...nothing like waiting til after I purchase it to ask questions.

Anyhow, I bought a Ralco RZ lightened Aluminum pulley (stock diameter) for $40 shipped.

Should be here in a few days. What is the experience of these pulleys on the forum. I haven't seen much in the 5.5 gen about them, but read up on other forums about them and they seem to work as they should.

They normally cost around $150-$170 shipped.

For the price I could not pass it up based on what I have heard about paying top dollar for the UDP, etc. and getting minimal performance gains per dollar.

 

For the very minimal changes introduced by replacing your crank pulley, your $40 is about what it's worth, IMO. Currently, UR is asking $250+ for their OEM-diameter lightweight pulley... $50 more than I paid for mine a year ago. Even so and with hindsight, I would have spent the money elsewhere.

So $40 sounds exactly right; a good deal, even. And a good opportunity to change your belts.

 

$40 is right in my budget. Let us know how the install goes and your impression afterwards. Anyone know what the weight difference is?

 

Rochester - that was my take on it as well.

$40 seems to be a great price for the benefits of a lightened pulley.

Thanks for the input.

 

All I can tell you is the shipping weight is 2lbs.

Isn't the stock pulley around 6-7 lbs?

 

UR's stock diameter pulley is 1.58 pounds, compared to the OEM pulley at 7.18 pounds. (Canadians, do your own math.)

I'll tell you this much, when you have one in each hand, you'll have one of those OMG moments. And that's pretty cool.

 

where did u buy from

 

where did u buy from

 

It is a brand new "open-box" item that I bought from these guys http://www.ultrarev.com/ through eBay "Make an Offer" option.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=38656

yea i also just bought one. Only I paid 60$ for it, i wonder ezactly what is the lowest they will let these go for? But im going to install it tomorrow.

In the directions it recommends that you use:
Alternator and A/C belt- Gates KO60408 (41.5" or 1055MM)
Power steering Belt- Gates K040300 (30.75" or 780MM)

My thing is i recently replaced my belts with New ones from Nissan, Does anyone know the if i would need to replace them again for this pulley?

 

If it's OEM diameter, then no. That's one of the benefits of going OEM diameter, buying belts that are spec'd for the car.

 

i noticed a difference with mt UDP, i didn't gain horsepower, but the engine felt smoother

 

I just bought one from cosmo racing for $50 Anytime you can take rotating mass off a crank especially 5-8 pounds, its going to be a benefit.
END OF STORY

 

End of story? Well then, no point in discussing this any further.

 

Well, he's mostly correct. Removing inertia from the system (including the reduction in effective inertia by under-driving the accessories) will 'free-up' energy/power while accelerating. This can be measured with an accelerating dyno pull (and will vary based upon the rate of acceleration, so be wary of dyno comparisons) or on-road accelerating measurements. The exception to the desirability of an aluminum crank pulley is when it replaces a harmonic balancer, but this is rarely the case.

This is also mostly correct. While the engine doesn't produce any more power, less is required to accelerate the pulley (and accessories for an under-drive pulley) and more is available at the wheels (for vehicle acceleration). A steady state (constant speed) dynamometer power measurement would show no increase in output.

These are the reasons why lightweight flywheels, driveshafts and wheels/tires are desirable.

EDIT: My anecdotal experience with another vehicle and an under-drive UR pulley set was a noticeable increase in accelerative power at the expense of reduced alternator and A/C efficacy.

 

I've been faking on ordering the Cosmo racing one for some reason

 

Oh yeah, I agree that it's a real, albeit subtle mod. (Note that I have one.)

But "end of story"? No. That's so presumptive. Being a subtle mod, opinions are not black & white, and it warrants as much discussion as the OP or anyone else wants.

 

This is off topic as most threads here, but it is the "end of the story" regarding performance increases, as presumptive as that may be. It's the opinion part (which you mentioned) that's the problem.

