using the high octane fuel is just cheap insurance against blowing the motor, not that this is an absolute gaurantee against it. I also think that the typical user does not run the car in Shootout full time. It gives the option to have a more aggresive timimg and A:F ratio for the track or for street runs.

You will quickly get use to your base power and start craving more which is why you will want the switch chip, greater octane rating and smaller pulleys.

Do you absolutely need to run 100 octane on the Shootout mode? Only your car, and the driving conditions can dictate that. You may be plenty safe with an average of 95, but on a warm August day that may not be enough to keep you from pinging/detonating.

 

[cvgtpony03]

thanks guys

Thanks for the info and thanks 'GOKBGO' for the link to 'Modularfords'. I didn't even know of that board. The KB link was a lot of help there. I am very impressed with the KB stuff and nobody is bitching about them so I know that is the direction I want to go. Their website is just a little confusing with the info on the chip and octane. Glad I asked. I would of 'blown' it for sure!!! I got it now though...I think I do. I am still a little curious if the #s they post for HP & TQ are in the shootout mode or the regular one. I guess I can subtract about 30 ponies from those #'s if it is in the reg. one. Do you know if they used the big tube/coldair/75mm TB/ 90mm MAS in those dyno #'s too? They say it is just the 9psi intercooled kit whith catbacks...everything else is stock. I will get all that other stuff either way (good to have for the future if nothing else & hot air is a killer)...Just wondering????? Any one know? I will try to ask them on that other site if no one here can answer.....Anyway Thanks again. You guys can be a lot of help sometimes. I'd be screwed with out you........LATER

 

[Hoppy]

The modularfords site has a manufacturers section, and one specifically for KB. I am a member of the forum with the same user name. There are some interesting threads there and you should read through some of them.

The KB guys do jump in occasionally in the modularfords/KB section.....they are quite busy testing and developing new products.

There is a table on the KB website that lists power number results and it's supposed to be from the 9-psig kit on Power mode. Some of us we a bit lower on the HP than KB claimed. I had to pulley down in order to make the power. It's pretty well documented. They use a different correction factor than the place I dyno my car which accounted for a portion of the difference.

Overall I like the kit, it certainly produced better results than the Saleen Series IV that I swapped it out for.

Keep trying to get them on the phone.....I usually didn't have too much trouble.....they were very good about returning emails.

Hop

 

[lgndracer]

I have the 9lb kit, as well as does a buddy of mine.

He has the KB cold air kit, and thier chip and program. When he had it installed origanally, it ran well. But when he took it to the dyno, he was only getting about 340RWHP. He ended up sending the chip back and forth three times before he finally ended up at 400RWHP. KB was really good about helping him get to thier advertised results, but he had to pay additional dyno $$$$ each time, and had to have his car down each time.

After his was done, I made a few observations.

1. I believe the best way to tune a car is a custom tune for that car, in the enviorment it is in (altitude, humidity......)

2. The KB air kit looks cheesy. IMHO

3. The KB coolant tank just looks so-so. Again my opinion.

So from that, when I did mine I had decided to do a custom ship and tune, a MAC CAI, Lightning 90MM MAF, and an Accufab 75MM TB. I also used a Chicane coolant tank.

I read all the stuff on the net about how the KB kit is designed for thier kit, and will perform better than using other peoples stuff. As you can see from my numbers, I think that is all sales and marketing. My numbers are right in there with most, and maybe a little higher than average. Car runs great, pulls awesome, and I love it every time I drive the car. Also, I think my under hood looks better than the KB stuff (again my opinion) Pics are availible in the link in my sig.

Oh, and as for gas, I always buy Super right from the pump, generally 92 ocatane from Texaco and Unocal.

 

[PonyboyIsaac]

Yeah i had mine custom tuned at a dyno because it was running lean with the original kenne bell chip, it was turning on my check engine light, giving me running lean on both banks codes.It ran 368rwhp with the original chip, and now it runs 378rwhp 392rwtorque with new tune and i'm not running lean anymore. My maf sensor is stock and so is all of my intake and throttle body, I'll be upgrading soon. Hopefully i can go over 400rwhp with that. 91 octane is the best i can get in my state.