Upgrade question: Changing belts soon...

[steelcity]

is there anything else I can do when these belts come off? Pulleys?

[The Bodyguard]

Don't think so, not if you're not getting any problems out of them I switched belts to Goodyear razor back!

[Ilya]

You can get underdrive pulleys (stock size) from, say, Unorthodox Racing...that will use the stock belt size but be lighter in weight which means the car will rev easier, etc.

That's about the only upgrade you can do in that area...

[jiggersplat]

that's not an underdrive pulley. underdrive pulleys are actually a different size and "underdrive" your alternator/waterpump/power steering pump, etc by effectively changing the gear ratio. the hp gains come from decreasing parasitic loss.

[Ilya]

Yes, you're right. I haven't looked at them in a while (since I had my 1999 Maxima) so I got the two mixed up. The benefit of both is virtually the same; it frees up weight and thus the engine is able to rev faster and make extra power (however negligble).

[jiggersplat]

Not entirely... in addition to less rotating mass, and therefore less energy required to spin it up, an underdrive pulley for your alternator for example might change it's output from 150 watts to 125 watts. You can do the math and convert the lost 25 watts to horsepower more or less. Same deal with something like a water pump, it might go from pumping 100gpm to 80gpm, and therefore uses less hp to turn the water pump and it can go to the wheels instead.

[steelcity]

I don't think it's a bad idea if there's stress coming off the engine. If I go on with this, which pulley(s) would I be changing? I am assuming the belts stay the same. Have any of you guys changed your pulleys or thinking about it?

[Ilya]

Belts only stay the same if you get the 'stock diameter' pulleys. If you go for true underdrive, you'll have to get different sized belts.

[steelcity]

I see what your saying. Unorthodox Racing shows the 'stock diameter' and the 'under drive diameter'. Regardless of which one, the belts come with either one of these crank pulleys. Would it be necessary to get the other pulleys (alternator, power steering, etc.) ? or are they just for show?

[Ilya]

You could get those too, but the performance gain (due to size and/or weight which is a result of less rotational mass) would be marginal.

[steelcity]

You could get those too, but the performance gain (due to size and/or weight which is a result of less rotational mass) would be marginal.

I'm leaning towards the stock diameter crank pulley and that's it. I read some articles on how if you don't do stock diameter, it can mess around with your voltage. Like being at a light at night and your headlights are dimming. So, I'm thinking to just keep it stock along with the stock belts and have my head straight.

[DJPlayedYA]

Seems like you guys know way more than me, but my $.02 would be not to mess around with any of that stuff in a car like ours that's so computer sensitive. Sometimes we have cars on our lot with weak batteries, and engine lights, brake bulb lights, TC lights and all come on just from having a weak car battery. Some cars even hesitate during acceleration.

I would just go with some top quality Goodyear belts and call it a day.

[steelcity]

I know what you mean. I just love my car and want to better it as much as possible. I actually just got the pulley in yesterday. So too late for me now

AND!! I bought a bad a$$ battery 2 weeks ago. My battery died so I upgraded to the best (my car still had the original battery in it), I went with a red top gel battery. That babe cranks nicely when you start the car. Good for the winters too.

[Ilya]

Seems like you guys know way more than me, but my $.02 would be not to mess around with any of that stuff in a car like ours that's so computer sensitive. Sometimes we have cars on our lot with weak batteries, and engine lights, brake bulb lights, TC lights and all come on just from having a weak car battery. Some cars even hesitate during acceleration.

I would just go with some top quality Goodyear belts and call it a day.

That's why you get a stock diameter pulley...you don't suffer from any of that stuff but do get most of the benefit of weight savings which will free up a small bit of power (maybe 1HP) for the engine to use.

Underdrive (meaning smaller) pulleys I would only use on a race car.

[steelcity]

Hope it's more than 1 HP haha

[Ilya]

Doubt it. I would be surprised if it was more than 2-3, so I'd bet it would be around 1. Real underdrive pulleys give you 5hp or so.

[Larz]

Forgive me please, if I am wrong here but ... Why would you do something that decreases the water flow and alternator charge designed by the manufacturer .. and whatever trouble those changes could lead to ... for 3 extra BHP ??

[Ilya]

Forgive me please, if I am wrong here but ... Why would you do something that decreases the water flow and alternator charge designed by the manufacturer .. and whatever trouble those changes could lead to ... for 3 extra BHP ??

For the same reason that some 'power hungry' folks remove power steering systems, etc. etc. lol

That's why they created lighter weight stock diameter pulleys...for those guys chasing more 'oomph' no matter how small, but while not losing electrical output ability.

[steelcity]

I'll let you guys know if I notice a difference. I did go stock diameter to avoid the potential stress. The bottom line is that it wont hurt the car either. It'll take some stress off the motor.