Kenne Bell sale for Camaro's - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

cc-rider · 11-15-2014, 02:23 PM

Been researching my arse off trying to figure out which supercharger for my car. I was on Kenne Bell's website and they have a sale that's $1000 off list price for their Camaro kits. Just thought I'd pass on the info here....I didn't see it mentioned anywhere except for when I looked at KB's price list so it might be easily missed.

Unreal · 11-15-2014, 04:57 PM

Could be 50% off and still not worth it.

camarossdusk · 11-15-2014, 05:13 PM

kenne bell blowers arent were popular on this site, personally havent seen a lot of them on the 5th gens, not to say they are bad blowers.

cornfield camaro · 11-15-2014, 05:33 PM

Take that $1000 and buy a superchiller, buy the KB and you'll love it!

10aSSee D · 11-15-2014, 10:05 PM

Get a whipple.

Rcfiddy1 · 11-15-2014, 10:12 PM

you would need to cool that frying pan for starters.

cc-rider · 11-16-2014, 08:44 AM

I'm a bit surprised at all the negative content on this site aimed at Kenne Bell?? I am new to Camaro building and this site (came from Mustangs)....and they have a stellar reputation in the Ford community for making awesome power.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of balanced level-headed content on this site about them. Lots of talk about IAT's being higher than others. The way I see it....boost is boost and working air to 8 psi creates heat no matter what the charger method (screw, roots, etc)....so then it's up to the intercooler to get it back down. Perhaps KB's cooler system wasn't up to snuff?

I see they are advertising a new "big gun" intercooler. When exactly did they launch this new cooler? Has anyone put on a KB with this new big gun cooler?

Unreal · 11-16-2014, 08:47 AM

They do work better on the mustangs. Just too many issues on the camaros, and much much much better kits made for the same or less money. There is really no reason to run one. The TVS kits and whipple kits perform much better. It isn't just the IATs, it is whole system that isn't that good. The inlet, the air filter setup, the belt system, manifold, all are inferior to other systems. The camaros have less hood room so you get a smaller shorter intercooler, pair that with a blower that runs hotter, and a poor design for intake distribution, and you get a blower that just doesn't perform on a camaro.

cc-rider · 11-16-2014, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcfiddy1

you would need to cool that frying pan for starters.

Rcfiddy1,
I see many older posts from you saying very positive things about your Kenne Bell. What happened to turn you against them to the point where you steer people away like this?

Just trying to find some info from people who have actually had a KB...

Unreal · 11-16-2014, 12:25 PM

Spent a long time working on one to making any power. Upgraded belt, HE, dual meth nozzle, 7 gallon ice tank, etc. Guy dumped $3500 or more upgrading the KB kit and still didnt make close to what it should have. Swapped a Ysi, gained 250rwhp, car ran good all the time, and owner was very happy. That is my kennebell camaro experience. That was a 3.6LC too, not the base blower.

Rcfiddy1 · 11-16-2014, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc-rider

Rcfiddy1,
I see many older posts from you saying very positive things about your Kenne Bell. What happened to turn you against them to the point where you steer people away like this?

Just trying to find some info from people who have actually had a KB...

I am only passing on information I gathered while owning a KB 2.8LC for over a year in a daily driver and a few track days. The main issues are well known. Heat exchanger does not work well and you will heat soak. The install went great but tuning issues revealed the use of a honeycomb straightener to resolve intake tube issues. Access to drivers side spark plugs is a joke. Clearance issues with strut tower braces and aftermarket tensioners popped up. Other than that the money I spent on upgrading the heat exchanger and tuning along with the kit I could have, and I did eventually, get a better performing kit like the ECS novi kit. So I am just passing along information and trying to save some people from making the same mistakes I did.

cc-rider · 11-16-2014, 01:18 PM

Thanks for the info. This is all a bit dissapointing to me as I have done 2 Kenne Bell builds in the past on my Mustangs ('90 fox and '03 cobra). Both ran really well so you might say I'm a "Kenne Bell guy" by heart. But if they really cause a bunch of problems on a Camaro then I might have to look elsewhere.

If anyone has some good experiences with KB's...please speak up as well...or PM me!

Cheers!

Unreal · 11-16-2014, 02:19 PM

The only "good" experiences I think you will find are people bolting them on, not touching them, and making ~500rwhp for 1-2 pulls. A lot of people are happy with ~500rwhp because that is a lot of power to them.

If you want a PD, whipple makes the best camaro kit IMO. Maggie heartbeat is close 2nd. Both can, and have done 700rwhp time and time again.

Look at turbos IMO. There are excellent camaro turbo kits, that make more torque/power and bolt right on. If you want to try something new, look into those.

camarossdusk · 11-16-2014, 05:33 PM

i can attest to making over 700 rwhp and still being reliable with the whipple. going on almost a year, with no issues.

11-15-2014, 02:23 PM	#1
cc-rider Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: MN Posts: 1,172	Kenne Bell sale for Camaro's Been researching my arse off trying to figure out which supercharger for my car. I was on Kenne Bell's website and they have a sale that's $1000 off list price for their Camaro kits. Just thought I'd pass on the info here....I didn't see it mentioned anywhere except for when I looked at KB's price list so it might be easily missed.

