25% Underdrive pulleys, are they worth it?
25% Underdrive pulleys, are they worth it?
Author
Discussion

MyM8V8

Original Poster:

9,468 posts

225 months

Monday 20th July 2009
quotequote all
?

ringram

14,702 posts

278 months

Monday 20th July 2009
quotequote all
Of course mate smile
I have a spare 25% underdrive ATI pulley, wont fit my Corvette configuration.
Im not sure what power they free up, but quite a few blokes swear by them. Probably worth a few bhp.

tinker-27

835 posts

254 months

Monday 20th July 2009
quotequote all
use ati and nothing else as we have had issues with cam chains snapping and it looks like it was the under drive pulley !! ati are the best dont use anything else .

stevieturbo

18,101 posts

277 months

Monday 20th July 2009
quotequote all
Why would it cause the cam chain to snap ?

I use Powerbond, and never had a problem...although it isnt underdrive. I'd only ever consider an under drive for a high rpm engine, that sees high rpm a lot.

MyM8V8

Original Poster:

9,468 posts

225 months

Tuesday 21st July 2009
quotequote all
ringram said:
Of course mate smile
I have a spare 25% underdrive ATI pulley, wont fit my Corvette configuration.
Im not sure what power they free up, but quite a few blokes swear by them. Probably worth a few bhp.
Is that the one that keeps falling off or dropping the belts? smile

I have a lovely Powerbond corvette 10% underdrive supplied to me by.... But it bloody don't fit my Ute and I don't seem to be able to get it swapped for the right one!!! mad

I got it for the weight reduction more than the underdrive. Are the ATI units lighter than stock?

Edited by MyM8V8 on Tuesday 21st July 13:52

MyM8V8

Original Poster:

9,468 posts

225 months

Tuesday 21st July 2009
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
Why would it cause the cam chain to snap ?

I use Powerbond, and never had a problem...although it isnt underdrive. I'd only ever consider an under drive for a high rpm engine, that sees high rpm a lot.
Is that one the corvett or GTO offset? Is it lighter than stcok Stevie. Why the change for you?

MyM8V8

Original Poster:

9,468 posts

225 months

Tuesday 21st July 2009
quotequote all
tinker-27 said:
use ati and nothing else as we have had issues with cam chains snapping and it looks like it was the under drive pulley !! ati are the best dont use anything else .
Did you see any power gains Craig, or is it just the extra acceleration?

well_fans

4,193 posts

254 months

Tuesday 21st July 2009
quotequote all
I was under impression all the underdrive did was reduce the losses through the ancilliaries like the alternator, air con pump etc by reducing the rpm they were driven at so gaining a few hp back? Didnt think it would make a real difference to acceleration on its own?

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

290 months

Tuesday 21st July 2009
quotequote all
My take is that if the engine's revving higher you use an underdrive to stop the water pump cavitating and the alternator and other ancilliaries revving their nuts off, maybe sapping power. Downside might be that the alternator doesn't kick in as quickly as usual at low revs which can effect charging.

ringram

14,702 posts

278 months

Tuesday 21st July 2009
quotequote all
They say 25% underdrive needs an idle of 800rpm min for it to work.

Thats stock vxr8 idle speed for an LS2 anyway.


MyM8V8

Original Poster:

9,468 posts

225 months

Tuesday 21st July 2009
quotequote all
ringram said:
They say 25% underdrive needs an idle of 800rpm min for it to work.

Thats stock vxr8 idle speed for an LS2 anyway.
That would not appear to be a problem then.

Do you want to get rid of yours?

stevieturbo

18,101 posts

277 months

Tuesday 21st July 2009
quotequote all
MyM8V8 said:
stevieturbo said:
Why would it cause the cam chain to snap ?

I use Powerbond, and never had a problem...although it isnt underdrive. I'd only ever consider an under drive for a high rpm engine, that sees high rpm a lot.
Is that one the corvett or GTO offset? Is it lighter than stcok Stevie. Why the change for you?
Same as Camaro/GTO, its steel and its heavy.


But it allows me to bolt my blower drive to it

toothrot

22,454 posts

240 months

Tuesday 21st July 2009
quotequote all
I have a spare YPVS Powerband

Brummmie

5,284 posts

251 months

Tuesday 21st July 2009
quotequote all
There is thought that they can provoke timing chain failure, harmonics/dampening and all that.

tinker-27

835 posts

254 months

Tuesday 21st July 2009
quotequote all
harmonics the skyline boys have the same problem, i woulnd bother maybe a couple of bhp gain but never done one back to back.

MyM8V8

Original Poster:

9,468 posts

225 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2009
quotequote all
toothrot said:
I have a spare YPVS Powerband
What's that then mate? Do you mean PowerbOnd? Was it off your old LS1?

Bonnie and Clyde

11,701 posts

222 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2009
quotequote all
MyM8V8 said:
toothrot said:
I have a spare YPVS Powerband


What's that then mate? Do you mean PowerbOnd? Was it off your old LS1?
He means UPVC. Its the trim of his bathroom window

toothrot

22,454 posts

240 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2009
quotequote all
MyM8V8 said:
toothrot said:
I have a spare YPVS Powerband
What's that then mate? Do you mean PowerbOnd? Was it off your old LS1?
wink Of an old RD350 - this underdrive sounds like a good idea in theory but is it worth it over all? Personally I'd rip the Aircon out

MyM8V8

Original Poster:

9,468 posts

225 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2009
quotequote all
toothrot said:
MyM8V8 said:
toothrot said:
I have a spare YPVS Powerband
What's that then mate? Do you mean PowerbOnd? Was it off your old LS1?
wink Of an old RD350 - this underdrive sounds like a good idea in theory but is it worth it over all? Personally I'd rip the Aircon out
Well put it like this, if I can get another 12-15rwhp it gets me into the 11's wink

toothrot

22,454 posts

240 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2009
quotequote all
Thought you had the potential already? Ditch the AC if possible though, thats a good few KG saving biggrin