Are new pulleys really worth it?

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Old 10-17-2009, 01:45 PM
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Are new pulleys really worth it?

The FAQ says you get about a 3 HP boost from installing an aftermarket pulley, yet I notice a lot of people still do it. Is it really worth the effort, or are people mostly doing it to satisfy an addiction to mods?
Old 10-17-2009, 01:54 PM
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it WORTH it. the light weigh stock size pulley wont add power, but will let ur rpm climb faster. on my cl-s6 the rpms fly up, the light weigh smaller pulley will add power and let the rpm climb faster. but u need to get a diff belt.
Old 10-17-2009, 02:15 PM
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there was a downside in bottom end power though right?
Old 10-17-2009, 02:24 PM
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no. running the smaller diameter pulley will decrease the output of the alternator.
Old 10-17-2009, 02:38 PM
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yes Rajca is right^^^ aside from slightly less amps being generated, there is only GAINS..

I swear to GOD it feels like adding another intake to the car...

I'd put money on it that the pulley adds more.

BUT NO ONE has done a b4 and after dyno that I have seen.
Old 10-17-2009, 02:40 PM
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I have the full UR kit.And OP you need this.It will get you off the line quicker for sure.It's not one of those mods where your wondering to yourself,"did it really do anything" you will be able to tell the first time you hit the gas.
Also your going to free up 2hp from every 1lbs off the crankshaft.
3hp is a bit under, 3hp you probally would not even feel.
I don"t see any down side running light weight pulleys,unless it's the underdrivin one's that will slow the alts charging especially at idle.
Old 10-17-2009, 02:44 PM
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Is this something I could probably do myself, or would I have to find a shop that'll install it for me? Excuse the noob question, the only other mod I've done to my CL is a CAI...

Also, are you all using stock size or the smaller ones like Rajca talked about? I'm looking at a few sites here and there, none are really telling me if they're the same size as OEM, or if they're the smaller size...
Old 10-17-2009, 02:48 PM
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with some basic hand tools u can do it. but getting the crank pulley off is the bitch. u can do the cranking method, that what i did. worked on the second crank and pulley bolt was off.
Old 10-17-2009, 02:51 PM
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light weight underdrivin one will give even more hp than the just the light weight one.And as long as you dont have a crazy system you will be fine. it's fairly easy to acomplish but,if not capable it should only cost you about 75 for all pulleys

Last edited by richardparker; 10-17-2009 at 02:53 PM.
Old 10-17-2009, 02:58 PM
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im gonna be looking for underdrivin pulley since i dont have a system at all.
Old 10-17-2009, 03:42 PM
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option UR pulley.... get nothing ELSE.. unless you like pissing money away for a stupid name brand. LOL
Old 10-17-2009, 04:05 PM
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i got the ur crank pulley. im the kind of person buys well know brand stuff. i will look into the option pulley seeing how many ppl are running them and with success.
Old 10-17-2009, 04:11 PM
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where would i find this pulley. all i see is the option light weight crank pulley, no underdrivin
Old 10-17-2009, 04:24 PM
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here is EXACTLY what i bought and the SAME PRICE!

only thing off ebay I have on my car. And it's the BEST $ per HP without a doubt.

The belts cost me 60 so.. 80 all said and done. not expensive at all!!

DAMN they just upped their s/h fees. oh well.. still not e

http://cgi.ebay.ca/97-02-ACURA-CL-99...item518947f773


When you get it in the mail and look at it it's AMAZING you only paid so little for the damn thing.

I thought the metal was worth more than what I paid.
Old 10-17-2009, 04:24 PM
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option pulley is a ebay pulley that I've seen them at times 10+shipping. But I rather also go with a brand with proven results and will stand beheind they're stuff.
When I first got them I was sure witch pulley I wanted but bought the underdrive set from a auction.I called ur they explained everything and said If i want to change pulleys there did'nt care who I bought them from.If they were unused they would swap me for witch ever pulley I wanted.
It's hard to find that kind of service anywhere.
Also when I bought mine they had no instructions to get the proper belts,called them in maybe 2 minutes had the part numbers for 2 differnt brands.They cost but,its worth it.
Old 10-17-2009, 04:36 PM
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^^^^ dude there are DIY's on the option pulley. I dunno why on earth you'd go anywhere but with Option.

Take it from a guy RUNNING it on his car right now. It works, it's impresses and moreover it will not deteriorate nor discolor since it is bare aluminum.

I did CAI first then the Option pulley.

HONESTLY the pulley was noticed more with regards to power and high reving HAPPINESS.

To all you who do not get the option pulley, and have bought or will by a "name brand" think of all the free gas you've just pissed away.
Old 10-17-2009, 04:36 PM
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Ive run the Option pulley for about 20k miles so far with absolutely no issues.

