Boost a Spark Usefull or Useless?

[jason0156]

Is the Kenne Bell Boost A Spark a good mod for Higher Psi forced induction? Or a Waste of Money? I hear alot of Opinions on this topic, What do you think?

 

[05yellowgt]

Are you having issues with spark blowout right now? If not I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[jason0156]

Just trying to gather opinions on this before i decide to buy on or not.

 

[fin1]

Running fine without one. Plugs gaped at 0.028.

 

[jason0156]

How much Boost are u Running?

 

[05stroker]

I have 24 psi on .032 HTOs

 

[ChevyKiller]

It is a bullshit mod and I don't care what KB or anyone else tells you.

I measured spark at every setting on the SAB dial and also measured spark with the SAB completely disconnected and guess what...

The numbers were EXACTLY THE SAME so I can say without a doubt, the BAS doesn't do squat...lol

If you do run into blowout issues (which I HIGHLY doubt) - then the solution is not a spark-a-boost - it's upgrading the wiring to your coils to 14 guage...

That and the right gap for your boost is all you need to see you into a 1000 hp.

 

[ChevyKiller]

I have 24 psi on .032 HTOs

Damn Billy, I'd be running a .028 at those boost levels...

 

[Eric Brooks]

It is a bullshit mod and I don't care what KB or anyone else tells you.

I measured spark at every setting on the SAB dial and also measured spark with the SAB completely disconnected and guess what...

The numbers were EXACTLY THE SAME so I can say without a doubt, the BAS doesn't do squat...lol

If you do run into blowout issues (which I HIGHLY doubt) - then the solution is not a spark-a-boost - it's upgrading the wiring to your coils to 14 guage...

That and the right gap for your boost is all you need to see you into a 1000 hp.

Yes, the BAS will not make a hotter spark, however, if your running at high RPM and the coils do not have enough time to saturate, the BAS will help. For most people it will do nothing. They work pretty good on the 96-98 cars with coil packs.

 

[05yellowgt]

I'm gapped at .025 on 25psi and E85.

 

[ChevyKiller]

Yes, the BAS will not make a hotter spark, however, if your running at high RPM and the coils do not have enough time to saturate, the BAS will help. For most people it will do nothing. They work pretty good on the 96-98 cars with coil packs.

Makes sense - in my case, I don't run too crazy rpm (6800 max) and I did have some spark issues, but changing the wiring to 14 gauge as Burcham suggested solved it - the BAS did nothing.

 

[ChevyKiller]

I'm gapped at .025 on 25psi and E85.

John, have you measured the burn rate of your E85 yet? Nothing fancy, just under race conditions, how much faster do you think you are going through a gallon? Is it noticeable like a gallon a pass or some crazy shit?

 

[05yellowgt]

Well according to the datalogs @WOT the fuel pumps are providing right at 13lbs/min of fuel. Since E85 weighs about 7.5lbs/gallon that means that I am consuming about 1.73gallons/min @WOT. I could run the stock tank bone dry in just a bit under 9 minutes and 30 seconds!

Is that the kind of data you were looking for?

 

[05yellowgt]

I've not run any race fuel through the car at all to compare it to. I just don't see why when I payed $2.19/gallon for all the octane I will ever need at the local station yesterday.

 

[ChevyKiller]

I understand and thanks - that was exactly the data I was looking for. It was nothing good or bad, I was just interested after watching an episode of horsepower on spike that was all about the E85 burn rate.

They actually made it seem a little worse than it actually is I think....lol

 

[05stroker]

Damn Billy, I'd be running a .028 at those boost levels...

I always thought that the bigger gap you can run without blowout will make the most of your power . Is this not correct ?

 

[05yellowgt]

I saw that same episode. They go a little overboard with some of their estimates I think. I get 10-12mpg in city driving and I got 14-15 on the highway with 26" tires and 3.73 gears. When I was n/a I went from 18-19 city and 27-28 highway on gas to 14-15 city and 22-24 highway by switching to E85. Just figure 22-28% mileage loss from the switch based on my experience.

 

[05yellowgt]

I'm not surprised Billy can run that much gap based on experience with mine. You are supposed to get a better burn with the larger gap, how much power you lose with a smaller gap to overcome blow out I have no clue.

 

[05stroker]

I'm not surprised Billy can run that much gap based on experience with mine. You are supposed to get a better burn with the larger gap, how much power you lose with a smaller gap to overcome blow out I have no clue.

Yea , untill I see blowout I think I will stay were Im at . Maybe the N20 will change that soon but IDK.

 

[ChevyKiller]

I'd bet that procharger has a lot to do with it...lol

I could run a much bigger gap on the vortech. I do think you may be changing when you introduce the juice though...