Discussion
The front wheel on my pulley was cracked. The engine was out and as far as I can see that wheel doesn't do anything on our cars, so my friend offered to turn it off for me. The pulley separates into 2 halves and the back half incorporates a rubber buffer which stops vibration or something, so I guess that part should be kept. Anyway once separated he made a new front portion out of billet aluminium (minus the redundant wheel). He returned the old steel front half and even with the front wheel turned off it still is a heavy old chunk of metal. I have noticed adverts on ebay for aluminium front pulleys (not for this engine though) and on the adverts they state that the reduced pulley weight gives a good improvement to HP. I guess it's similar to lightening the flywheel. Anyway I'm well pleased with it, however it does make the fan belt pully look pants!
Other point is that, unlike a 4 cylinder or 8, a V6 is inherently unbalanced. Some have a counterbalance shaft, but I don't think the Ford Cologne has - it has a vibration damper in the front pulley. If you reduce the mass of the pulley or damper, it may well have less intertia and rev more freely, but that might be offset by out-of-balance vibration.
I think the effects will be negligible either way, but could be worse!
I think the effects will be negligible either way, but could be worse!
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