Anyone on here running one of them B1 Lightning turbo's?

I'm do for a new turbo (as soon as I hit 400HP with the stocker) but I want something that will spool as well or better than the HX-35/12. My truck has 4:10's so I'm not worried about the topend power I'm all about the lowend. I haven't heard a whole lot about this turbo and just wondered what others thought of it. I'm also curious if you can get it as a direct bolt on or if you have to buy a new down pipe? I'm pushing 40 to 45lbs of boost now with the waste gate set at 32lbs so it's getting close to that time.

Sorry for all the questions.

DB

 

Oooops! posted this in the wrong Forum.

Could someone please move this.

Sorry

DB

 

"Looking for 30 more HP and then I'm done. I sware!"

good one DB

 

Bolt on the turbo and you will be there. As for being done

 

Hey Darrel,

The B1 Lightning is probably better known by the term that Kurt uses, the KwikSpool B1B. If you do some snooping on here, I know I saw some customer comments a few weeks back.

Our results with the KSB1B have been fantastic. Spool up at or near HY35/9, with a much heavier mid range kick. Keep in mind that the KSB1B is really a 400 - 425 HP turbocharger. Anything above that point, and your EGTs will start to climb quickly due to a tight turbine housing.

With your 5 speed and 4.10s, you may get spool-up nearly as quick with one of the new B1Bs. We've had a few customers who are overjoyed with the B1B, as its a solid 475 HP turbo that spools better than the old KSB1.

Rod

 

Hey Kurts turbo is awesome. I have a B1 I have tried a couple different ones then I tried his old hx-40 kwikspool and loved it but wanted more so then moved to the KSB1B-2 which is the fastest for spooling and I have 355's look at my sig I am getting ready to do cam, and headgasket just because and water/meth but I run 65psi of boost right now and have no problems just make sure your truck is up to 180-190 on the temp before you get into it or bye bye headgasket

 

Before anyone else was selling the B-1's, Kurt was the guy who was doing all the testing. When I say all the testing I mean lots of testing. Pressure, temperature, etc. Kurt began the craze for the B-1's. In the begining, Kurt was the only source for the B-1. Everyone purchased through Kurt. At least for the most part. Im ceratin that Ken was selling the B-1's or variants to a few others before, but the internet ( TDR, DTR etc. ) all got them from Kurt.

If you really wanted to move in the direction of whos turbo it is...its neither Kurts or Kens, but the manufacturers turbo. Switzer, etc. With the machine work, etc being performed by Ken and some of the spool up, temperature, dyno numbers, etc coming from Kurt in the early stages.

As the success of the B-1 has grown so has the dealers seeking to sell it. Some of these dealers that complained about them in the first place, now embrace the B-1 series to sell to their customers. Its just business I guess, but lets not forget Kurt started the ball rolling YEARS ago with the B-1.

Don~

 

DarrellB:

I hate to tell you this, but my experience with the B-1's
(both the regular housing and Kwikspool) was not good
at all on my 1996 Dodge CTD 12 valve auto!! The "off
line" lag was terrible and towing with it was even worse!
As Don said, Kurt was the "original" dealer but, IMO Ken
knows more about the turbos as I spoke with him last
year in Denver about the problems I had. I was told by
him that they have made changes to the turbos (both
regular housing and KS) so your experience may differ.
The KS B-1 I also tried had a bad "stall" or "skipping
characteristic" as you towed straight and level. If I hit
a series of bumps in the road and my foot tapped the
throttle, the turbo would start making the noise and
it would get so bad it would actually make the truck
"shudder" somewhat! At that rally in Denver last
year, I spoke with the owner of a 2003 Dodge CTD
(CR) who had the "K-45" version of the B-1 (HX-40
equivalent) and he said that turbo did the same thing
to him!! That was about eight (8) months ago Darrell!

Anyway,........I would definitely "try before I buy!"
Or,....drive a truck similar to yours that has one on it!
They are definitely not a cheap turbocharger!

Good luck Darrell!

-----------
John_P

 

As far as I know John_P is one of the VERY FEW who dont praise the B1. Sure some dealers (of other turbos) say its crap but that is business. From what I understand John had one of the earlier versions of the B1 and there have been many improvements with the turbo since then.
Any how I LOVE my B1 (although its not the kwikspool version) and I wouldnt have a different turbo if someone gave it to me . The B1 has been proven to be the most durable turbo on the market and there is not much denying it. Definately do some shopping and find some honest dealers that will tell you the truth about all the different turbos out there. The B1 turbos have my vote.
Scott

 

What I'm looking for is a 400 to 475hp turbo I do tow quite a bit with this truck so I have to stop with the Bombs at this point to keep it dependable and to keep from having to Oring and firewall the head and block. (Just not something I want to pay for or mess with) I want something that will spool quick, I have 4:10's so I'm not worried about topend speed or power. I need a quick spooling turbo with a good mid range punch, and something that will keep the EGT's in check with the HP turned up while towing.

