Who wants to be a test bed?

[sicwitit]

Hey guys, so my Pulleys that I promissed everyone are getting closer and closer to completeing, I already have 3 of the accessory pulleys made, and just need to tackle the crank pulley. So here's what I need from you since I don't live anywhere near my pathy right now.

1. You must be willing to Dyno your pathy before, and after install of the pulleys, and send me results of the dyno's findings. So if you are friends with a shop that has a dyno, this should be no sweat. only things I ask for are that the dyno runs are done on the same date, so that means parking lot wrenching! this is the only way to keep as many variables constant, and only see what difference just installing the pulley set will make.

2. These are for the VQ35DE pathy's and QX4's. VQ30's will come soon after.

For your troubles, since I know dyno time costs money, I will let you keep the set of pulleys as payment.

I'm not sure when the last pulley will be done, I'm also thinking about trying to make a replacement tensioner pulley, you know, the one that bends when you replace your belts. I havn't decided yet but if I do, it will be a full billet replacement that will not have any of the ill effects of the stock flemsey cast unit. What are your thoughts on this?

[GRNMACHINE]

Sounds like a great opportunity for 3.5 owners. Just replaced the 2 idler pulleys at about $45 each and had the crankshaft pulley done, price on the Nissan pulley ranges from around $210-280. According to the Nissan mechanic the 3.3 crankshaft pulleys were a bad design and not uncommon to fail. What is actual fact I cannot verify, but I can say on all of the vehicles I have ever owned I have never had to replace one before....

[sicwitit]

were the 3.3 crank pulleys dampened, or undampened?

[GRNMACHINE]

I still have the original in a box, it has a rubber ring in it. What exactly is the difference or how can I tell for sure?

[sicwitit]

can you post a pic?

After thinking about it, I think they do have harmonic ballancers. most Nissan V6's need them due to poor crank designs (V6's)

I still havn't taken a VQ35 crank off, but I'll be home in a few weeks to take my truck apart, then I'll know for sure. But all the other vehicles using a VQ35 don't use a dampner? so we'll see

[fueler]

one more stupilation: post a pic of your pathfinder on the dyno for us to laugh at

[sicwitit]

that would be funny...

I'm thinking with all the idea's I've got planned, I might need to open a shop in the states when I come back. The only question is where? I don't want to open it anywhere on the East Coast (north of NC) or Cali.

[KyooX4]

Florida!

[sicwitit]

Oooooh Coco Beach! I could do that, now I got to try and get stationed at Patrick AFB so the miltary will move me and all my produces for free!!

[KyooX4]

That would be awesome! I'm only around 2 hours from Patrick AFB. There's actually a surf break right in front of it that I go to occasionally.If you did open a shop around there you'd definitely have my business, assuming I had the necessary funds hehe.

[GRNMACHINE]

Here is a link to the exact crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer that was replaced.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...61027

Do u need a pic of the old one as well?

[sicwitit]

I have not done any testing to see if its a must to have the harmonic ballencer or not, and I don't have access to a VQ35 here either. I'm thinking I will order a ATI pulley for a 350z and see if it fits? if it works then the rest of the pulleys are complete and will be ready to ship in a few weeks.

[KyooX4]

Sweet! What kind of price range are we looking at? I would love to get some, but if the price isn't right I can't really justify it.

[sicwitit]

I'm thinking if I don't make a crankshaft pulley, I can keep the price somewhere between $150-250 depending on how many people I can get for a group buy. If I could get 20 dedicated buyers then I can justify the $150 price range...but if I can only get a hand full, then I'll have no option but to charge a higher price. the mold fees for the ones I've had made have already cost me about $1300. I know I can always throw these up on ebay too where I can get a much more publicity. but if worst comes to worse, at least I'll be able to hook a few dedicated people up here.

JT

[SixGuns]

Are you gonna go with an overdrive pulley for the alternator? Especially with the guys here running audio systems, it's the only way to go. A guy at work's got underdrives on his 5.0 'Stang and with just the lights, A/C and wipers on, his battery would drain..tossed on an overdrive alt. pulley and remedied the problem. Just a thought..I'm gonna look at what a PITA it is to pull all of the pulleys on the 3.5 today and call the local performance shop and see what their dyno rates are. I might be taking you up on this..Or are you requiring the engine to be completely stock (i.e. no intake/exhaust mods)?

[sicwitit]

yes, the Alt pulley is an overdrive design, it's slightly smaller, I took into consideration people running 6+ lights, systems, air compressors, etc, etc.I don't have any requirements on what mods are already done on the engine, I just need them to be listed with the base dyno run.

