Worried about pulleys...
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: SE Wisconsin, Milwaukee Area
Worried about pulleys...
Hey all,
Since getting the L in July I have done some mods to it... JDM Silver Bullet Exhaust, K&N panel filter (soon will be replace with a JL Ram Air System), Amsoil synthetic oil, Accufab throttle body, and a JL Diablosport chip. These have made a nice difference to the feel of the truck, but over the winter I have a few project I want to accomplish (different plugs, deep tranny pan, drop shackles in back)... and the BIG mod, I want to take the plunge for a bigger lower pulley. Ease of install is very important to me, so I am thinking about one of those JDM interchangable systems, which I think saves the hassle of having to get the stock pulley off the cage, as the whole assembly is replaced (I have read too many horror stories in here about stripping bolts and fighting all day to remove), it is very important to me to be able to change back to stock stuff in case of warrenty issues or if I sell the truck. Please correct me if I am wrong on that.
Anyways, the big decision is which size pulley to get. My understanding is that a 2lb. pulley is mild enough that I really don't have to change anything else (chip reburn, plugs, s/c belt), I can run 93 octane gas...but there is minimal gain. If I go to a 4lb. pulley I get a good increase in hp and torque, but have to get a chip reburn, different plugs, a goodyear s/c belt, a boost bypass mod, and don't know if 93 octane gas will be enough? My main concern is that I don't want to go crazy and comprimise the reliability and integrity of the vehicle, but want more kick then stock. Is a 2lb. pulley a noticable improvement over stock, esp. in conjunction with the other mods? Or should I take the plunge and go big time for the 4lb, and will that seriously impact the long-term reliability of the truck? As far as driving habits I am pretty laid-back, I don't often get into the supercharger unless some punk is messing with me or I am way out in the boonies and get on it just for fun... most of the time I am just cruising around reasonabley. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated so I can stop worrying and just buy something!
Since getting the L in July I have done some mods to it... JDM Silver Bullet Exhaust, K&N panel filter (soon will be replace with a JL Ram Air System), Amsoil synthetic oil, Accufab throttle body, and a JL Diablosport chip. These have made a nice difference to the feel of the truck, but over the winter I have a few project I want to accomplish (different plugs, deep tranny pan, drop shackles in back)... and the BIG mod, I want to take the plunge for a bigger lower pulley. Ease of install is very important to me, so I am thinking about one of those JDM interchangable systems, which I think saves the hassle of having to get the stock pulley off the cage, as the whole assembly is replaced (I have read too many horror stories in here about stripping bolts and fighting all day to remove), it is very important to me to be able to change back to stock stuff in case of warrenty issues or if I sell the truck. Please correct me if I am wrong on that.
Anyways, the big decision is which size pulley to get. My understanding is that a 2lb. pulley is mild enough that I really don't have to change anything else (chip reburn, plugs, s/c belt), I can run 93 octane gas...but there is minimal gain. If I go to a 4lb. pulley I get a good increase in hp and torque, but have to get a chip reburn, different plugs, a goodyear s/c belt, a boost bypass mod, and don't know if 93 octane gas will be enough? My main concern is that I don't want to go crazy and comprimise the reliability and integrity of the vehicle, but want more kick then stock. Is a 2lb. pulley a noticable improvement over stock, esp. in conjunction with the other mods? Or should I take the plunge and go big time for the 4lb, and will that seriously impact the long-term reliability of the truck? As far as driving habits I am pretty laid-back, I don't often get into the supercharger unless some punk is messing with me or I am way out in the boonies and get on it just for fun... most of the time I am just cruising around reasonabley. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated so I can stop worrying and just buy something!
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Central Joisey
IMHO do the 4# and a reburn. A reburn is no big deal and I would do it for a 2 # too. Just be real specific to your tuner about driving habits, where you live, octane, etc. Just tell them you want a safe street tune and you shouldn't have any problems. I have had no problems with the JDM Interchangeable, but I haven't had to remove it.
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Warner Robins, Ga, CSA
I had similar thoughts when I got my 01. I started out with a 2 lber, then a 3 lber, and now I have a 5 lber. Start out with a 4 + lber and save $$$.
As to reliability, my L has 38,900 miles on it and has never seen the dealership or a shop. I drive it daily to work and it has been almost flawless(rt fog light cracked). It has been dynoed 5 times and 1/4 miled many times. I believe part of the reliability is due to the use of RP(see sig) oil.
Go to a colder plug when you get your pulley.
Dan
As to reliability, my L has 38,900 miles on it and has never seen the dealership or a shop. I drive it daily to work and it has been almost flawless(rt fog light cracked). It has been dynoed 5 times and 1/4 miled many times. I believe part of the reliability is due to the use of RP(see sig) oil.
Go to a colder plug when you get your pulley.
Dan
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Alexandria VA
go with a 4lb, there are plenty of people running around with no probs from the 4lb. Make sure you tuner gives you a safe street tune that is rich, and also ask to keep the stock shifts, they usually create harder shifts which wears the tranny.
As far as removing the stock lower pulley. It isn't a problem, I think those that were stripping threads were turning the wrong way. The part that unscrews from the crank pulley goes clockwise to loosen, opposite from what you would expect.
Oh and I just had a plug launch from the head 2 weeks after installing the pulley and plugs. Come to find out that some of the plugs came loose again. Be sure to install the plugs when the engine is completely cold and check them every so often initially to make sure they arent coming loose.
As far as removing the stock lower pulley. It isn't a problem, I think those that were stripping threads were turning the wrong way. The part that unscrews from the crank pulley goes clockwise to loosen, opposite from what you would expect.
Oh and I just had a plug launch from the head 2 weeks after installing the pulley and plugs. Come to find out that some of the plugs came loose again. Be sure to install the plugs when the engine is completely cold and check them every so often initially to make sure they arent coming loose.
Last edited by brap; Nov 19, 2002 at 11:09 AM.
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Joined: Oct 1999
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From: NJ
I've got a 2lber and have had it on for a while no problems. yes there was a noticable improvement. IMO the 2lb was perfect for what I wanted and highly doubt I will ever change it. If I do though it will be a 4lb lower. Most likely if I want more boost though I will just get an upper.
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Lexington, KY
Originally posted by brap
As far as removing the stock lower pulley. It isn't a problem, I think those that were stripping threads were turning the wrong way. The part that unscrews from the crank pulley goes clockwise to loosen, opposite from what you would expect.
As far as removing the stock lower pulley. It isn't a problem, I think those that were stripping threads were turning the wrong way. The part that unscrews from the crank pulley goes clockwise to loosen, opposite from what you would expect.
nor I, nor any of the other people that have had problems
have been turning the wrong way ... I just heard of yet another
person that cracked off the hub this past weekend. So if
you gonna give advise, at least don't insult 10 or 20 other
board members when you do it? OK?
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: MA
yeah you definitely wouldn't be able to put enough force on it to strip it if you were turning the wrong way...if the motor's 450+mods lb.ft. can't strip it.
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From: Alexandria VA
Sorry, I guess I worded that wrong. I know that not everyone that had that problem was turning it the wrong way, but there have been a few that were. I wasn't trying to flame anyone, just giving a heads up jeffsavage so he doesn't do it.
