Forced Induction V3 pulley change

[JD1964]

I want to change from the entry level 3.33” blower pulley to a 2.62”. I’m wondering if my current belt will work or if I’ll need a shorter one. As you can see in the picture, with the 3.33” at proper tension I’m the middle of the adjustment slot. Is there enough adjustment room left to take up the slack created by the smaller 2.62” pulley?

 

[General karthief]

Maybe yes?

 

[Noobz347]

The pulley will [lengthen] your belt just a hair over 1/3 inch.

Or to describe it better: It will bring your blower pulley 1/3 inch closer.

 

[JD1964]

On actually changing the pulley, I’ve done it before but remember it being sketchy in my fear of somehow damaging the blower assembly. Can anyone tell me a reliable way of changing the pulley without risking damage to the blower assembly? Thanks

 

[Noobz347]

I know there's a tool.


Hold on....



Ok... That took longer than I thought.


Vortech does not appear to offer their own tool. Most say to heat it and slide it off by hand (ok use a glove or something, it's hot!!!). Use anti-seize when installing the new pulley.

It's nice to have a clamshell puller standing by for stubborn aholes:

From Vortech's FAQ Page:

What is the best way to remove or install the supercharger pulley, and the appropriate torque specs for the supercharger retaining bolt?​

Using a plumber's torch, carefully heat up the outside perimeter of the pulley to be removed or installed, as this will help to expand the opening to ease installation. When installing the pulley, apply a small amount of anti-seize on the input shaft and key, and then slide it on. Steel pulleys may rust themselves to the shaft if not lubricated. Never force or hammer on the pulley or supercharger shaft. It is also recommended that a small amount of blue Loctite be applied to the threads of the retaining bolt prior to inserting into input shaft and then torque to suggested 25-30 ft./lbs.

 

[nicholase]

Yeah, a heat gun works great. It'll slide right off.

 

[Dontknowchit]

I went from a 3.33, to a griptech 2.90, then a 2.70. I am selling the 2 griptec pulleys for a song BTW. I was able to use the stock belt supplied by vortech with the 2.90. it had full wrap and bottomed out with good tension. I had to get a smaller belt (52 1/8th K060516HD) for the 2.70.

I used a 3 jaw puller it did not want to come off. I used a LITTLE heat with a heat gun, a little PB blaster, warmed it, soaked it, let it sit. Then I came back to it next day and tried again and gave it some gentle wacks with a dead blow whenever tension peaked on the puller and it basically inched itself off. The key was to add tension and gently tap on it. Slow and steady, gentle constant pressure and persuasion.

Happy to answer you questions if ya want to DM.

 

[JD1964]

The supercharger pulley I have that I want to swap to is actually a 2.95”, not a 2.62”. I tried it with my current 6PK1345 belt and its a no go. Just a tad too long for the 2.95. I’m running a 6” crank pulley so I really want the smallest supercharger pulley I can get. Thus, I have a 2.62 on order from Vortech. When I put it on, I’ll set the adjuster at an appropriate position and tie a string around the whole thing to get the number for a good length belt to get. I’m guessing something close to 6PK1300. The 1300 is millimeters. I’ll post back with the final belt length that works with a 6” crank pulley and a 2.62” supercharger pulley.

I used a heat gun and did not need to tap to get the pulley off. Just started with cold engine and heated the pulley long enough and it came off easily with bare hands (wearing gloves of course).

 

[JD1964]

In the not too distant future, I may have up for sale my 8 rib pulley setup. It will include an 8” 8 rib crank pulley that has a 4.75” accessory drive, a 2.95” 8 rib supercharger pulley, the idler pulley with proper width for the 8 rib belt and 8 rib Gates Green fleet belt sized for the Vortech setup on a Ford 5.0.

I made 10psi at 6k rpm with my setup and these pulleys.

I’m hoping to edge out 7psi with a 6” crank and a 2.62” supercharger on a 6 rib setup.

