Underdrive Pullies, are they worth it?

gogo50 · 01-16-2001, 09:59 PM

I want to make the car faster by doing bolt on parts. Will these be a good buy, if so which kind? Then later I want to get 4:10's in the rearend. The car runs a 14.6, will these two mods reach 13 seconds? Just wondering? Thanks.

------------------
87' LX,Dark Canyon Red Hatchback,AOD,remanufactured w/Transgo shiftkit
3:27's
Flowmasters
K+N filter E.T.= 14.6@95
no Airsilencer

Fox Body · 01-16-2001, 10:03 PM

I'd like to hear the answer to that one too (about the pullies). Can one say that pullies can add at least 0.10 to 1/4 mile ET? If not, I'm not sure it's worth the money.

“…because, no one’s really gonna be free until nerd persecution ends.” ---Revenge of the Nerds

-------------------------------
'79 Mustang Coup
4" Cowl
Weld wheels (15x6;15x8)
Stock 5.8L
C4 w/ shift kit
1.5" MAC full length headers
Holley 750 CFM
Edelbrock intake
2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters
8.8" Rear end w/ 2.73:1 gears (sucks!) (awaiting installation of 3.55s)
Front: 225/60/15 Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II
Sucky Purolator air filter that's choking my car.

01-16-2001, 10:15 PM

Pullies are one of the best mods you can do. Just by installing them (it was my first mod), I could feel the seat of the pants difference. The gear and the pullies won't get you there alone, you need sticky tires. The gear is a good choice, my buddy put a 4.10 gear in his stock aod notchback with stock trans and it would chirp going into second after the gear change. I would try getting a larger stall speed like 2500-2800, you will pick up some et there also. You would be in the 13's for sure with the addition of the above mods, stall, pullies, and gear. Buy a quality torque converter though, like a stallion, or the like, make sure you spend the extra penny for a good torque converter.

BTW, I would say the pullies add at least a tenth in the 1/4 mile. I have the ford motorsport pullies. Did you bump your timing too? If not then you should, this is worth a tenth or two (assuming that traction is there).

[This message has been edited by 88GT5.013.02 (edited 01-16-2001).]

[This message has been edited by 88GT5.013.02 (edited 01-16-2001).]

1989GT · 01-16-2001, 10:26 PM

Yes they're worth it. BONE stock I picked up .2's and almost 3 MPH.

------------------
89GT,T-5Z, D.S.S. 306 shortblock w\main support, B-303 cam, Cobra intake, GT40P heads, 1.72rr, MAC "P" headers, MAC off-road H-Pipe, MAC true-fit w\tips, 373's...and the list goes on!
Throttle Junkie Powered by Ford!
12.824 @ 107.05 MPH

MiracleMax · 01-16-2001, 10:43 PM

Yep. I'd have to agree with the rest. Probably then best seat of the pants difference I had made to my car. Even compared to the exhaust mods.

Fox Body · 01-16-2001, 11:39 PM

"Seat-of-the-pants difference, picked up .2 sec, worth at least a tenth the 1/4", huh?

That's what I wanted to hear. Okay, now I gotta have them. Which pullies did you change? Water pump? Crank? (did you mess with the alternator pulley). Any overheating/electrical/timing problems? If I like what I hear, I'll get them along with installing my 3.55s this February!

“…because, no one’s really gonna be free until nerd persecution ends.” ---Revenge of the Nerds

-------------------------------
'79 Mustang Coup
4" Cowl
Weld wheels (15x6;15x8)
Stock 5.8L
C4 w/ shift kit
1.5" MAC full length headers
Holley 750 CFM
Edelbrock intake
2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters
8.8" Rear end w/ 2.73:1 gears (sucks!) (awaiting installation of 3.55s)
Front: 225/60/15 Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II
Sucky Purolator air filter that's choking my car.

DemonGT · 01-17-2001, 12:00 AM

i was going to buy pullies also but passed them up because some time in the late late future i plan on supercharging my car and heard you shouldnt have under drive pullies if you supercharge..and i dont want to have to put the others back on

------------------
1991 GT,T-5,air silencer removed,racing clutch(previous owner put in so dont know what kind),K&N air filter,Aiwa deck,power acoustic amp,2 12" pianeers,UPDATE: Just got my Mac long tube headers

By the time summer comes ill have full Mac exhaust,new shifter knob and what ever else i can afford

MiracleMax · 01-17-2001, 12:16 AM

I did the FMS pulley set (crank, alt, water pump), never had any problems. But I did learn to keep and eye out for fellow stangers when they pulled up to the stop light. If the lights dimmed a little they where running pulleys too

MiracleMax · 01-17-2001, 12:18 AM

BTW, I've got a set of march pullies now. Huge difference in the weight between these and my old FMS pullies. Might not help that much more, but the engine has less weight to accelerate. I figure every little bit helps

Five.0 · 01-17-2001, 07:30 PM

its probably one of the cheapest and best mods i put my money on. Mac pulleys, you cant believe this, down the road my water pump was read to give out (80,000 miles)
and the idiot that i was, i actually went to ford, (needs explanation), anyway long story short, they put the originals back on, and i drove the car and it felt so stock. i tried to rip in third, ofcourse it didnt happen. i said the hell with that, went home did it my self, put the Macs back on, i ripped in third like a stock would rip in second. need a shorter belt though.