Does anyone know of a vendor that warrantys the B1 seires? If I buy a $1,800 turbo I'd like to be able to send it back if it does some of the things John-P described.

I've got till July to decide on what to get, (bonus time at work) so I'll keep looking. Maybe if I get up to Muncie this year I can find somebody with a newer B1 that would take me for a quick test drive.

DB

 

I'm going to address a couple messages here:

John,

Darrel was asking about the KSB1B, which is a different charger from either a KSB1 or a B1 (even the KSB1 and B1 compressors are different from when you tried them). The KSB1B spools like a rocket, and will plain outspool any 40 OR 40 Hybrid on the market, hands down. It also uses a slightly smaller compressor than either the KSB1, B1B, or B1.

The K-45 is NOT a B1 in any shape or form. Its intended as a lower horsepower (we won't use them past 375), ultra quick spooling turbocharger with a completely different compressor and turbine than a B1.

Darrel,

Some of the surging issues you are are hearing about come from the turbocharger providing more air than the engine can handle at that moment in time. It occurs as the turbo is coming into the meat of its efficiency map (around 8 PSI of boost, usually about 1800 RPM, although with your 4:10s this will be different) and will last for about 100 RPM. The surging is normally very light, and will be in the realm of a noise that the charger makes, versus anything that can be felt in the seat of your pants. I've heard of customers who could feel it, however I've never had one like that. And its easy to drive around: simply give the truck another 100 RPMs, or drop another 100 RPMs. The B1 is also extremely easy to bark, but unless you find the noise offensive, you'll never hurt a B1 by barking it. The KSB1B on my 03 has been barked literally hundreds of times while testing, and its still as tight as the day I installed it.

And I am one of the vendors who will simply dish your money back to you if you're not happy. I know that I won't be left with a charger for long. We simply can't get enough to satisfy demand, especially now that many vendors who had their own 'chargers on the market are simply buying B1s (Piers comes immediately to mind.)

Keep in mind that the KSB1B won't be of any use to you past about 425 HP. You'd probably want to consider a KSB1 or B1B for the 450-475 range, and either one of these chargers will spool with any HX40/16 on the market.

The plan is for me to be at Muncie this year, and my truck will likely be full B1 equipped, should you want to give it a run. A couple of my customers will be there with KSB1Bs and KSB1s on 2nd gen trucks. I suspect I can convince them to either give you a ride, or let you take a quick run yourself.

Rod

 

Thanks for the responce Rod. I have ridden in John-P's Red Rocket once with his B1 and it did have tons of lag but like John said that's been a few years ago and I'm sure things have changed a lot since then.

I'm past the 400hp mark now and I'm sure I'm up around the 420 to 440hp mark with the new injectors I installed. So it looks like the KSB1B might be a little on the small side, but then again I can live with the small changer if it's quick spooling.

I still got some shopping to do and will deffenently take you up on the offer at Muncie.

DB

 

I promise not to mention anything about George Foreman Grills on this thread.

 

I bought scotties own B1KS when he got his 04 and Im sure it was barked eh little buddy?

Anyways I was also concerned with the barking of the turbo not from the internet HYPE which is all it is but scotty told me it would bark a bit. Well I have lots of barking miles on mine and its still as tight as the day I got it. Now don't get me wrong it doesn't bark constantly I can only make it bark on my truck under 2 instances one there is a small hill by my house when going up it slowly accellerating it will bark momentarily the other is obvisously WOT to nothing it barks then as my HX40 did too.

I also noticed that mine tended to bark more when the scotty 2 had the cowel hole open if I closed the hole then I would get literally no bark.

As far as spoolup as fast or faster then my HX 40 from Piers as far as EGT goes here is where the B1 Flat out IMO kills the HX series that I have experience with being the HX35 and HX 40 both modified.

The HX 40 I had on my truck would peg the pyro at 1500* with my comp and edm 2.5's. Only change I made was bolt on the B1KS and my EGT's dropped to 1250* steady no peaks either it can control them unlike the 40 which always peaked and started to pull the EGT down mind you the 40 couldn't do that with the EDM's it was always pegged at 1500* WOT.

Edited By Admin

 

Perhaps, Jim, you should re-read what I posted. Here, I'll even paste it for you:

"We simply can't get enough to satisfy demand, especially now that many vendors who had their own 'chargers on the market are simply buying B1s (Piers comes immediately to mind.)"

There was no insult, run-down, or finger pointing, implied or otherwise in that statement. It was a statement of fact that we simply can't get enough chargers to satisfy demand due to new vendors being online, with Piers being one of the higher volume new vendors.

Interesting, Jim. We've switched more than 1 customer away from 40/16s (primarily to unreliability and inability to cool) to B1s and seen drops of 200F+ in peak EGTs. Of course these were in cases where the 40 had its tongue dragging, and the B1 gave that extra air that they needed.

Rod

Edited by Admin