He JL got a question for ya...since you seem to be the most knowledgable on the KB. I have a N/A 5.4(reg cab step side..99) and was planning on the ATI blower but am rethinking now the KB is out. What would be required to put this on my truck? Would it be the same setuo for the L or is there another route to go? Thanks for the help!

 

You can give Kenne Bell a call and i'm sure they could give you some good advice on your setup.i'm sure it wouldn't be much different than the setup for the lightning. i do know the kb unit will make *instant* boost compared to the ati pro charger.which makes its boost higher up in the rpm range.these (heavy) trucks need all the low end torque they can get inwhich the KB outshines them all..JL

 

Not JL, but, the blower is the only thing that comes in the kit. You'ld need the intercooler, lower intake, fuel requirments, better pistons, pcm, tranny, probably more to handle that baby.

 

i'm sure KB has a kit just forn the reg. 5.4 inwhich you don't have to have an intercooler or better pistons or rods.you might have to run the (boost a pump) if you keep your boost #'s at a safe level....JL

 

I'd like to see something like this also.

Actually I'd like to see a few comparison's:

stock L w/ eaton vs. stock L. w/ KB blower
chipped L w/eaton vs. chipped L w/ KB blower

maybe another set with pulley's.

 

I'd like to see and ALL OUT, NO HOLDS BAR MATCH!!!

Completely modded out "L" ( Minus Nitrous...at first anyway!!! ) with eaton at max boost vs. Same modded out "L" with the KB at max boost!!!! Do one test for both blowers on 93 octane and one test for both blowers with 100 or 104 octane!!!!

 

I just drooled on my keyboard!

 

The new MM&FF has a shootout between the two, just finished readin' it.

 

Yeah I read that original comparison b/n the 2 of the a while ago. But I take what they write with a grain of salt. If JL comes on and states that thier comparison is a good one, I'll believe it.

BTW - those rims and tires look good on you truck.

Heres a link to the article that was posted over @ NLOC for those interested:
http://www.svt-enthusiast.com/module...ery/albums.php

 

CHIKIN1,

If you want to see an Eaton truck modded out against a KB truck modded out, you can compare my truck to JL's. JL and I have the same mods, except I run the Eaton w/ a 10lb lower and 1.5lb upper. My truck runs a 12.0 in the heat. We have another JLP truck w/ the same mods as mine that runs an 11.8 in the same heat w/ more timing. I cut my timing back for break in. JL's truck runs 11.0's the same day, same time, at the same track.

 

not JL, but I recently installed a KB blower on an '01 Harley truck 5.4L. These trucks were non supercharged and the owner didn't like the new supercrew or crew cab style harley body, but he did want the supercharger.

so anyway, the kit included EVERYTHING as far as I can remember. it is non intercooled, but I think it was only about 6lbs of boost and it is the "cooler/more efficient" twin screw, so I suppose it's not needed, I did drive the truck quite a bit and there was ZERO detonation.

This is definately NOT the same kit as the Lightning, it is N/A 5.4 specific, but as I said, it was a very comprehensive kit every thing you need is there. The instructions were pretty good and included many actual photos. The only problem was the "supplements" that you had to go back and forth from the instructions to the supplemental instructions quite a bit.

the quality of the kit and the instructions were EXCELLENT in comparison to the last ATI procharger install that I did. (which to give ATI the benefit of the doubt was an older kit for a 95Cobra when ATI was a much newer to this whole business).

the kit made the truck run quite a bit stronger, but it still isn't Lightning fast.

hope this helps.

later,
chris

 

Thanks Captain for the compliments. I want to get a set of F-1's for it, but don't have a lot of loot, know anywhere to get a good deal or where the best deal is now?

 

I

WANT

ONE!

 

Boy there's a lot of "Go Johnny Go" on here but nobody seems to be speaking up about the reality side of things.

Comparing a stock Lightning Eaton to a KB kit is a joke and has nothing to do with how a rear inlet high performance Eaton performs.

Taking JL's word for the MM&FF test being accurate is pointless since he wasn't there when it happened. He can only go off what Kenne Bell tells him. Jim Bell is already known to be a liar, proven once again since he claimed the test truck was on pump gas in the MM&FF article, but now that it's reprinted in Truckin' Mag, says it was on race gas.

I don't have a Works kit but I will say I have direct experience with the men behind KB (Dodge kit) and Works (Magna Charger kit). It is a well documented fact that the KB kit for 5.4's is easily outperformed by the Magna Charger kit. How's that for an Eaton vs. Screw comparison? And someone said something about the KB 5.4 kit for NA motors being complete. Wow, what an accomplishment. When's the last time you heard of a partial blower kit? Vortech, Paxton, ProCharger, Powerdyne, Whipple, Magna Charger, the list goes on and on, all make kits that are complete. There is no demand for an incomplete kit, that's why nobody makes one, duh

Do I need to delve into the fiasco surrounding the KB Dodge kits. Here's a hint, Fuel tanks were filled with 100 octane at his shop, then once the owner refilled the truck it would begin to ping, and Jim would say "It's not our fault, the truck was running fine when it left the shop." Guys who didn't have it installed there were told they had a bad tank of gas or their plugs were too hot or something else was wrong with their truck. After that, there is no way to get a hold of him and he would not return calls. so many of us came after Jim Bell that he had to take the kits OFF THE MARKET.

As far as Works, when the main guy behind it was at Magnuson / Magna Charger as Technical Director, he went above and beyond the call of duty to return EVERY call I ever placed. I bought the kit because he was the only guy out of all the blower companies who never badmouthed the competition, and he seemed to be more interested in telling the truth about the kit than trying to make a sale. (Jim Bell is a master sales huckster and When I bought my Dodge kit he did nothing but ragg on the other kits on the market) Customer service was excellent and he did a better job at it than the sales department did, and he was not even on commission. I had an intercooler pump that evnetually wore out, and an alternator bracket that they updated, and he dealt with all of it better than I could have asked for. I referred many people to Magna due to that kind of service and you can bet if I buy a new HD and get a bigger blower for it, it will be based entirely on my direct experience with both sides and my knowing what kind of people I am dealing with on both sides of the equation.


My .02, and a qualified .02 at that.

 

My point is/was, that if JL performs the tests himself, and verifies that MM&FF test/article was accurate or close to it, that article would have more credibility in my book. I should have worded it better before.

BTW - I've heard some of the same things about KB before



Puddin - I think the 60 series tire on it now is what makes the rim/tire combo look good. IMO you shouldn't drop down the 45 series F1's.