Thinkin' bout going back to stock pulleys...

[89MustangGX]

89Mustang - and I'd say for everyone we found with "other" problems, we could find one that didn't have "other" problems. There are simply too many variables for it to be predictable. Trying them is the only way to find out. Glad that yours have worked - but that data simply isn't predictive of what someone else's experience will be. And there are limits to any design -- slow those components down by 25% in an application where the stock design is right on the edge, and you'll have problems.

I disagree with not finding "other" problems on some cars. They may be hard to detect, but I'd bet digging deep enough would reveal them.

Regardless, I do agree with your limitations statement -- as I said in a reply to another thread:

As for percentages of changing speeds and things getting worn and so forth, sure, there are limitations. My argument has always been that if the stock parts work correctly, they will still be ok with the UD's. The various ways in which things wear and become less effecient is what makes it unpredictable in your argument -- so I try to only focus on things that work as they should.

To that end, I agree with you, and disagree with you -- but don't see any way to provide any conclusive evidence either way.

 

[HISSIN50]

i think even people's idle setting (often overlooked) can be key. take a car that runs alright with a set up and UD's (like Adam's examples) - perhaps it idles at 950-1100 RPM. back the idle down to 650, and it might run hotter. it seems as though quite a few folks run a higher than stock idle, for various reasons.

you smart folks are giving your two cents worth - so this must be 1/10 of a cent worth.
:OT: Adam and Michael, you guys have fun disagreeing today? ive enjoyed it. will you be here all week? J/K guys (i respect both of your opinions).

 

[Mustang5L5]

:OT:

Why is the Off-topic guy so angry??

 

[89MustangGX]

you smart folks are giving your two cents worth - so this must be 1/10 of a cent worth.
:OT: Adam and Michael, you guys have fun disagreeing today? ive enjoyed it. will you be here all week? J/K guys (i respect both of your opinions).

I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I'll listen just the same to anyone as long a they keep their arguments valid. I don't value your opinion any less than mine -- and you definitely shouldn't either. (I know you were kidding.)

 

[ill advised]

Rerun - FYI, my Motorsport pullies are anodized blue. I ended up going back to the stock alternator and water pump pullies.

 

[Rerun]

Yeah, I think I'm going to dump the pullies and get some stock ones because, 6HP isn't worth what's going on with my car. Nonetheless, the pullies may not be the problem and it's amplifying something else, but as Michael said, i'd rather take the pullies off then spend more cash upgrading my cooling system.

For those with the questions, I have a 130 AMP 3G alternator, brand new. I've also upgraded the wiring to support the new alternator. 3 core aluminum radiator, and my electric fan is wired to the ignition, and is always on. My idle is also set around the 1,000 - 1,100 mark. The pullies seem to really effect the car, If the idle goes in the 800 mark when it's cold, you can watch the volt guage fluctuate a lot when I give it gas. I might go shoot some pictures so you guys can see the pullies.

Anyhow, anyone that wants to trade for my pullies let me know, I'm pretty sure the pully that's on the alternator is stock. The other 2 are definately not.

 

[HISSIN50]

I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I'll listen just the same to anyone as long a they keep their arguments valid. I don't value your opinion any less than mine -- and you definitely shouldn't either. (I know you were kidding.)

Adam, sorry if i offended; not my intent. im running on no sleep, so im being less intelligible than normal. in case of misinterpretation, you two gave your opinions (two cents worth). since you are smarter than i, my post must have been worth .10 cents (worth a lot less than your and Michael's thoughts).

we be cool - i just have a strange sense of humor. no disrepect in any way was intended.

 

[89CopCoupe]

I disagree, i love my underdrives.

I bought the March pullies, but also got the ASP 1 7/8 overdrive alt pulley.

I have a 130AMP alt, electric fan and a big stereo and an AOD and have no charging issues at all.

As for cooling, i didn't notice any jump in temp. I have a stock water pump, Autozone 3-core radiator, 180 thermostat and my Autometer temp gauge never rises over 188 degrees while sitting in traffic on 95-100 degree days. Pullies shouldn't cause cooling system problems, but they will amplify an existing problem. If it too much, swap the smallest water pump pulley you have on there to speed it up

And I DID notice a 6-8HP gain.

With everything in top shape, installed correctly there should be no problem .... why does BeCool make a radiator that runs 20* cooler? Why are 130 alts better? Why do companies make an electric fan? Why do companies make u/d pullies? Because they are better for accomplishing the goals of modding these cars. Of course they are compensating for a factory design. But the factory designs are for stock setups.

6-8hp may be all the difference between losing to that other car.

 

[battyice]

I still have the stock pullies off my '89 sitting on the shelf, thinking of putting them in the classifieds soon. Email me if you're interested.

 

[L8 MUSL]

With everything in top shape, installed correctly there should be no problem .... why does BeCool make a radiator that runs 20* cooler? Why are 130 alts better? Why do companies make an electric fan? Why do companies make u/d pullies? Because they are better for accomplishing the goals of modding these cars. Of course they are compensating for a factory design. But the factory designs are for stock setups.

6-8hp may be all the difference between losing to that other car.

BeCool's radiator is made to fit the needs of a modified motor that puts out much more hp then a stock one. With more hp comes more heat.

A 130amp alt is intended to meet the needs of things like stereo upgrades, but it is often used by people who have installed underdrive pulley's because now their new smaller crank pulley isn't spinning their alt fast enough to charge properly at idle.

Companies make electric fans because again, with more hp/heat comes the need to flow more air across a bigger/better radiator. Now there is a sensible mod, it not only keeps your car cooler but removes the parisitic drag of the belt driven fan (and is probably worth more hp then UD pulley's).

Companies make underdrive pullies because people buy them. It's that simple.
And, because for 100 bucks, anyone with a wrench and 1/2 a brain can install them and say "I modded my Stang".

If 6-8 hp is going to make the difference in beating the other guy, you may as well pray for a tail wind in your lane.

 

[89MustangGX]

Adam, sorry if i offended; not my intent. im running on no sleep, so im being less intelligible than normal. in case of misinterpretation, you two gave your opinions (two cents worth). since you are smarter than i, my post must have been worth .10 cents (worth a lot less than your and Michael's thoughts).

we be cool - i just have a strange sense of humor. no disrepect in any way was intended.

I wasn't offended at all -- in fact, I thought you were saying my opinion was worth more than yours, and I was just saying that wasn't true, I (try to) value everyone's opinions the same. That's all ...