[SVTCOBRA98]

I currently have an all stock setup except for a K&N FIPK Kit. Ive been looking at the Kenne Bell 2.1L cuz it looks like an easy reliable setup. Itll put me at a 12.8 1/4 mile and 440 hp and 426tq. Should i look at a procharger or paxton or anything else? Advice and help would be greatly appreciated.

[jgorm]

There is no "Best". A centri will probably get faster 1/4 mi times if you are geared right. They are easier to launch too. The KB will be a ton of fun on the street with its instant boost and big block feel.

[BRENSTANG03]

I have a kenne bell 2.1 is a very good blower so far,and the kit has very good quality parts,but i would ditch the warm air intake blowers dont like hot underhood air

[2Manystangs]

I have a kenne bell 2.1 on my 96, you will get nowhere near those numbers, more like 350rwhp, you cannot safely put more than 6psi into the non forged motor...Kenne Bell waaaay oversells it, also they claim you don't need any other mods...total BS, you will need a full fuel system/intake upgrade (CAI, mass air, injectors, fuel pump, chip and dyno tuning) if you want it to run right $1500+, then you will want some guages right? Fuel pressure/vacuum and wide band + install will cost another $1000, how about some headers and exhaust if you ever hope to gain any real performance? Ok another $1500, now your suspension will need upgrades to handle the power, oh just another $2500, then you will be disappointed in the results, then you will want to rebuild your shortblock to handle more boost, oh another $2500+, then oh ooops with a KB and more booost 15-20psi we'll need an intercooler, so now you need 03 Cobra heads, intake and intercooler, doh another $1500+...do yourself a favor, sell the 96 and buy a Terminator or a 96 someone has already modded or just swap in a whole Terminator engine and sell the one you have (still need supporting mods)...I know, I'm in this dance with the devil with my 96...that's at least $11K without the shortblock rebuild...can you feel me? Also upgrades require cash, a car can be financed...good news, prices seem to be dropping on Terminators these days and you'll have the 6spd and IRS, not to mention an easy 500 hp with a pulley change.
And of course "why Ford why the damn powder cracked rods and cast pistons in our great teskid block"?
Sorry to rain on your parade, but "if I knew then what I know now", I would have never done the KB or any supercharger

[2Manystangs]

Guys there is no "big block feel" with the 96 and KB, remember the 96-98 has the "worst" of the dohc engines, it's basically a Lincoln motor, not torquey, undergeared and not able to handle much boost at all...thus the change to the "tumble port heads" in 03-04 and the 3V motor in 05...so now I'm rebuilding my engine with 03 mach 1 heads, cobra intake and intercooler, forged rods/pistons and 15psi from the KB...now it will have "big block feel" 650hp (my tuner claims)..thats if I ever get out of my stroker 427w convertible...ahh, a one man economic stimulus plan.

[SVTCOBRA98]

2manystangs, do u want to sale me ur KB? So I wouldn't be safe at 8psi with the KB 2.1 on a stock motor, 2manystangs? And your saying with 6psi on a stock motor I should be expecting 350rwhp? I dunno, I love my 96, I could never imagine selling it unless the offer was very good. I really want to get a supercharger, exhaust and some rims, and a short throw shifter, then I'd be good.

[2Manystangs]

no I'm not selling my KB, it's just to get the real potential out of it you need alot of supporting mods, I'm 4/5 of the way there so I'm not interested in selling it, it's not that it's not a great blower, it's just the frickin stock shortblock cannot take much boost (6-8 psi max!)...you are looking at at least $4800 for the blower/install, remember KB does not sell direct, you have to go through an authorized "dealer/installer" to get a new one, I've covered all the other stuff you will need, trust me, it's expensive no matter how you do it...
Now it does run better, no doubt, but for the money? Not a good value...
if you love the car, as I do, go for the Terminator swap, it's your best alternative.
My new "toy" is getting a stroker 427, I'm tired of all this forced induction nonsense, for the money "there's no replacement for displacement"

[SVTCOBRA98]

Hmm.. Okay, well lets say that I just stay N/A. How much can I squeeze out of this engine, 2manystangs?