The opinions mainly question the value or utility this modification represents, which will vary greatly between individuals and cannot allows be simply compared as $/hp. A comparison which is a bit contrived with pulleys since they doesn't 'make' power, and the test methods are not rigorous enough to compare small differences between products. Though, the test methods will show a difference with and without a pulley (especially an under-drive model).

Products which make small differences will always be questioned regardless of actual performance as they lack a strong sensations (acceleration/power in this case). Can you notice the difference in WOT acceleration with and without the A/C on?

The key to making lots of power (or just about anything) is usually a few large improvements combined with many smaller improvements, for which value decreases.

I apologize in advance if this sounds preachy.

 

2slow, we're on the same page. I think you know that already. Semantics are a poor basis for debate.

Yes. Couldn't have said it better myself.

No, man. I love reading your stuff. (p.s. you apologize in retrospect )

 

I seem to have a problem with semantics and sometimes sarcasm in 'written conversations'.

I prefer to apologize in advance when I know my comments will elicit a response. e.g. "please excuse me for being rude, but you're an a55hole."

 

See, now THAT'S sarcasm in written conversation. Loud and clear.

 

It also works orally. (hardy har har)

EDIT:

 

OMG, 2slow made a joke! Man, that's gotta hurt.

 

I'm confused..... but to put my 2cents in... $40 is great for what it does, would this be equivalent to a block plate??? Doesn't really give significant gains but great for the price ain't it???

 

It burns my thighs a little, but I'll survive.

 

I think a lightweight pulley would be more benificial on a turbo or SC setup. I have a feeling when they say that X brand light pulley made X HP it was on a boosted car.

 

same could probebly be said for the 3" exhaust, more beneficial to FI cars, does means not worth it (not sayin you was saying that) but there is a lot of things that we add on our NA cars thats probebly more efficient on a FI application so that statement is a tad irrelivant

 

No, that would fall in the "useless" column.

Had a stock size UR on my old Accord.
Noticeable, therefore not useless.

 

a "performance" mod that does nothing is useless, these two products on the other hand i wouldnt necessarily call useless... minimal gains is better than none

 

The benefits of a low inertia pulley (lightweight and/or under-driven) are relevant for all engines as the system stores less energy. Although as the engine's acceleration rate increases (due to more power) the power 'increase' will also increase; that's a lot of increases.

The basis for my statements is the relationship between energy, inertia and rotational speed:

 

i'm not arguing that. I noticed a difference with my pulley and I am happy with it. But I'm sure Unorthodox advertised I would get 5-8 Horsepower gain which I don't think is correct. But IF I was boosted I may have noticed an 8 HP gain with the pulley.

 

I guess I can agree with that

 

I would think 8 additional 'wheel' horsepower on a 200 whp (near stock engine) vehicle is more noticeable than on a 350+ whp (turbocharged) vehicle. In other terms, it is a 4% increase versus a 2.3% increase, respectively.

 

OP you said you got it for $40 on Ebay? how the crap did you get them that low? I asked and the lowest they'll go is 90 I cant get them lower

 

The others they have on eBay are all new "unopened".

Right time at the right place

 

I don't care if mine is unopened or not! Long as its not used...50$ is good deal. Can't wait to get back from florida and install.

 

WOW what a difference! My car pulls wayy harder in mid range. Can't tell the difference off the line just yet because its been wet out. I also used the stock PS belt despite it saying I needed a longer one in the directions. I didn't have to adjust the pump at all with the stock belt. My flywheel bolt was a ***** to get out. PB blaster and a breakerbar with a pipe on it was needed to get the thing out. Tightest bolt ive ever seen in all my years of working on cars.

 

thats sweet bro nice job! i cant wait to get one. is there a (how to) on this forum for the pulley installation? also did you torque it back to spec? or just hand tighten lol

 

http://www.greghome.com/Greg%27s%20G...xSE/2K2UDP.htm

 

I'm not sure about Maximas because I'm new here but I've had friends put lightweight OEM sized pullies on there various vehicles and have been slightly impressed, it just free's up a slight ammount of HP already being produced, so for 40 bux that sounds awesome