I know, rookie question. I've heard both "yes" and "no". If I do indeed need one, can someone link me to a good place to buy one?

 

You can pick up a good belt at your local Napa Auto Parts store. The part number for the belt that works well with a 17% pulley is #060539.

Here is a chart from Alta Mini Performance web site:

 

You might be able to get away with the stock belt on a 15% pulley, but odds are that it's gonna slip in a few thousand miles. You might not feel it, but you aren't getting all the power out of the engine (and if you didn't want it, why do the pulley in the first place? :D )

You will definatley need a new belt with a 17% pulley. It's not a bad idea to replace the old one anyway... I change mine every 15,000 miles as a cheap, preventative measure with a 16%.

 

Very good info! And thanks for the quick response!

 

i don't agree with that chart... i run a 060535 on my 15% only car.

 

Uht-oh, I just picked up the belt based on that chart...

 

You'll be fine with the belt suggested by Alta. It is a pretty slim chance that Alta got their part numbers wrong, and the belt tensioner makes up for any slight variance in the belt size.

My personal opinion is that one should almost always get a new belt anytime you have a reason to get in there and change it. I'd always rather buy a part than do the work twice.

 

Don't worry about it. Previously I ran a 060539 for about 8k miles without too much problem at all. It was definitely slipping at about the 6k mark however.

 

Ok, sounds like I should be ok then. I probably won't put more than 6,000 miles on the car in the next 2 years so I should be safe for a while!