[jgorm]

Originally Posted by 2Manystangs

Guys there is no "big block feel" with the 96 and KB, remember the 96-98 has the "worst" of the dohc engines, it's basically a Lincoln motor, not torquey, undergeared and not able to handle much boost at all...thus the change to the "tumble port heads" in 03-04 and the 3V motor in 05...so now I'm rebuilding my engine with 03 mach 1 heads, cobra intake and intercooler, forged rods/pistons and 15psi from the KB...now it will have "big block feel" 650hp (my tuner claims)..thats if I ever get out of my stroker 427w convertible...ahh, a one man economic stimulus plan.

Wow, you sure had a bad experience. Its hard to believe a lot of what you are saying. I have a 1.7L KB, 2v, 10psi, stock guts, and 20K mi since the blower with tons of hard driving. And KB does sell direct, i bought mine from them.

[2Manystangs]

Originally Posted by jgorm

Wow, you sure had a bad experience. Its hard to believe a lot of what you are saying. I have a 1.7L KB, 2v, 10psi, stock guts, and 20K mi since the blower with tons of hard driving. And KB does sell direct, i bought mine from them.

You must have bought yours awhile back, they don't even offer the 1.7 anymore, now they only sell through authorized distributors/installers, I think they had too many amatuers installing them incorrectly and having to warranty them...I'm not sure about "bad experience" but talk to any tuner and they wouldn't recommend more than 8psi with the stock rods/pistons...nonetheless, it doesn't put out the power kb claims and I've had mine tuned by one of the best Ford tuners anywhere...

[2Manystangs]

well for N/A, I'm not really sure what you could squeeze, you'll need some others to chime in ...basically the problem with our motors is the heads, they are not made for torque, if you want an all out racing motor that runs at 8000rpms they are great, but who wants that?...once again, it's basically why Ford came up with the 3V motor in 2005...truth be told the old pushrod engines make more low torque, hmm wonder why it's still in the Corvette?

[jgorm]

Originally Posted by 2Manystangs

You must have bought yours awhile back, they don't even offer the 1.7 anymore, now they only sell through authorized distributors/installers, I think they had too many amatuers installing them incorrectly and having to warranty them...I'm not sure about "bad experience" but talk to any tuner and they wouldn't recommend more than 8psi with the stock rods/pistons...nonetheless, it doesn't put out the power kb claims and I've had mine tuned by one of the best Ford tuners anywhere...

Right, mine is old and i haven't bought from them since then. I guess i could talk to myself considering i've tuned over 10 KB'd Gts including my own. 8 psi is extra conservative, 9 is fine with a PD blower with a IC. I would never run a PD blower without an IC.

[BRENSTANG03]

How much can the cobra motor handle? is it the same as the 4.6 2v?

[SVTCOBRA98]

Originally Posted by BRENSTANG03

How much can the cobra motor handle? is it the same as the 4.6 2v?

I'd like to know too.

[98BlackGT]

Originally Posted by 2Manystangs

Guys there is no "big block feel" with the 96 and KB, remember the 96-98 has the "worst" of the dohc engines, it's basically a Lincoln motor, not torquey, undergeared and not able to handle much boost at all...thus the change to the "tumble port heads" in 03-04 and the 3V motor in 05...so now I'm rebuilding my engine with 03 mach 1 heads, cobra intake and intercooler, forged rods/pistons and 15psi from the KB...now it will have "big block feel" 650hp (my tuner claims)..thats if I ever get out of my stroker 427w convertible...ahh, a one man economic stimulus plan.

Ehh, I got news for you, I highly, very highly doubt you will see 650hp from a KB 2.1 @15psi, even with the hot shot tuner you say you have. You will need to pull at least 21-22 degrees of timing and maybe squirt some race gas and meth to pull that off.