Fordmods Logo

Are Underdrive pulley setups worth having? 

 

Page 2 of 6 [ 89 posts ] Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Next

 
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:59 am 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 42

Posts: 1249

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Ride: Falcon

Location: Melbourne
VIC, Australia

yeah maybe theres difference sizes in underdrive pulley setups, some save more than others the trade off being the reduced effectivness of accessories.

 

_________________

I couldnt fix your brakes so I made your horn louder
Image

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:53 pm 
Oompa Loompa
Offline

Posts: 27

Joined: 24th Oct 2006

Gallery: 3 images

Ride: ef xr8

Location: melb
VIC, Australia

wat sorta price they go for?? ...rnt the pully's lighter to??

 

_________________

brett<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m41/public_animal_au/MEandFRIENDS/me.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:41 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 37

Posts: 2116

Joined: 13th Aug 2005

Gallery: 15 images

Ride: 1999 XHII XR8, 2002 AU Fairmont

Power: 236 rwkw

Location: Perth
WA, Australia

Scaffy wrote:
XH4LWEPN - which set are you using and is there a noticable difference?


I went for the race kit. I certainly did notice a difference, even if it was just a little. You will notice them most from bout 2500rpm to redline, you can just feel it revs up there quicker and smoother. Definately a worth while mod being cheap and easy to install, i would recommend them as a first mod to do to any pre AU windsor.
Also havent had any problem with alternator charge or water flow. You can see the volt guage sit slightly lower on idle but once revs go up past about 1000rpm its charging fine.

 

_________________

STREETBUILT RACING
1999 XHII Falcon XR8 Ute 5.0L, TKO600 5spd, KB 2.1L Blower, 6.5psi, 12.2@113mph!!

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:50 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 48

Posts: 452

Joined: 21st Dec 2004

Gallery: 1 images

Location: Adelaide
SA, Australia

I don't think most people here understand why under drive pulleys were developed. An alternator, water pump etc are designed to run in a particular RPM band. When a race engine is built, it is designed to run at higher than stock RPM which drives your accessories outside there designed band. Underdriver pulleys were developed to bring back into there design spec.

If you put these on a stock motor with stock RPM, you drive them slower. A slower turning waterpump will use less power (and this is what you guys are looking at). The reason it uses less power is becuase it is pumping less water. Less water = hotter motor.

Your alternator will also not be efficient becuase it is turning too slowly.

I'd be interested to see before and after dyno charts, and I'd be suprised if you gained more than a few kW. If you ask me the dangers involved in using them and the cost don't make it good value for the small performance increase.

 

_________________

Adrian
EF Fairmont, 5.0Lt, Pacemaker Headers, Sports cats, Redback muff, T5 manual, 16" Tickford rims, Tickford "Body Styling", DBA Gold Rotors, Heritage Green, JVC MP3
XB Coupe, 351C, twin system, C4 shift kitted auto, 9" LSD, Eccose Blue, very loud !!!!

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:21 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Posts: 1142

Joined: 17th Sep 2005

Ride: Falcon

Location: Adelaide
SA, Australia

raiki wrote:
I don't think most people here understand why under drive pulleys were developed. An alternator, water pump etc are designed to run in a particular RPM band. When a race engine is built, it is designed to run at higher than stock RPM which drives your accessories outside there designed band. Underdriver pulleys were developed to bring back into there design spec.

If you put these on a stock motor with stock RPM, you drive them slower. A slower turning waterpump will use less power (and this is what you guys are looking at). The reason it uses less power is becuase it is pumping less water. Less water = hotter motor.

Your alternator will also not be efficient becuase it is turning too slowly.

I'd be interested to see before and after dyno charts, and I'd be suprised if you gained more than a few kW. If you ask me the dangers involved in using them and the cost don't make it good value for the small performance increase.


Right on the money bloke

You gain lighter wallet

vik...hence a power gain...

 

_________________

[b]BANNED[\b]

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:47 am 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 42

Posts: 8655

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Gallery: 37 images

Ride: V8 EF Futura

Location: Adelaide CBD
SA, Australia

Yes, i understand that the alternator is typically underdriven to a point where the battery wont be taking on charge at idle.

 

_________________

I promise..... I will never die.

Fordmods Administration Group MINOR PUNKED

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:28 am 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 50

Posts: 10128

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Gallery: 4 images

Ride: EF Gli Ghia, XP Fairmont

Location: Perth
WA, Australia

ahh interesting, so on a stock car they would be pretty much a waste of time then...

 

_________________

Owning 1 of 67612 EF GLi Sedans made
FACT: "Chuck Norris owns the greatest Poker Face of all-time. It helped him win the 1983 World Series of Poker despite him holding just a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game Uno."

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:12 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 40

Posts: 1239

Joined: 1st Jul 2005

Gallery: 9 images

Ride: EF XR8 & 2002 GSXR-1000

Location: Perth
WA, Australia

MikGan wrote:
I had heard that they actually change the turn ratio so that the accessories turn slower and in some cases too slow. Any truth to that?

I'm pretty sure TerroristGHIA (Brett) had troubles with the one he was provided on his alternator due to a large stereo. That is the only problem I have heard of.

The alternator may be underdriven so that it doesn't take any charge at idle, but really... how long does your car sit at idle for?? The only reall time I can think of is at lights, or those with a turbo timer.

 

_________________

The fast fun: Suzuki GSXR1000
The one I use when I can't use the fast fun: Blown EF XR8

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:25 pm 
Stock as a Rock
Offline

Age: 38

Posts: 169

Joined: 27th Jun 2005

Gallery: 6 images

Ride: EF XR8 5spd

Location: Newcastle
NSW, Australia

After I fitted mine, I noticed at idle the voltage gauge read at 14v rather than 16, and the motor can get a little warmer in heavy traffic, never getter much over half though, overall I would recommend them to anyone, It made a noticable difference to my car.

