I want to start a thread with the absolutely necessary things with a 15% Reduction Pulley. There just seems to be a lot of confusion on what is necessary for the car to run. Do you need:

New Spark Plugs
ECU Upgrade
New Belt
Any thing else?

 

nothing

 

i can only comment on the 15% pulley: bolt it on. drive away. end of story ; )

 

Hi Newyorker, I notice you have a MCSa, how much did the parts+labor cost you? Any MPG drop afterwards?

 

I'm scheudled to get a 15% pulley install and probably a Alta CAI at the Dragon but my understanding for the pulley is nothing else needed the belt is not replaced for a 15%, ECU does not need to be changed, no new spark plugs. The reason I'm changing my CAI at the same time with the pulley is the cost for the CAI install is $0 because it has to be removed for the pulley install anyway, and WayMotors is having a sale on Alta CAI's too.

 

For 15%, nothing else needs to be changed. For the 17%, at minimum you need a different belt. At the 19% level, you can 'get away' with just a new belt, but it's recommended to change your plugs to a colder range to avoid detonation.

With any of these pulleys, you will get incrementally better performance as you add items to make the engine breathe better and take advantage of the increased airflow by adding intake and exhaust mods. Tuning the engine via ECU mods helps to dial in the effect of these various mods and realize their fullest potential. nice thing is, you can add these goodies at time, money and desire warrant.

 

The pulley needs nothing.

 

x2

 

Most people will tell you that you need at least colder plugs with any supercharger reduction pulley. The one on my MCSa is nice.

 

Here's a Q for you guys... since it falls under the threads title.

Is it better to do only a 17% SC pulley or a 15% SC and a 2% Crank to end up at a 17% reduction?
-G

 

the ECU will handle it just fine....

Colder plug depend on gas quality. In CA I'd really reccomend them, the cars will have timing retard, and the colder plugs help with that. To be sure, you have to look at your timing with a diagnostic.

Matt

 

Did your colder NGK's work better than the Densos you had?

 

The others items you mention are nice for additional performance, but cooler plugs are a no-brainer, IMHO.

Colder plugs help prevent detonation due to higher pressure and low-octane gas. One can get a bad tank of gas anywhere.

The consequences of detonation can range from poor performance or poor running because the ECU dials back the spark timing, to a new head in extreme long-prolonged cases.

Colder plugs can't hurt, and might help protect things. You be the judge - is the cost of a set of plugs too much to spend to protect your $10K engine or the performance you hope to get?

Hint: my S has cooler plugs installed, as does Dr. Obnxs, and Mini-Madness puts them in as a matter of course when installing a pulley, but believe whomever you wish. Lots of people shave $60 and run with stock plugs with a pulley, but not many of those who understand the issues.

 

Hey, i live in australia, and i run on a minimum of 98RON (dunno how to convert to ur octane number system, but as i understand it, our 95 is like ur 93, and our 91 is like ur 89) and sometimes i run on 100RON. So our fuel is pretty good quality, and i'm getting Denso IK22s installed with my 17% pulley. So since bad fuel's not an issue for me, will fitting colder sparks be bad in any way?

 

To play it safe, I'd say some colder spark plugs and a slightly shorter belt are a must!

Denso IK-22 are awesome for the "spark plugs" part
And the GatorBack belt is also awesome as a shorter belt. The only downside of it is that is make a little bit of noise, but you can hear it grip like mad, so no worries there!

As for the ECU, it's not a must, you can drive with the stock software, but adding a better softeare just makes thing better!

 

nothing else required.

 

Nothing else but colder plugs is needed and colder plugs will have no adverse effects.

Still.

Again.

And one more time - Really.

Honest.

 

Don't need anything else. I asked the shop where I had the pulley installed.

 

Any idea who is installing pullys in the NY/NJ area.

Also, another dumb pully question: Does the pully affect gas mileage...for better or worse?

 

Well, the mod itself does reduce the MPG slightly, at most a mpg with the 15%, a bit more with the higher ones. However, the reduction in mileage become quite a bit more as you find yourself constantly playing with all the new-found power. It's addicting.

 

I had Randy Webb install my m7 16% pulley and he recommended that I go with the colder plugs, even for a daily driver.

 

racoman.....it would be well worth your while to have the pulley done at Helix Motorsports in Philadelphia, just off of I-95 near center city. It's a short trip and there's no one better at it in the USA. Look them up in the vendor directory.