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Old 09-10-2003, 06:40 PM   #1
I3eXa
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Default Is an underdrive pulley worth it?

I was lookin' and found this:
Click here

Do these things make that big of a difference for the money. Also is there a better brand than this or one you can recommend me?
Thanks,
Cody
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Old 09-10-2003, 07:13 PM   #2
ciper
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They make a big difference for the money, you spend alot and get dim headlights when the car is at idle. Your power assist at low speed is lessened and the air conditioning has to run longer to get cold

Look for a lightened pulley that is not underdriven, that way you can use stock belts. Mr Josh pulley is pretty inexpensive.
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Old 09-10-2003, 09:07 PM   #3
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Agreed dont get an undrive pulley, they really work well on turbo cars but no N/A.

Unless you want the results ciper gave you above.

As he said, look for lightened but not underiven pulleys.

Jay
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Old 09-11-2003, 09:32 AM   #4
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im going to have to give the opposite point of view! I have no idea on the value of the pulley posted in the link, I have the GFB Pulley Set. It replaces alt and crank. The set is underdriven. My headlights dim slightly at idle but i dont really notice it unless im parked facing a wall or on a very dark sidestreet. Yes my AC does not feel as cold at idle or lower rpms. but i dont use my ac that often. maybe once all summer when the girlfriend cant take it anymore!!! I notice no changes to my power steering. I have not tried any other pulley sets.

With that said i am very happy with my pulleys. The car seemed to pull harder throughout the entire power band. Most Noticeable was a definate improvement in low end acceleration. Then it seemed that power came on again slightly at aroung 4,700.
Throttle response was definately improved.
The pulleys work well in combination with my other mods.
Pat

Last edited by Pat L.I.; 09-11-2003 at 09:38 AM.
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Old 09-11-2003, 02:00 PM   #5
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Problem is that you dont NEED to underdrive the accessories to get a benefit. The loss comes in the 5 pound weight attached to the crank.

There was once a page posted where they compared the difference between an underdriven pulley, a lightweight pulley and both WITH BELTS REMOVED. Even removing the belts made no noticable difference on the dyno.

The slight difference in power was only noticed when the pulley was removed.

The lightened pulley shouldnt be though of as increasing HP though, it allows the engine to reach higher RPM in the same amount of time.
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Old 09-11-2003, 03:28 PM   #6
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GRM (Grassroots Motorsports - URL=http://www.grassrootsmotorsports.com]GRMOnline[/url]) just did a dyno test on these... They made more better smoother horsepower w/ a standard rubber laden pulley than on the lightweight one.

I just did a super-quick perusal of the site, and don't see it there. I believe though, that it was in the issue before last.

Personally, I'm wanting underdrive pulleys for my accessories, and leave the crank pulley alone. The crank on the pre-2K Legacy engine (and the '98 2.5 RS) is prone to rocking. No need to upset that boat any further...
  - Eric
    '98 2.5 GT Wagon - Pics
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Old 09-11-2003, 03:39 PM   #7
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Prone to rocking? Is that because it loosens itself over time?
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Old 09-11-2003, 04:07 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally posted by Radio Flyer
GRM (Grassroots Motorsports - URL=http://www.grassrootsmotorsports.com]GRMOnline[/url]) just did a dyno test on these... They made more better smoother horsepower w/ a standard rubber laden pulley than on the lightweight one.
I read that article, very interesting. The point they are making is that it is better to dampen the harmonics of the engine than reduce its rotating mass.
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Old 09-11-2003, 04:18 PM   #9
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Except that that is geared towards inline and v engines. The boxer produces less by design.
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Old 09-11-2003, 06:05 PM   #10
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Default Here's what Suby told me...

I have a Unortho Racing underdrive pulley and belt, but never installed it because my local Suby dealer... (Subaru of Santa Cruz, great shop and they do lots of mods)...said that in other cars, it's nearly impossible to get belt tension correct...belts are either too short or too long for the tensioner to compensate for...also since it's lighter, the engine has enough wobble to it to set off the knock sensor, but that might have been in conjunction with a lightweight flyweel.

Like I said, I never mounted mine, so I'm not sure about any of this. But they told me that many of the cars they'd mounted underdrive and/or lightweight pulleys on, they ended up removing them later at the owner's request. They basically talked me out of giving them $90 for the install.