 

_________________

EF XR8 5spd: 302ci /178rwkw

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:06 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 48

Posts: 452

Joined: 21st Dec 2004

Gallery: 1 images

Location: Adelaide
SA, Australia

If your volt gauge ever read 16V your charging system is stuffed. The regulator limits you to 14.4V, but generally aims for 13.8V.

As for a "noticable difference", it's amazing what your brain will think after you have spent hundreds of dollars.

If it's what you guys want, go for your life. Personally, I am not going to waste my money.

 

_________________

Adrian
EF Fairmont, 5.0Lt, Pacemaker Headers, Sports cats, Redback muff, T5 manual, 16" Tickford rims, Tickford "Body Styling", DBA Gold Rotors, Heritage Green, JVC MP3
XB Coupe, 351C, twin system, C4 shift kitted auto, 9" LSD, Eccose Blue, very loud !!!!

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:06 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 50

Posts: 568

Joined: 15th Jan 2005

Gallery: 2 images

Ride: EF GLi (V8)

Location: Sale
VIC, Australia

raiki wrote:
If your volt gauge ever read 16V your charging system is stuffed. The regulator limits you to 14.4V, but generally aims for 13.8V.

As for a "noticable difference", it's amazing what your brain will think after you have spent hundreds of dollars.

If it's what you guys want, go for your life. Personally, I am not going to waste my money.


hey raiki, have you tried them, cos if you haven't, the old saying goes "if you haven't tried it, don't knock it", underdrives were one of my very first mods on a very stock donk, and it did make a difference, the engine revved up that little bit quicker, but the main thing I was after was fuel economy, and anything that reduces load on an engine is going to aid that, sure there are trade offs as outlined in this thread, but they are minor and managable, there are also the benenfits as those that have them have highlighted.

 

_________________

former FORD V8 owner :(
MAY THE FORDS BE WITH YOU

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:12 pm 
Fordmods Newbie
Offline

Posts: 4

Joined: 12th Oct 2005

Location: Perth
WA, Australia

I thought underdrives were just hot air on a Windsor.

But I took the plunge and brought BPT race series with 3 pullies.

Made heaps of difference, really happy with the purchase. I'm now a believer in the underdrives !
Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:27 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 48

Posts: 452

Joined: 21st Dec 2004

Gallery: 1 images

Location: Adelaide
SA, Australia

znipa-x, don't get your undies in a twist. In a previous post I did say that they reduced loads, it's the loads that they do reduce which I have a probelm with (low cooling water flow).

Like everything they are a compromise, and in this particular case I errr on the side of caution.

Scaffy asked for our opinions and I have given mine, and that is all I have given. Ins't the internet wonderful, we all have different opinions and are free to voice them.

 

_________________

Adrian
EF Fairmont, 5.0Lt, Pacemaker Headers, Sports cats, Redback muff, T5 manual, 16" Tickford rims, Tickford "Body Styling", DBA Gold Rotors, Heritage Green, JVC MP3
XB Coupe, 351C, twin system, C4 shift kitted auto, 9" LSD, Eccose Blue, very loud !!!!

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:34 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline

Posts: 6911

Joined: 6th Nov 2004

Gallery: 4 images

Ride: BF XR6, BF XT Wagon

Power: 197 rwkw

Location: Perth
WA, Australia

The alternator may or may not charge at idle depending on the condition of it. The water does pump less water however the pulleys where designed to still turn the water pump and alternator at acceptable levels. Since I've had mine on the temperature needle has not moved up at all even in hot weather with the air con running.
I have had no problems at all with the alternator. Both the alternator and the water pump have larger pulleys fitted.
The crankshaft pulley is a smaller pulley under driving the rest of the accessory's (power steering and air con).
The power steering is no heavier than it was before and the air con no warmer.

If your accessory's are in poor condition then get them checked and sorted prior to fitting under drives. Otherwise all is good.

Engine is quicker to rev and there is a small gain to be noticed in power.

Best value for money modification. ~$250 for about 7-11 rwkw.

 

_________________

EL XR8
Timmeh banned himself from being a moderator.

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:39 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 50

Posts: 568

Joined: 15th Jan 2005

Gallery: 2 images

Ride: EF GLi (V8)

Location: Sale
VIC, Australia

Timmeh wrote:
The alternator may or may not charge at idle depending on the condition of it. The water does pump less water however the pulleys where designed to still turn the water pump and alternator at acceptable levels. Since I've had mine on the temperature needle has not moved up at all even in hot weather with the air con running.
I have had no problems at all with the alternator. Both the alternator and the water pump have larger pulleys fitted.
The crankshaft pulley is a smaller pulley under driving the rest of the accessory's (power steering and air con).
The power steering is no heavier than it was before and the air con no warmer.

If your accessory's are in poor condition then get them checked and sorted prior to fitting under drives. Otherwise all is good.

Engine is quicker to rev and there is a small gain to be noticed in power.

Best value for money modification. ~$250 for about 7-11 rwkw.


absolutely agree :)

 

_________________

former FORD V8 owner :(
MAY THE FORDS BE WITH YOU

Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:
Sort by  
 Page 2 of 6  [ 89 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 29 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

 

 

It is currently Fri Apr 26, 2024 12:39 pm All times are UTC + 11 hours

 

 

(c)2014 Total Web Solutions Australia - Australian Web Hosting and Domain Names