94GT
shorty headers, pro chamber h-pipe, 2 chamber flows, mac pulleys, ram-air, superchip, 3.73, 2" drop riding on 275/40/17's all around.

mspears · 01-18-2001, 10:21 AM

Sure the pullies help, but there is a down size to everything. Because of an oversize radiator, I never had any cooling problems. However, the charging system does strugle(dim lites, slow windows, ect.)
Also, I'm still running A/C, and it doesn't cool at low rpm's.

Green92LX · 01-18-2001, 10:43 AM

Personally, I wouldn't get them. I agree with MSPEARS, they put a drag on the rest of your accessories. I don't know about you, but slow power windows drive me nuts!

Green92LX · 01-18-2001, 10:45 AM

And I think the money they hose you for to get them could be spent better on other things...

------------------
1992 5.0 LX, Edelbrock 6037 Heads, Cobra Intake,E-303, 1.6 Roller Rockers,65MM Holley TB, 75 MM Pro M Mass Air, 190 LPH FP w/ 24 lb injectors,BBK equal length shorties,offroad h-pipe,Mac Flowpath Mufflers, Pro 5.0, 3.73's,Motorsport "C" springs,welded subframe connectors, Ponies w/ 225/50 Nittos, 93 Cobra Spoiler

Daily driver: 89 Coupe with 205K plus, BBK shorties,offroad h-pipe,2-chamber flowmasters with dumps, cut and welded stock shifter...and it runs like a champ.

fiveohpatrol · 01-19-2001, 11:23 AM

if your gonna have a street/strip car you want a better cooling system, make the decision yourself, if you want a cheap 1-2 tenths then get them, if you want the same cut off your et from some other mod, then go ahead and spend a lot more $

------------------
88 Notchback 5.0, 3.73's, pulleys, BBK headers, off-road H-pipe, flowmasters, subframe connectors, 65mm TB, shift kit, March ram air kit, motorsport wires, MSD coil, upper and lower control arms, 155lph fuel pump, cheap 2800 stall, Crane Adj.FPR, best time- 13.99@99.75, not yet tested times after 1.7RR install

Jaydee · 01-19-2001, 11:43 AM

Have had a full set of March's on my 87 notch for 5 years and have not had any problems with overheating or charging, though I know some people who have had overheat / charging difficulties - I guess it depends on the car. And the .2 ET reduction seems about right, thats what I got on my car.

------------------
1965 K code coupe - numbers matching - restoration ongoing. 1987 LX notch, stock heads and intake, 3.55's and typical bolt on's 13.89@100.25

Dangerous Dave · 01-19-2001, 11:59 AM

I loved mine-definitely noticed a difference in performance. I had the FMS ones and now that I am back to a small block again I will be buying them again. I never had any problems with mine. I even had a nice stereo in it. yes the lights dim a little at stoplights and I have manual windows so the speed of them depend on how lazy I am that day but I say slightly slower windows are a small price to pay in the name of speed.

------------------
1988 GT-under construction

Dangerous Dave · 01-19-2001, 12:02 PM

Oh yeah and get a new torque converter-definitely the next best thing for your car.

jonnyk · 01-19-2001, 06:12 PM

Pullies and a 3G alternator would be a good thing to do at once. More charge from the alternator to offset the pulleys, and you still gain power from less parasitic drag from your other accessories. That's probably what I'll be doing.

------------------
1991 LX Hatch 5.0L

[This message has been edited by jonnyk (edited 01-19-2001).]

sfedenia · 01-19-2001, 06:26 PM

I used the crank and water pulley only, left the alt. off for now, my lights dim at stoplights the way it is!!could that be a sign?

