I heard someone at the local Z club meeting talking about installing an underdrive pulley on his '99 Max, he did a lot of other stuff at the same time, so doesn't know what the impact of just that mod was. Anyone here done this? (search returns 0 hits). Worth the money? (Unorthodox has one for $219).

Thanks

 

you can get it at courtesy nissan for $189. i felt the difference this mod made, although not much. seems like the car revs quicker and has more low end torque. also the power steering seems to be better now.

 

Get a Y pipe first, more bang for your buck.

 

get a nitrous kit, more bang for your buck.

 

TRUE!

 

I got the UDP from stillen for $167+shipping...

 

I think this UDP requires different belts...
does 167 include belts?
I think it is a cheap mod and you gain real HP...
pretty cool....
NOS more bang for buck..yup..but be careful...cause it might bang somewhere else....well actually more like a kaboom....
ypipe probably safest..
UPRD ecu...umm....dunno yet..
but if it is what it is, that is probably great bang for the buck

 

No that did not include the belts but I got the belts Gates brand from http://www.discountautoparts.com (I called them 1-877-328-8672 and ordered over the phone) for I think $18 and that included shipping from NJ to OR.

 

I had Unorthodox themselves install the UDP on my 99 Automatic. It was one of the first mods I did, before any other mods. The difference is small but noticeable.

I have a whole writeup with pics on my site - http://grprete.jnet.net

 

any under drive pully is good for low end but puts alot more strain on your alternator. Usually they wont last too long, cause the smaller the belts the faster and harder the alternator will have to work, in turn will make it wear out quicker. Not too sure if its worth it.
Id go for the SS Y-pipe and Greddy Cat back exhaust

 

This is straight out of the Stillen Catolog read carefully,

Underdrive Crank Pulley
Air Conditioning compressors,alternators,water pumps,fans and the like are horespower robbing ENEMIES of the performance motorist.For most enthusiasts,significant power gains are possible without penalty by reducing the amount of power sent to these systems.The Underdrive Pully replaces the stock crank pulley with a smaller DIETER AND LIGHTER weight unit.THE BELTS ARE DRIVEN MORE SLOWLY,diverting less power from the WHEELS.A side benefit is LONGER ACCESSORY LIFE.

 

i wouldnt trust good old StEAllen anyway!! I guess my mechanic who has worked on imports everyday and who built the 1st ever Turbo 93' Maxima and who has been there done that for over 10 years in business doens't know. Oh well!! I'll never get them anyway....

 

tons of the guys on the Z board use the ASP and Unorthodox UD pulleys. A lot of these guys are running full systems, along with interior gadgets (PLaystation, Alpine LCD, etc) and none are having problems w/ their Nissan alternator.

 

I'm also on the fence with that mod. When you add it all up, it's a little pricey (pulley, new belts, labor) for unknown gains. I wonder if anyone has dynoed before/after the install. I'm saving for the computer upgrade through UPRD. The only drawback with it is you have to find a board from a 95/96, then get the chip installed on the 97-99.
The y-pipe IS a great mod!

 

Remember that the stock pulley is also a crank DAMPER! If your crank is misbalanced just a little, the increased vibration can break it. Some SVT Contour guys have already experienced this serious problem. March pullies even refuses to make pullies for the Duratec Contour because they blew up 4 engines in the process. I know we don't have Contours, but the simple fact that a pulley could blow up my motor is a little scary if you ask me.

Dave

 

I don't think it is possible for a UDP to blow a motor {on a Nissan}leave that job to the timing Chain,anyways the UDP just runs assesories like AC etc.

 

Yeah, damping is important but damping energy is really needed for the Maxima crankshaft pulley? The crankshaft is microfinished and machined for good balance and vibration control... The UDP pulley may be lighter than the stock pulley but I think it is still doing a decent job of damping the vibrations of the crank... The diameter is only slightly smaller...

I can understand why the FORD folks don't wanna do crank pulleys... that FORD Duratec V6 engine feels primitive compared to the Nissan VQ motor... I drove a Mercury Cougar with that Ford motor and aside from not being very strong, the vibrations were noticeable and the engine ran kinda rough, noisy, whining sounds, etc... That engine needs as much damping as you can put on it...

If you are still concerned about the crank pulley damping factor, then go the opposite route >>> make the alternator and power steering pulleys bigger diameter but with lighter aluminum instead of steel... Does the same job of spinning those accessories slower...

Unfortunately, I don't think the parts are available for specifically the power steering pump or alternator... Probably have to have them custom fabricated...

I've had the UDP on my car for two years... I don't take it easy around town either... My motor would have blown-up a long time ago if the UDP is inherently unsafe...
I'll respect the concerns of a lifelong import mechanic with UDP issues because they have happened before... and it's a lot of potential damage for a small power gain. But I've never heard about it on the VQ engine...

 

Heard it is not safe to run the pulley with the vortech, can anybody validate this?

 

Your right you are not supposed to use a UDP with a SC I can't remember the exact reason but I think it robbed the SC power{not sure though}for some reason.

 

i remembering reading a post at purehonda. talking about how some guy had U.R pulleys on his accord. and those things fell apart, and busted his alternator..if even that wasnt true..i wouldnt get pulleys..i rather use that money for a cai or a y pipe..

 

But what if you allready had all the boltons?{like my self} I think that is why most people get the UDP not as a substatute for a Y-Pipe.This will most likely be my next mod since I have every thing{exept SC and NOS} else and am running out of ideas of how I can blow my money.

 

u got a tranny cooler?..vb upgrade(if an auto), b pipe, mobil 1, ummmmm..dayum...ummmmmmmm...what else you need?..maximas are fast already(stock)

 

ahhhh..just read ur sig...nevermind...

 

he probably meant to say that the pulley will cause a rod to fly into the oil pan not blow up hehe

 

I went to the Unorthodox web site and saw that they rate the HP gain for the max at 6 hp or so (maybe it was 8, I forgot). My research indicates it's an easy install for a manual but a ***** for an auto. I'll do mine later down the road...maybe...

 

I had my UDP installed by a really good mechanic. I just wanted to make sure it was installed correctly...you know what I mean?

I haven't had any problems so far, and I did notice some extra midrange punch.

Just make sure to have it installed correctly!