[01qwhite]

I will do it i have a 01 infiniti qx4 with a 3.5. I have intake and exhaust. Just let me know what other info you may need.

[longhornsqx4]

Id be up for trying this no problem. I can get free dyno time when the shop isnt booked at my friends shop almost every weekend. So a back to back run shouldnt be trouble

Is a crank pulley close to being completed? Would be cool to try them all at once

Also is the shop that is machining them reputable, aka are the parts going to be balanced and not ruin my Qx4 lol

Im up for being a mule though, and get you some results fast.

[sicwitit]

thanks you two for volunteering, as far as the reputation of who is manufacturing these pulleys.....oh if I could only go into detail what companies they represent. Remember I'm over here in JDM land, and have been learning the in's and out's of the aftermarket industry. I'm trying to determine if the crank pulley we already have made for the VQ35 for the 350Z and Altima will work. as far as its likely hood of destroying anything, the chances are minimal, but what I've done in the past is have someone ride around with you for a few minutes, swap the stock crank pulley with the aftermarket one, and take it out for a spin again. drive normally, if you notice any vibration at any certain RPM, then your engine needs that Harmonic ballancer (since they failed to make a sound engine in the first place) remove the aftermarket one, and never look back. normally 3cyl, straight 6, V6, and V12 engines don't need harmonic ballancers....NORMALLY, my straight 6 in my Lexus IS300 was very upset when I tried a lightweight crank pulley, on the flip side, we tested a 900Hp Supra, and it didnt have any problems? weird. the rest of the pulleys in the kit can and will still be utilized if it turns out the Pathy doesn't like the undampened crank pulley and should help with engine efficency, and increase voltage from a overdrive pulley for the Alt...I'm kind of thinking it won't only because I know they paid less attention to it then with the 350z VQ, . Only the tests will tell, I guess I should have who ever I end up sending them to test the output voltage before and after too.....I might have to throw in a volt gauge so you can read Volts and Amps at idol, and w/ load.

[01qwhite]

i can do whatever you need man

[longhornsqx4]

Any specs on diameters or weights you have set? I have my own multimeter and can test its change on the charging system no sweat

Lets make this engine spin shall we

[sicwitit]

I'm still playing with diameter sizes right now, I'm trying to keep all the accessory pulleys the same as to not F up the math on what effect the Crank pulley will be if its a underdrive, and the Alt is over drive. I've got my friend helping alot on this project, and I'm learning that I should of paid way more attention in math classes in H.S and college? Its cool that I actually get to see all these equations have a useful product though. the weights for the pulleys are lighter by far, here are some pics of some pulleys we already have made for toyota engines, it will at least give an idea on what they can look like. these are also old designs, I've selected a little bit of a different design for my line of pulleys I'll be selling in the states. these are only sold in Japan and Europe right now under the company name Rocket factory, I havn't yet decided what to name my line of products, all the good names seem like they are taken...even my initals (JET) is so popular in the states, it would almost seem like I'm bitting off all those companies. anyway, heres the pics.

Some pics of our welding work just for fun

Its all Titanium piping by the way....depending on how good I get (this is not my work by far but I'm learning from an absolutely amazing teacher) I could also start making headers, and exhausts when I get back to the states and set up shop...if the market ever returns for the small business again. I'm almost scared to try the shop thing again after what happened after my last shop closed down...

[NutsPathfinder]

Sorry I can't help with the test, but I would definetly be down for a set.

[JPOWERS]

Do you still need some people to test out some stuff? I have alot of resources in the automotive industry. I will ask some questions about the harmonic balancer. That is the only pully I would question swaping. This is my first post but I just got my QX4 2 months ago.

[sicwitit]

at the moment i have a couple people in mind, but the more imput i can get the better. I think Im going to fly back next week to do some test fitting on my pathy, and install a power pulley on my dads prius....dont flame, he still has a Nissan truck for when he needs to feel like a man! besides, I sent him a set of TE37's so he has got to have the coolest Prius around

[KyooX4]

Haha nice

[01qwhite]

those r some nice lookin pulleys

[fastpathy35]

Well i wish i could help, but there are very few dynos around here. But i can say, depending on the numbers, i am very interested in buying a set. How different is it to weld titanium? Ive done stainless, aluminum, and steel of course, but no titanium. Nobody uses it much lol.

[sicwitit]

Titanium has to be welded with a Tig, if you have welded Al, then Ti should be no problem, the melting point of AL is so low, it makes it so much harder then Ti. Titanium's melting point is very high, so its probably IMO one of the easiest metals to work with, and much easier to make clean welds. but like anything it takes practice.