Alright heres the deal, I have a 98 cobra the 4.6 DOHC. . . Anyway. . . Okay my voltage isn't centered it goes below the mid point all the time, come to find the car has underdrive pullies, but I thought Underdrive pullies only caused a problem with the 5 point slows? It normally wouldnt bother me, everythings wroking great but I just got 2 12 inch rockford fosgates and an 800 watt amp and an in dash TV, the tvs connected and so far no difference in voltage at all, its those subs im worried about, im hooking them up today. . . I do have a Capacitor, will that make a difference? Reason I'm asking is because I ran 2 12 inch JLs in my 96 GT convertible when I had it and it would never stall but the voltage would go right down to the N in NORMAL on the voltage mark meter. . . and I blew an alternator on it once. . .. Ahhhh so whats your opinons? will I be okay with the pullies? I'd gladly take stock pullies for a trade on these stupid underdrives, they came with the car and they seem to cause people nothing but grief, lemme know guys
Underdrive pullies
- Thread starter Venom1
- Start date
I've heard stories about early 4V's undercharging w/ U/D pulleys on. In fact, an ex-Ford Enigneer wrote in to 5.0 or MMFF (or some 'stang magazine) in response to an letter form an owner who was having charging problems.
Wait, no, that guy had overheating problems due to U/D's. His suggestion: put them back to stock. I don't know if this applies to you, though.
Maybe we should mess with the ratios on the early 4V's. Later ones got an improved water pump. Maybe they got a new alternator in '99 too. Ask around.
Wait, no, that guy had overheating problems due to U/D's. His suggestion: put them back to stock. I don't know if this applies to you, though.
Maybe we should mess with the ratios on the early 4V's. Later ones got an improved water pump. Maybe they got a new alternator in '99 too. Ask around.
Wow. Great tech in this thread guys.
The pulleys will not give you an overheating problem. No reason to change them from that point-of-view. I have Steeda pulleys, and with the stereo blaring, at idle, with the headlights on, I also get some droop in the voltage needle. I'm running a single 12" Xplod, and I'm not pushing it too hard. No problems after about 6k miles, although I am running a pretty good Optima red-top battery. I would think even a smallish capacitor would give you enough reserve to protect your equipment.
If you really care you should have the alternator output tested and compare it with your system requirements.
The pulleys will not give you an overheating problem. No reason to change them from that point-of-view. I have Steeda pulleys, and with the stereo blaring, at idle, with the headlights on, I also get some droop in the voltage needle. I'm running a single 12" Xplod, and I'm not pushing it too hard. No problems after about 6k miles, although I am running a pretty good Optima red-top battery. I would think even a smallish capacitor would give you enough reserve to protect your equipment.
If you really care you should have the alternator output tested and compare it with your system requirements.
95GTV8
New Member
Venom1 said:
You should be fine, if worst comes to worst buy a bigger alternator, then you can not worry bout stock pulleys and keep the performance the u/d give you.
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