This makes me sad, as I'm almost out of mods on my 2.5 and want more speed, and underdrive pulleys made a huge difference on my 5.0 mustang years ago. I have a nice, black Unortho underdrive pulley and belt for sale if anyone wants one. PM me.
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Old 09-11-2003, 06:42 PM   #11
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I have a exedy lw flywheel along with my gfb pulleys aswell as a few other mods.
So far i have no problems.
Pat
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Old 09-11-2003, 07:23 PM   #12
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I've been using the GFB 3 pulley set for ~35k miles.
Still rotate straight as an arrow.
I would say they were worth it...
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Old 09-14-2003, 08:05 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally posted by Pat L.I.
I have a exedy lw flywheel along with my gfb pulleys aswell as a few other mods.
So far i have no problems.
Pat
I just got the exedy lw flywheel and have an unorthodox underdrive pulley...I am now starting to get a flashing cel on the highway (at constant speeds it goes off...). Just today did it stay solid.

I am getting the code pulled tomorrow after work.

-justin
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Old 09-14-2003, 08:50 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally posted by Pat L.I.
im going to have to give the opposite point of view! I have no idea on the value of the pulley posted in the link, I have the GFB Pulley Set. It replaces alt and crank. The set is underdriven. My headlights dim slightly at idle but i dont really notice it unless im parked facing a wall or on a very dark sidestreet. Yes my AC does not feel as cold at idle or lower rpms. but i dont use my ac that often. maybe once all summer when the girlfriend cant take it anymore!!! I notice no changes to my power steering. I have not tried any other pulley sets.

With that said i am very happy with my pulleys. The car seemed to pull harder throughout the entire power band. Most Noticeable was a definate improvement in low end acceleration. Then it seemed that power came on again slightly at aroung 4,700.
Throttle response was definately improved.
The pulleys work well in combination with my other mods.
Pat
w0w That was everythjing i was going to write... word for word
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Old 09-16-2003, 02:40 PM   #15
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I also noticed more vibration when the A/C cycles on. I am keeping the light pulley on for now. I like the faster reving for down shifting.
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Old 09-16-2003, 03:23 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally posted by SubeDonC


w0w That was everythjing i was going to write... word for word
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Old 09-16-2003, 05:04 PM   #17
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I've had the Unorthodox UD pulley for 80K+ miles , one of my first mods and one of the best basic mods you can do. If you get the non-UD pullet set, you'll be just as happy (if not happier) but I'd stay away from a non-UD crank pulley alone. As for the lights dimming, etc... whoop-t-do. The A/C kept me cool the past 2 summers in 110 degree heat, the lights diming is barely noticable, and the stereo is fine (500W amp).
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Old 09-16-2003, 05:52 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally posted by McDade
Agreed dont get an undrive pulley, they really work well on turbo cars but no N/A.

Unless you want the results ciper gave you above.

As he said, look for lightened but not underiven pulleys.

Jay
Why do you think they work well on turbo cars but not N/A?
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Old 09-16-2003, 10:34 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally posted by BOY
I've had the Unorthodox UD pulley for 80K+ miles , one of my first mods and one of the best basic mods you can do. If you get the non-UD pullet set, you'll be just as happy (if not happier) but I'd stay away from a non-UD crank pulley alone. As for the lights dimming, etc... whoop-t-do. The A/C kept me cool the past 2 summers in 110 degree heat, the lights diming is barely noticable, and the stereo is fine (500W amp).
Well I love my UD pulley .

I had a cel but I dont know what for...it went away after I added more oil to the motor (was a little low) and tightened my tensioners since I replaced my belts 1500 miles ago.

-justin
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Old 09-17-2003, 09:21 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally posted by Yungimoto


Why do you think they work well on turbo cars but not N/A?
This doesn't make sense to me either. Lightening the rotating assembly is good for ANY car. Having an H-4, we're intrinsically balanced so the damping properties of the stock pulley are merely to reduce NVH... not so w/ an inline or V.
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Old 09-17-2003, 08:50 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally posted by Blindeye_03

I just got the exedy lw flywheel and have an unorthodox underdrive pulley...I am now starting to get a flashing cel on the highway (at constant speeds it goes off...). Just today did it stay solid.
How long have you had the pulley and the flywheel in?

Chieh
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Old 09-18-2003, 10:25 AM   #22
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Ok, I see this posting alot, so I'll give my .02

I've have an UD pulley for 85k miles!!! No problems, and I mean NONE!!! The lights dim a little, but only at idle. AC works, stereo works. Hell, the AC + Stereo + lights + fog lights all work fine when they are all on at the same time. No vibrations, no nothin' but goooood power.

Do it! Get the UD pulley. You won't regret it!
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Old 09-18-2003, 07:32 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally posted by gypsymoth


How long have you had the pulley and the flywheel in?

Chieh
Hmm lets see... I have the UDP on my car for 50k miles now and the flywheel and the pulley for a total of ~6-8k miles.

The only problem that I had was when I had my proecm installed..before I had the flywheel it worked fine, but for some reason it didnt like the flywheel...so I took it out and its running better.

I am still a fan of the proecm, just not with a LW flywheel.

-justin
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