Supercharging the 4.7L Dodge Dakota

The installation begins with...        read full caption The installation begins with removing the factory air intake ducting. This includes the air filter and resonator that sit over the intake manifold.

The mass air flow sensor and...        read full caption The mass air flow sensor and intake ducting are removed before the throttle body linkage and throttle body.

The installation also requires...        read full caption The installation also requires the removal of the alternator and A/C compressor. We merely pushed it out of the way.

The Dakota uses a coil-on...        read full caption The Dakota uses a coil-on plug ignition system and these must be unbolted from the intake manifold before they can be removed.

The fuel rail must also be...        read full caption The fuel rail must also be removed. It is necessary to use a special fuel line release plug to aid in the removal of the fuel supply line to the fuel rail.

With the plastic intake manifold...        read full caption With the plastic intake manifold removed, this is what the lifter valley looks like. There’s plenty of room for a new intake and supercharger.

Extra fuel is delivered by...        read full caption Extra fuel is delivered by tapping into the fuel line with a “T” adapter. This extra line will provide fuel for the two extra fuel injectors supplied with the kit.

The Kenne Bell Optimizer provides...        read full caption The Kenne Bell Optimizer provides the leads for the extra fuel injectors, firing them whenever boost and fuel requirements are high.

The fuel rail is reinstalled...        read full caption The fuel rail is reinstalled backwards and bolted onto the cylinder head, similar to the way it was removed. The fuel inlet lines are also reinstalled.

The factory intake manifold...        read full caption The factory intake manifold O-rings are reused on the Kenne Bell intake. If one is cut or damaged during removal, it must be replaced.

The supercharger assembly...        read full caption The supercharger assembly is placed onto the engine, but before sliding it in all the way, it is recommended that you attach the fuel injector connections and fuel line at the rear of the unit.

The remainder of the factory...        read full caption The remainder of the factory wiring harness is reinstalled, as are the throttle linkage and factory throttle body. There’s enough slack in the throttle linkage to move it over several inches as required.

Similarly, a bracket is provided...        read full caption Similarly, a bracket is provided to raise the alternator and pushes it aside. These simply bolt onto the engine block in the factory location.

The supercharger bracket supports...        read full caption The supercharger bracket supports the supercharger and provides an additional pulley for proper belt placement and tension.

With the bracket in place,...        read full caption With the bracket in place, the alternator and A/C compressor are reinstalled in their new positions.

The Boost-A-Pump module is...        read full caption The Boost-A-Pump module is mounted on the fender wall and is plugged into the provided wiring harness.

The Kenne Bell kit also comes...        read full caption The Kenne Bell kit also comes with its own sensors, including an additional knock sensor to prevent detonation from causing any damage to the engine while under boost. This is an added safety measure to the Optimizer Computer.

The computer itself is also...        read full caption The computer itself is also mounted on the firewall, away from heat, and is plugged in with the supplied wiring harness.

The intake hose and mass air...        read full caption The intake hose and mass air sensor are then reinstalled onto the factory throttle body.

This may seem like a strange...        read full caption This may seem like a strange part of the installation, but Kenne Bell wanted to get cold air from behind the bumper.

The ducting was routed from...        read full caption The ducting was routed from the mass air sensor through the fender and extends out so that it protrudes just in front of the driver-side tire. The battery must be removed for clearance.

A cone-style K&N air filter...        read full caption A cone-style K&N air filter is secured to the ducting with a small adapter. The bumper is then reinstalled and the Dakota can breathe some cold air, adding to the amount of boost available for the supercharger.

Here’s what the finished...        read full caption Here’s what the finished installation looks like. Kenne Bell offers the kit in polished and unpolished finishes. KB also recommends using at least 92-octane fuel for this application.

The benefits of the twin-screw, roots-style supercharger have been well documented. The rotor design yields improved boost with less heat; adding up to an efficient supercharging system. Kenne Bell has been putting the twin-screw system to use on many late-model Chrysler, Ford, and GM products with tremendous results in improving horsepower levels on trucks and sport/utility vehicles. Its latest supercharger kit is a direct result of its involvement in developing a supercharger system for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Since the Grand Cherokee shares the same 4.7L engine platform as the ’01 Dodge Dakota, it was only a matter of time before someone retrofitted a kit onto this popular pickup truck.

The installation and test were done on a 2000 Dakota Quad cab. Baseline dyno runs demonstrated that the 4.7L V-8 produced an average of 193 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque. After the installation of the Kenne Bell Twin Screw supercharger, the numbers jumped to 269 hp and 280 lb-ft. The people at Kenne Bell didn’t stop there. They decided to build a set of headers for the Dakota and managed to boost the truck’s performance levels even higher. With headers and a free-flow exhaust system, the Dakota peaked at 296 hp and 329 lb-ft. On the street, this equates to tire-blistering, low 14-second quarter-mile passes and unbeatable performance from a multi-passenger truck.

The system is relatively simple to install and requires removing the factory air intake and plastic intake manifold. The air conditioning compressor and alternator are slightly relocated using the provided spacers and new bolts. A center bracket is bolted to the front of the engine to add support to the supercharger. The supercharger is mounted to the new aluminum intake manifold and is bolted to the engine after the fuel rail has been flipped around to make room. All the pieces go back in order, following the installation directions, and in the case of this Dakota, a cold-air intake duct was used to gather air from an area in front of the driver’s wheelwell and behind the front bumper.

How does the supercharger make so much power? By providing the engine more air and delivering extra fuel by altering the computer’s programming with the Kenne Bell Boost-A-Pump, which increases fuel pressure as boost levels increase. Timing and fuel curves are also enhanced by the Kenne Bell Optimizer computer, which sends updated information to the Dakota’s factory computer system. This helps engine operation to function normally under standard driving conditions and allows increases and decreases in timing when under boost. Additional fuel required for higher boost levels is supplied by two extra fuel injectors, located at the rear of the Kenne Bell intake manifold.

On average, the Kenne Bell supercharger provides the 4.7L V-8 Dakota with 8-10 pounds of boost, making for a very exciting ride. In an upcoming issue, we’ll take the Kenne Bell Dakota Quad cab out for a test at the track and give you a good look at the improvements made to the truck and its overall performance.