01-16-2001, 09:59 PM	#1
gogo50 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Novato Posts: 46	Underdrive Pullies, are they worth it? I want to make the car faster by doing bolt on parts. Will these be a good buy, if so which kind? Then later I want to get 4:10's in the rearend. The car runs a 14.6, will these two mods reach 13 seconds? Just wondering? Thanks. ------------------ 87' LX,Dark Canyon Red Hatchback,AOD,remanufactured w/Transgo shiftkit 3:27's Flowmasters K+N filter E.T.= 14.6@95 no Airsilencer

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01-16-2001, 10:03 PM	#2
Fox Body Mustang Maniac Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: GA, U.S.A Posts: 2,266	I'd like to hear the answer to that one too (about the pullies). Can one say that pullies can add at least 0.10 to 1/4 mile ET? If not, I'm not sure it's worth the money. “…because, no one’s really gonna be free until nerd persecution ends.” ---Revenge of the Nerds ------------------------------- '79 Mustang Coup 4" Cowl Weld wheels (15x6;15x8) Stock 5.8L C4 w/ shift kit 1.5" MAC full length headers Holley 750 CFM Edelbrock intake 2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters 8.8" Rear end w/ 2.73:1 gears (sucks!) (awaiting installation of 3.55s) Front: 225/60/15 Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II Sucky Purolator air filter that's choking my car.

01-16-2001, 10:15 PM	#3
88GT5.013.02 Guest Posts: n/a	Pullies are one of the best mods you can do. Just by installing them (it was my first mod), I could feel the seat of the pants difference. The gear and the pullies won't get you there alone, you need sticky tires. The gear is a good choice, my buddy put a 4.10 gear in his stock aod notchback with stock trans and it would chirp going into second after the gear change. I would try getting a larger stall speed like 2500-2800, you will pick up some et there also. You would be in the 13's for sure with the addition of the above mods, stall, pullies, and gear. Buy a quality torque converter though, like a stallion, or the like, make sure you spend the extra penny for a good torque converter. BTW, I would say the pullies add at least a tenth in the 1/4 mile. I have the ford motorsport pullies. Did you bump your timing too? If not then you should, this is worth a tenth or two (assuming that traction is there). [This message has been edited by 88GT5.013.02 (edited 01-16-2001).] [This message has been edited by 88GT5.013.02 (edited 01-16-2001).]

01-16-2001, 10:26 PM	#4
1989GT Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Cincinnati,OH Posts: 1,511	Yes they're worth it. BONE stock I picked up .2's and almost 3 MPH. ------------------ 89GT,T-5Z, D.S.S. 306 shortblock w\main support, B-303 cam, Cobra intake, GT40P heads, 1.72rr, MAC "P" headers, MAC off-road H-Pipe, MAC true-fit w\tips, 373's...and the list goes on! Throttle Junkie Powered by Ford! 12.824 @ 107.05 MPH

01-16-2001, 10:43 PM	#5
MiracleMax Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Hayes, Va, USA Posts: 798	Yep. I'd have to agree with the rest. Probably then best seat of the pants difference I had made to my car. Even compared to the exhaust mods.

01-16-2001, 11:39 PM	#6
Fox Body Mustang Maniac Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: GA, U.S.A Posts: 2,266	"Seat-of-the-pants difference, picked up .2 sec, worth at least a tenth the 1/4", huh? That's what I wanted to hear. Okay, now I gotta have them. Which pullies did you change? Water pump? Crank? (did you mess with the alternator pulley). Any overheating/electrical/timing problems? If I like what I hear, I'll get them along with installing my 3.55s this February! “…because, no one’s really gonna be free until nerd persecution ends.” ---Revenge of the Nerds ------------------------------- '79 Mustang Coup 4" Cowl Weld wheels (15x6;15x8) Stock 5.8L C4 w/ shift kit 1.5" MAC full length headers Holley 750 CFM Edelbrock intake 2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters 8.8" Rear end w/ 2.73:1 gears (sucks!) (awaiting installation of 3.55s) Front: 225/60/15 Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II Sucky Purolator air filter that's choking my car.

01-17-2001, 12:00 AM	#7
DemonGT Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 879	i was going to buy pullies also but passed them up because some time in the late late future i plan on supercharging my car and heard you shouldnt have under drive pullies if you supercharge..and i dont want to have to put the others back on ------------------ 1991 GT,T-5,air silencer removed,racing clutch(previous owner put in so dont know what kind),K&N air filter,Aiwa deck,power acoustic amp,2 12" pianeers,UPDATE: Just got my Mac long tube headers By the time summer comes ill have full Mac exhaust,new shifter knob and what ever else i can afford

01-17-2001, 12:16 AM	#8
MiracleMax Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Hayes, Va, USA Posts: 798	I did the FMS pulley set (crank, alt, water pump), never had any problems. But I did learn to keep and eye out for fellow stangers when they pulled up to the stop light. If the lights dimmed a little they where running pulleys too

