1.5 KB Install

Lzr96Snake · Feb 10, 2013

Well I purchased a 1.5 KB kit for my 96 Cobra. I got what I feel is a good deal on it, since it appears to be a complete kit, except the kb chip. It also came with a set of Steeda 42 lbs injectors, and a Pro-M 80mm mass. The kit came off a 98 Cobra. The previous owner was running an 11 lbs pulley. From what I've been told, between that and running too lean melted a piston. I plan to just run the 6 lbs pulley and a conservative tune. I'm going into this knowing these kits don't make alot of power, and that I really don't need to push the bottom end over 400 hp. I'm really just wanting a fun street car that I can go to the local cruise ins and car shows in. I have been talking to Greg at Speedy Dyno in Owensboro, and I think I'm going to let him do the install. I plan on doing an IMRC delete too. I'm ordering a 255 fuel pump, catted x-pipe, and a boost gauge this week. I'll keep you guys posted on how the install goes.

Musturd · Feb 10, 2013

I don't understand why you 4v guys with kb's settle with under 400rwhp and the 2v guys make 400 with kb's all day

MustangChris · Feb 10, 2013

those 2vs have bottom ends in them...

he's running a stock ejine. duh.

i assure you, if i can fart out 500 HP on a mild set up with a 112, he can get 400+ with a KB.

its just they dont push them that hard without rods and pistons to match.

BigBore96 · Feb 10, 2013

More like they are non intercooled heatbombs. Pistons/rods aren't the answer for a KB making power on B heads. Custom intercooled or ditching it for a centri or turbo is where the power is at. For those wondering.

For the OP's goals it is perfect though. The 1.5 KBs are old and very small. So the power they make is small as well. Definitely won't have to worry about it making too much power on 6 lbs. I'd probably run 8 lbs though. 6lbs imo on a 1.5 won't be worth it.

MustangChris · Feb 10, 2013

BigBore96 said:
More like they are non intercooled heatbombs. Pistons/rods aren't the answer for a KB making power on B heads. Custom intercooled or ditching it for a centri or turbo is where the power is at. For those wondering. For the OP's goals it is perfect though.

B head KB's dont have intercooler systems???

BigBore96 · Feb 10, 2013

MustangChris said:
B head KB's dont have intercooler systems???

WHAT?! Hell no. 96-98s kb's are non intercooled just like earlier years. They weren't common for PD blowers to have intercoolers back then.

MustangChris · Feb 10, 2013

thats terrifying.

BigBore96 · Feb 10, 2013

MustangChris said:
thats terrifying.

Very. It's the sole reason why no one likes the KBs for B heads. Though, if you have the balls to do it, you can custom intercool it and be good to go. I know I've seen the 94/95 guys do it because they have the same problems.

Edit: Or you can cool it with meth or some laughing gas.

MustangChris · Feb 10, 2013

i was thinking snow performance myself.

the.greg · Feb 10, 2013

Check out my build thread. I have a ton of info on the 1.5kb 4v. Another item you will "need" is a ford lightning iat sensor to be drilled and tapped into the kb intake manifold. This will allow the computer to accurately pull timing when it heatsoaks as it is post-blower unlike the stock iat sensor which is pre-blower obviously. 6psi is a waste, go 8psi or if you add meth go even more. I strongly recommend 93octane fuel as well for detonation prevention!

No way to intercool a kb on a b head except for the one guy on svtp that had a custom made one, except he vanished all of a sudden(most likely his blew up, it was weak sauce). I recommend chemically intercooling it meth. This is why the 2v kb guys make more power than 4v b head kb guys, they have intercooling, we don't. Its not necessarily lack of airflow, but on a dyno it heats up by the time the tuner can make the tune. I strongly believe I'm pushing 400rwhp on a nice cool day, with a cool engine, but heatsoaked 3rd pull on a summer day I made 371/352.

Regardless its really fun for a street car, but they make lousy 1/4 mile cars because of the heat soak issues they will never be consistent.

the.greg · Feb 10, 2013

FYI heatsoaked at 5psi I only made 330rwhp, which isn't worth it as was said above^ Go 8psi atleast or don't even bother lol.

Lzr96Snake · Feb 10, 2013

the.greg said:
FYI heatsoaked at 5psi I only made 330rwhp, which isn't worth it as was said above^ Go 8psi atleast or don't even bother lol.

I've been following your thread. Thanks for the info. Have you had any overheating issues?

Musturd · Feb 10, 2013

Yea there non intercolled I prefer centris anyways .

Have bottom ends in them ?
Hands stock pi motor car makes 400rwhp
Justin's stock pi motor made 400+rwhp .