11-15-2014, 04:57 PM	#2
Unreal Drives: 2006 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,712	Could be 50% off and still not worth it. __________________ Nick Corvette Z06 -1200ish rwhp

11-15-2014, 10:05 PM	#5
10aSSee D Drives: Silver 2010 SS Camaro Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TN Posts: 2,562	Get a whipple. __________________ MODS: ADM built 417, 2.9L Whipple with 3.250 pulley, ADM ported and polished LSA heads,ADM stage3 cam,ADM LSA belt drive system,ADM CAI race scoop, ADM dual fuel pumps, ID 850's, BMR full suspension, Gforce 9 inch kit with 3.5 inch driveshaft, Street Slayer twin carbon clutch, Lingenfelter oil seperator. Tuned by built by ADM Performance, 763rwhp,705rwtq

11-15-2014, 10:12 PM	#6
Rcfiddy1 Sold car... Drives: 2010 Rally Yellow 2SS/RS #37115 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Manalapan, New Jersey Posts: 2,019 View My Garage	you would need to cool that frying pan for starters. __________________ Build Thread ECS Novi 1500 Supercharged, LS3 conversion, Small blower cam, Alky Meth injection, 3:45 rear, BMR Suspension parts, 1LE Sways, Billy Boat ZL1 dual mode exhaust.

11-16-2014, 08:47 AM	#8
Unreal Drives: 2006 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,712	They do work better on the mustangs. Just too many issues on the camaros, and much much much better kits made for the same or less money. There is really no reason to run one. The TVS kits and whipple kits perform much better. It isn't just the IATs, it is whole system that isn't that good. The inlet, the air filter setup, the belt system, manifold, all are inferior to other systems. The camaros have less hood room so you get a smaller shorter intercooler, pair that with a blower that runs hotter, and a poor design for intake distribution, and you get a blower that just doesn't perform on a camaro. __________________ Nick Corvette Z06 -1200ish rwhp

11-15-2014, 05:13 PM	#3
camarossdusk whippled 5th gen Drives: 2013 camaro ss Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: West Texas Posts: 442 View My Garage	kenne bell blowers arent were popular on this site, personally havent seen a lot of them on the 5th gens, not to say they are bad blowers.

11-15-2014, 05:33 PM	#4
cornfield camaro Drives: 2011 l99 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Ames, Iowa Posts: 305	Take that $1000 and buy a superchiller, buy the KB and you'll love it!

11-16-2014, 08:44 AM	#7
cc-rider Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: MN Posts: 1,172	I'm a bit surprised at all the negative content on this site aimed at Kenne Bell?? I am new to Camaro building and this site (came from Mustangs)....and they have a stellar reputation in the Ford community for making awesome power. There doesn't seem to be a lot of balanced level-headed content on this site about them. Lots of talk about IAT's being higher than others. The way I see it....boost is boost and working air to 8 psi creates heat no matter what the charger method (screw, roots, etc)....so then it's up to the intercooler to get it back down. Perhaps KB's cooler system wasn't up to snuff? I see they are advertising a new "big gun" intercooler. When exactly did they launch this new cooler? Has anyone put on a KB with this new big gun cooler?

11-16-2014, 12:25 PM	#10
Unreal Drives: 2006 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,712	Spent a long time working on one to making any power. Upgraded belt, HE, dual meth nozzle, 7 gallon ice tank, etc. Guy dumped $3500 or more upgrading the KB kit and still didnt make close to what it should have. Swapped a Ysi, gained 250rwhp, car ran good all the time, and owner was very happy. That is my kennebell camaro experience. That was a 3.6LC too, not the base blower. __________________ Nick Corvette Z06 -1200ish rwhp

11-16-2014, 01:18 PM	#12
cc-rider Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: MN Posts: 1,172	Thanks for the info. This is all a bit dissapointing to me as I have done 2 Kenne Bell builds in the past on my Mustangs ('90 fox and '03 cobra). Both ran really well so you might say I'm a "Kenne Bell guy" by heart. But if they really cause a bunch of problems on a Camaro then I might have to look elsewhere. If anyone has some good experiences with KB's...please speak up as well...or PM me! Cheers!

11-16-2014, 02:19 PM	#13
Unreal Drives: 2006 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,712	The only "good" experiences I think you will find are people bolting them on, not touching them, and making ~500rwhp for 1-2 pulls. A lot of people are happy with ~500rwhp because that is a lot of power to them. If you want a PD, whipple makes the best camaro kit IMO. Maggie heartbeat is close 2nd. Both can, and have done 700rwhp time and time again. Look at turbos IMO. There are excellent camaro turbo kits, that make more torque/power and bolt right on. If you want to try something new, look into those. __________________ Nick Corvette Z06 -1200ish rwhp

11-16-2014, 05:33 PM	#14
camarossdusk whippled 5th gen Drives: 2013 camaro ss Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: West Texas Posts: 442 View My Garage	i can attest to making over 700 rwhp and still being reliable with the whipple. going on almost a year, with no issues.