Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Forced Induction Kenne Bell for Escape.

OK, for those about to jump my sh** for making this post, please read first!

I know in the past there has been a lot of discussion on the topic in the past and how it won't work. Well, my mother recently picked up an '06 3L Escape and since my bro's '00 Contour was parked next to her Escape I did some comparing the engine bays in the driveway which got me thinking about this dreaded topic!
I also started doing some research on the blower system itself and how it mounts in the car.

One reason for it not working I have seen posted is in relation to the upper motor mount being in the way. I'm going to disagree with this one because the mounts look nearly identical between the Contour & Escape. Also the Kenne Bell Makes use of the upper mount for added support. (see pic)

Note its not mounted on top of the engine, but rather off to the side:


This brings up major reason #2 Hood clearance.
Personally with the introduction of the carbon fiber cowl hood I don't feel this to be as big of a deal as it is made out to be because you only need about 3" from the top of a 3L intake to the underside of the hood to clear the intake pipe and allow for engine movement. The only grey area is the actual SC outlet which could rub because its so far forward. (but thats easily solved - a la "power buldge")

Now obviously it won't work with a 2.5L upper intake, because it occupies a lot of the same realistate as the front half of the upper plenum, so a 3L intake would most certainly have to be used. This helps though because the blower itself is only about .5" taller then the 3L upper plenum and it allows it to be positioned more central on the engine. Piping to run an intercooler (not included with the kit) could get kind of complicated though.

All in all, I think its doable, but would require some minor hood modification to an existing cowl hood & a 3L intake.

Here are some additional pics i dug up showing an installed kit on an Escape with the additional of an intercooler.





I hope if nothing else hope this thread initiates some good debate and help people break the "it can't be done, no way, no how!" mentality.
-Mark

Hmmm, would save clearance issues if the outlet was a wide oval. It could stay that way until right before the TB where it can transition to round.

Yea I never understood the mount claims. Like you said its clearly in the front. Might take some modifications to the front rad support, certainly some mods to the hood. The motor in the Merkur seems to sit quite a bit lower than in a Contour, so hard to judge what would needed to be modded. At the very least I would say bulge in the front of the hood, might look funny on a cowl. Modding an oem style hood might work better. Also looks to sit very close to the pulley for the water pump, theres ways around that though. I would say it would be doable for someone with some skills.

I don't think the rad support would have to be modified because the SC doesn't stick out further then the leading edge of the valve cover. Infact it should be nearly flush with it.

I could have told you it would fit. I have 3 on my car.

No, Todd's more like Jason Lefflers.

Originally posted by WorldTour:

---

Originally posted by todras:

---

I have 3 on my car.

---

What, are you Dale Earnhart now?

---

I thought the carbon fiber cowl hood was of the same height as stock underneat because of the supports?

Minor technicality.... They are easily cut out and if you're worried about flex it wouldn't be hard to glass in a perimeter support.

1. It looks like it mounts to the PS/top engine mount, which is fairly different on Contiques. Adapting this aspect would be the key issue to making it work correctly so that the serpintine belt was perfectly aligned.

2. Our engines sit much higher than in Escapes,not only would the supercharger sit above the hood line, but it's outlet would be even higher. A HUGH cowl would be needed to enclose it with room to move.
Consider this, the IAC has clearance issues in a Contique with a stock hood because it mounts ontop of the 3L UIM, let alone a SC'er. Look how low the UIM sits in the Escape engines bay.

3. A 3L front bank valve cover would also need to be used for the different oil cap location.

4. A 3L UIM (plastic or aluminum) would need to be used.


That's what I see right off the bat, I'm sure I'm overlooking something(s)......