I'm not hating but like said above there a cool sounding heat pack that adds a 100rwhp

the.greg · Feb 10, 2013

Lzr96Snake said:
I've been following your thread. Thanks for the info. Have you had any overheating issues?

No, I have absolutely no issues with over heating. I run cooler than stock actually. I have never seen my coolant temperature over 200degrees. My iats, yes haha, but never coolant. I also have a mishimoto radiator, but just make sure you have a 170-180 degree thermostat and you will be okay.

Also run ngk tr6 sparkplugs gapped tight at .030, my tuner recommended .026, but I think that is only for high boost so I set mine at .030 with no issues. I've never heard pinging or detonation at any time.

Musturd · Feb 10, 2013

Meth is great . Not the Walter white kind

the.greg · Feb 10, 2013

Musturd said:
Yea there non intercolled I prefer centris anyways .

Have bottom ends in them ?
Hands stock pi motor car makes 400rwhp
Justin's stock pi motor made 400+rwhp .

I'm not hating but like said above there a cool sounding heat pack that adds a 100rwhp

If you want a number go centri 100% a kb wil never be as efficient, you are completely correct! I got mine because it was cheap lol, plus I am not a fan or drag strips, I just wanted a fun street car. My goal was 350rwhp and for for the price I paid the kb was the cheapest way there.

Like I said, I have no doubt mine makes 400 on a cool day with no heatsoak, but realistically my numbers were on a summer day while totally heatsoaked with meth, thus that is what I make as a low-point at any given time on the street heatsoaked. If cool it pulls much harder. Bob Kurgan told me it was a 400+car under ideal circumstances, he knows his stuff.

I've beaten a new bmw m6 on a cool day fwiw, these things are under-rated because they always make low peak numbers which I usually attribute to numerous dyno pulls to adjust tuning before the final number is reached while heat soaked.

The guy I referred to above on svtp had a forged engine at like 14psi? iirc? and he made 450+ with a 2.1 kb on b head 4v. But he stopped posting, and his intercooler looked like a time bomb lol.

Lzr96Snake · Feb 10, 2013

Like Greg I probably will never take it down the strip. As I mentioned, I got the kit pretty cheap. I'm sure I'll spend more on the install and tune than I bought it for. I would have never considered buying the kit new. I may consider running 8 lbs. Just don't want any trouble with the bottom end. The car has 85k on it btw.

the.greg · Feb 10, 2013

Lzr96Snake said:
Like Greg I probably will never take it down the strip. As I mentioned, I got the kit pretty cheap. I'm sure I'll spend more on the install and tune than I bought it for. I would have never considered buying the kit new. I may consider running 8 lbs. Just don't want any trouble with the bottom end. The car has 85k on it btw.

These bottom ends are good for 450ish rwhp before you need to worry. You wont get close to that with a kb on a b head 4v haha. Not without full supporting mods and meth and high boost atleast. Mine has 117k miles and runs strong. These 4v can take a lot of abuse, the major component is the tune. Make sure you pick a good tuner who knows their stuff, these kb setups aren't as simple as a centri, because they are much more rare some tuners may not realize how hot they get and may not tune conservatively enough. I made sure to say I wanted a very safe tune, plus I relocated the iat sensor which makes it safe because it allows the stock ecu to pull timing as it heats up. If you can afford the meth setup on top you will really see full benefits, but the most important part is the iat sensor relocation. I had a stock plastic iat sensor at first, but it started to melt from the high temps, which is why I recommend a ford lightning iat, because they are metal.

Lzr96Snake · Feb 10, 2013

the.greg said:
These bottom ends are good for 450ish rwhp before you need to worry. You wont get close to that with a kb on a b head 4v haha. Not without full supporting mods and meth and high boost atleast. Mine has 117k miles and runs strong. These 4v can take a lot of abuse, the major component is the tune. Make sure you pick a good tuner who knows their stuff, these kb setups aren't as simple as a centri, because they are much more rare some tuners may not realize how hot they get and may not tune conservatively enough. I made sure to say I wanted a very safe tune, plus I relocated the iat sensor which makes it safe because it allows the stock ecu to pull timing as it heats up. If you can afford the meth setup on top you will really see full benefits, but the most important part is the iat sensor relocation. I had a stock plastic iat sensor at first, but it started to melt from the high temps, which is why I recommend a ford lightning iat, because they are metal.

Thanks for telling me what plug you're using. This is the kind of info I was hoping for. I'll definately relocate the iat sensor. I will also stress to the tuner that I want a safe tune. He told me he's installed several of these kenne bells on b head cobras. I've heard alot of good things about his shop, so I feel pretty good about using him.