 

[Dontknowchit]

The supercharger pulley I have that I want to swap to is actually a 2.95”, not a 2.62”. I tried it with my current 6PK1345 belt and its a no go. Just a tad too long for the 2.95. I’m running a 6” crank pulley so I really want the smallest supercharger pulley I can get. Thus, I have a 2.62 on order from Vortech. When I put it on, I’ll set the adjuster at an appropriate position and tie a string around the whole thing to get the number for a good length belt to get. I’m guessing something close to 6PK1300. The 1300 is millimeters. I’ll post back with the final belt length that works with a 6” crank pulley and a 2.62” supercharger pulley.

I used a heat gun and did not need to tap to get the pulley off. Just started with cold engine and heated the pulley long enough and it came off easily with bare hands (wearing gloves of course).

Your results may vary, but my griptech pulley at 2.90 with a green belt held just barely to 6000rpm, slipping occasionally at 5800 but the 2.70 slipped at 6psi which was somewhere in the 4500-4900 range. I had to go up to 8 rib and bigger crank pulley.

 

[JD1964]

I’ve recently reset my mini shift light to 5500 rpm. We shall see. I mean, Vortech sells the 6 rib 2.62 pulley so I can only assume they intend it to work, provided you don’t rev too high.

 

[JD1964]

For the record, for a period of time I ran the 8” 8 rib crank pulley with the 3.33” 6 rib supercharger pulley and 6 rib belt. It made 10 psi at 6k rpm and I don’t remember experiencing any slippage. That setup calculates to nearly 52000 rpm impeller speed.

My upcoming 6rib setup will be 6” crank pulley with 2.62 supercharger pulley which calculates to just north of 45000 impeller speed. So if 52000 impeller speed load didnt slip, I dont see how 45000 will.

Also for the record, when I went full 8 rib setup with 8” crank and 2.95 supercharger, it still only produced 10psi max. However, the effective boost range did come in at a lower rpm range so even though max boost was not increased, it was still a net positive with lower range boost coming in sooner.

 

[nicholase]

I used a heat gun and did not need to tap to get the pulley off. Just started with cold engine and heated the pulley long enough and it came off easily with bare hands (wearing gloves of course).

Yeah, the heat gun works great. Like you mentioned on a cold engine. It always slid right off easily for me. I heat it to slide it on as well. Goes right on smooth.

 

[JD1964]

The 2.62” pulley was delivered yesterday. It would not slide on without applying heat. About 90 seconds of heat gun action while slowly rotating and it pushed on fully by hand.

I set the adjuster in the center of range and tied a twine string around the assembly, cut it off and measured it. 51” is the number. A 51” belt is scheduled for delivery today.

I’ll keep you posted after I install the belt and test drive.

 

[JD1964]

Darn it! 51” belt is too short. I think my measurement dropped the string into the valleys of the pulleys. The manufacturer measurements are the outside diameter of the belt. I have a 52.25” belt on the way now. Will post back

 

[JD1964]

Gates K060520 listed at 52.17” is perfect for the 6” crank and 2.62” supercharger pulleys. It gets the best wrap around the pulley you’re going to get. I’ll test drive this weekend.

 

[JD1964]

Maybe I won’t test drive this weekend

 

[Noobz347]

It's making you think about it for some reason.

 

[JD1964]

Of course I have no problem driving the car in the rain. It does just fine. Certainly not going to be checking and change in boost levels.

 

[JD1964]

The rain held off yesterday and I had a chance to test drive.

Good news; She makes 7.5 psi at 6k rpm with the 6” crank and 2.62” supercharger pulleys. Feels great!

Not so good news; She’s puking coolant again at those boost levels.

Time to get some better heads. I’m in the middle of an investment restructuring plan so spending this money will be on hold for a few months. I’m putting the engine back to NA for now as these GT40 irons hold fine without boost.