01-17-2001, 12:18 AM	#9
MiracleMax Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Hayes, Va, USA Posts: 798	BTW, I've got a set of march pullies now. Huge difference in the weight between these and my old FMS pullies. Might not help that much more, but the engine has less weight to accelerate. I figure every little bit helps

01-17-2001, 07:30 PM	#10
Five.0 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: montreal, canada Posts: 19	its probably one of the cheapest and best mods i put my money on. Mac pulleys, you cant believe this, down the road my water pump was read to give out (80,000 miles) and the idiot that i was, i actually went to ford, (needs explanation), anyway long story short, they put the originals back on, and i drove the car and it felt so stock. i tried to rip in third, ofcourse it didnt happen. i said the hell with that, went home did it my self, put the Macs back on, i ripped in third like a stock would rip in second. need a shorter belt though. 94GT shorty headers, pro chamber h-pipe, 2 chamber flows, mac pulleys, ram-air, superchip, 3.73, 2" drop riding on 275/40/17's all around.

01-18-2001, 10:21 AM	#11
mspears Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Posts: 47	Sure the pullies help, but there is a down size to everything. Because of an oversize radiator, I never had any cooling problems. However, the charging system does strugle(dim lites, slow windows, ect.) Also, I'm still running A/C, and it doesn't cool at low rpm's.

01-18-2001, 10:43 AM	#12
Green92LX Registered Member Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: North Haven,CT Posts: 336	Personally, I wouldn't get them. I agree with MSPEARS, they put a drag on the rest of your accessories. I don't know about you, but slow power windows drive me nuts!

01-18-2001, 10:45 AM	#13
Green92LX Registered Member Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: North Haven,CT Posts: 336	And I think the money they hose you for to get them could be spent better on other things... ------------------ 1992 5.0 LX, Edelbrock 6037 Heads, Cobra Intake,E-303, 1.6 Roller Rockers,65MM Holley TB, 75 MM Pro M Mass Air, 190 LPH FP w/ 24 lb injectors,BBK equal length shorties,offroad h-pipe,Mac Flowpath Mufflers, Pro 5.0, 3.73's,Motorsport "C" springs,welded subframe connectors, Ponies w/ 225/50 Nittos, 93 Cobra Spoiler Daily driver: 89 Coupe with 205K plus, BBK shorties,offroad h-pipe,2-chamber flowmasters with dumps, cut and welded stock shifter...and it runs like a champ.

01-19-2001, 11:23 AM	#14
fiveohpatrol I'd rather be basketweaving Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,551	if your gonna have a street/strip car you want a better cooling system, make the decision yourself, if you want a cheap 1-2 tenths then get them, if you want the same cut off your et from some other mod, then go ahead and spend a lot more $ ------------------ 88 Notchback 5.0, 3.73's, pulleys, BBK headers, off-road H-pipe, flowmasters, subframe connectors, 65mm TB, shift kit, March ram air kit, motorsport wires, MSD coil, upper and lower control arms, 155lph fuel pump, cheap 2800 stall, Crane Adj.FPR, best time- 13.99@99.75, not yet tested times after 1.7RR install

01-19-2001, 11:43 AM	#15
Jaydee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Conn. Posts: 220	Have had a full set of March's on my 87 notch for 5 years and have not had any problems with overheating or charging, though I know some people who have had overheat / charging difficulties - I guess it depends on the car. And the .2 ET reduction seems about right, thats what I got on my car. ------------------ 1965 K code coupe - numbers matching - restoration ongoing. 1987 LX notch, stock heads and intake, 3.55's and typical bolt on's 13.89@100.25

01-19-2001, 11:59 AM	#16
Dangerous Dave Registered Member Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 121	I loved mine-definitely noticed a difference in performance. I had the FMS ones and now that I am back to a small block again I will be buying them again. I never had any problems with mine. I even had a nice stereo in it. yes the lights dim a little at stoplights and I have manual windows so the speed of them depend on how lazy I am that day but I say slightly slower windows are a small price to pay in the name of speed. ------------------ 1988 GT-under construction

01-19-2001, 12:02 PM	#17
Dangerous Dave Registered Member Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 121	Oh yeah and get a new torque converter-definitely the next best thing for your car.

01-19-2001, 06:12 PM	#18
jonnyk Being stroked is great Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 772	Pullies and a 3G alternator would be a good thing to do at once. More charge from the alternator to offset the pulleys, and you still gain power from less parasitic drag from your other accessories. That's probably what I'll be doing. ------------------ 1991 LX Hatch 5.0L [This message has been edited by jonnyk (edited 01-19-2001).]

01-19-2001, 06:26 PM	#19
sfedenia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Columbia Posts: 62	I used the crank and water pulley only, left the alt. off for now, my lights dim at stoplights the way it is!!could that be a sign?