With belts everything cost just under $60. It definately freed up some power and the car revs much nicer now.
Old 10-17-2009, 04:41 PM
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whats the part number for the smaller belt(s)? and from where?
Old 10-17-2009, 04:43 PM
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Originally Posted by civicdrivr
Ive run the Option pulley for about 20k miles so far with absolutely no issues.

With belts everything cost just under $60. It definately freed up some power and the car revs much nicer now.
thats a 3rd of what i paid for my ur crank pulley. o well it served me well for 30k and 2 years of abuse.
Old 10-17-2009, 04:49 PM
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Gates K040425 and K060441.

Now looking at my receipt for the belts I see that I paid less then $60 for everything. The belts were $26.69 shipped, the pulley was $23.95 shipped, for a total of $50.64. Im a receipt whore
Old 10-17-2009, 05:03 PM
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where can i get the belts?
Old 10-17-2009, 05:04 PM
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??????????
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GATES...Q5fAccessories
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GMC-N...ehicleQ5fParts
????????
that what i need?
Old 10-17-2009, 05:08 PM
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Looks right, but I got mine on Amazon from Auto Parts 123.
Old 10-20-2009, 09:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Rapture
The FAQ says you get about a 3 HP boost from installing an aftermarket pulley, yet I notice a lot of people still do it. Is it really worth the effort, or are people mostly doing it to satisfy an addiction to mods?
Yes it is worth it. Unorthodox Racing makes a crank pulley (underdrive or stock diameter for those with larger stereos) or a pulley set (includes crank, alternator, and power steering). On the TSX gains were 10whp and 10 wtq. You should be able to see gains of 7-8 hp from the crank pulley.
Old 10-20-2009, 11:27 AM
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yea man in canada the prices for parts are up the ASSSS...

what can u do tho... accept do all the work on ur own car.
Old 10-20-2009, 11:55 AM
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so set includes how many pulleys? 2 or 3 i am going to change belts anyway so may be i can go with smaller size but i have an audio its just 2 sub with 300rms amp
Old 10-20-2009, 12:04 PM
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Full set is 3 pulleys.Underdrive pulleys would be no problem for 300w rms.
Old 10-20-2009, 12:07 PM
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anyone knows where to get whole set at once ?on ebay i c only crankshaft pulley...
Old 10-20-2009, 12:28 PM
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What brand ? the option one's only have a crank pully I think. I would go with UR or ralco for the set.
Old 10-20-2009, 12:30 PM
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Thats because Option only sells the crank pulley. You may find the whole UR pulley set every now and then, but the vendors sell them.
Old 10-20-2009, 07:36 PM
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Wow, now I'm a bit confused about the whole thing. You guys are kinda going over my head with this thing (I'm a newbie to car mechanics, again.)
Old 10-20-2009, 07:43 PM
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ok the main pulley you wanna change is the crank pulley (the one the motor spins off the drive shaft). When you by that it's made of aluminum and not steel so you shave several pounds off the rotational mass of the motor. So you a making it easier to spin basically.

By shaving off weight and getting the underdrive version(the one that is smaller than the stock pulley) not only do you gain POWER from weight loss, but you gain it from spinning the accessories less also.

Which is why you will have less power from the alternator at idle.

So you can buy the option one for like 30 to ur door. and get 8 hp and tq about. maybe more.

Or u can spend 2-300 and get all 3 pulleys (crank, alternator, power steering)

And those extra 2 don't even get you 1/2 of what the CRANK pulley does.

So it doesn't make much sense if you look at ur opportunity/cost ratio LOL economics.
Old 10-20-2009, 08:50 PM
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what about this ? crank pulley cheap as crap

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-02...ht_3355wt_1165
Old 10-20-2009, 09:13 PM
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now thats the smaller diameter or the stock diameter.
Old 10-20-2009, 09:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Rajca
now thats the smaller diameter or the stock diameter.
i asked the seller a question about that...
Old 10-20-2009, 09:18 PM
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that is the UNDERDRIVE. It says in red bold lettering in the description.

That is EXACTLY what I got on my car right now.

And it's better than an intake in regards to PICK UP.

BEST MOD FOR OUR CARS HANDS DOWN
Old 10-20-2009, 09:20 PM
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so it is like 35$ shipped but what about 2 more ? where to get cheap ones ?
Old 10-20-2009, 09:40 PM
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this hole underdrive thing is driving me nuts. SO UNDERDRIVE is the smaller size, CORRECT????
Old 10-20-2009, 10:20 PM
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YES lol... it is underdriving the pulleys. Thus it is smaller. and also lighter that would have to mean too. :-)
Old 10-20-2009, 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Rajca
this hole underdrive thing is driving me nuts. SO UNDERDRIVE is the smaller size, CORRECT????
With out a doubt you will want the under driven pulleys for your cl because you don't need to power extra acessories on a race car.Under driven crank pulley usally gives you 10-15% more power compared to just the light weight crank pulley.


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