Product Review – BBK Aluminum Underdrive Pulley Set

Everybody likes cheap horsepower, especially when it’s an easy bolt on. One of the more popular bolt on’s for Mustangs as well as other late model musclecars is the venerable underdrive pulley set.

Underdrive pulleys do exactly what the term implies, they slow down the speed at which the accessories drive. They accomplish this by using different size pulleys on the crank, water pump, and alternator. The alternator and water pump are run at slower speeds while the crank spins more freely. Think of switching gears in your 10 speed bicycle from the big gear in front and the little gear in back to the little gear in front and big gear in back. This slows down the tire and makes it easier for you to turn the pedals. This allows the engine to rev up much more freely and is usually good for 8-10 horsepower.

Unlike engine modifications like cams, cylinder heads and intake and exhaust, underdrive pulleys can be the simplest power freeing modification you can do to your car. Some special tools are required such as an impact wrench to zip off the alternator pulley and a crankshaft dampener puller if your installation requires removal of the crank pulley/dampner assembly but all and all most kits are a simple "Bolted-on" operation.

Installation time takes roughly between thirty minutes and an hour, and even if you’re not a do it your selfer, most shops will charge a minimal price for such an installation. Dollar for dollar it’s one of the best performance upgrades you can make.

The BBK aluminum pulley set consists of some nicely finished pieces that add some good looks to your engine coupled with a large weight loss, thanks to a hand polished finish. These BBK pulley kits are designed as direct bolt on replacements for the current factory pulleys and retain full cooling and charging characteristics. The kit also allows for the use of existing serpentine belts.

The kit I’m installing on my 1983 Mustang 5.0 convertible is the 79-93 3 Piece Aluminum Pulley Kit - 5.0L, part number 1553. This kit is available from American Muscle for $129.99 with free shipping! Here’s the step by step installation.



1. Disconnect your battery. Very important!

2. Loosen alternator nut, water pump and crank pulley bolts while belt is still in tension. (To simplify removal of the alternator pulley loosen with an air impact, with belt in place.

3. Bolts and three factory pulleys can now be easily removed.

4. Install new pulleys with bolts hand tight at this point. Install belt. Torque all bolting per factory specifications. (Use of Loctite thread lock is recommended on all threads.)

5. Check that belt is properly seated in all pulleys. Insure tensioner arrow is within the indicator marks on tensioner. If adjustment is required, relax tensioner from belt, loosen upper 9/16 hex alternator anchor bolt, shift alternator toward air cleaner or allow it to move in as required within the clearance of the diameters. Tighten while holding alternator. If additional adjustment is required, remove belt, loosen ¾” nut while holding tensioner pulley.

6. Set warm idle speed for automatic cars at 650-700 rpm in drive. Standard shift at 750-800 rpm.



And you’re ready to go! Once installed, there is definitely a seat of the pants difference. My 5.0 revs quicker and pulls harder. Definitely an easy and inexpensive way to add some horsepower!

Ford hits 1 million miles on EcoBoost test engines

Word has recently come out of Dearborn that Ford has racked up over a million test miles on it's soon to be released EcoBoost engines, in combined real world driving and in lab testing.



So far, a group of EcoBoost engines have logged over 12,000 hours on the dyno which represents 500,000 miles of consumer driving, according to Ford. The engines have gone through 20 different tests at maximum loads and speeds to test the reliability during simulated real-world conditions. The engines endured a thousand cold starts and many wide open throttle runs to test their durability, and Ford believes they performed exceptionally well



"EcoBoost is undergoing the durability and reliability tests that we put all Ford engines through, and the performance we are seeing shows that the 3.5L EcoBoost engine is a high-quality, top-performing engine that meets or exceeds all our reliability targets and is deserving of Ford's five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty," said Ford's Advanced Engine Design and Development manager Brett Hinds.



Ford engineers have spent a great deal of time using computer models to simulate wear and tear on the engines and components, as well as model the exact operations of the twin turbos and direct injection to maximize efficiency.



"Because the 3.5L EcoBoost employs the latest in injection and turbocharger thermal management technologies, our tests have shown that we have effectively eliminated the legacy concerns sometimes associated with these systems, including high-mileage combustion deposits on the injectors and turbo bearing coking," said Hinds.



Out on the roads of the real world, Ford has been running a fleet of EcoBoosted Flexs and Lincoln MKS' at their Michigan Proving Grounds in Romeo, Michigan, performing on-road tests including towing tests to determine the new power plant's actual in-car performance.



Ford has also run them around at high altitude in Denver, through the Arizona deserts and in the deep south to test the engine's performance in extreme conditions. The test fleet racked up another 500,000 miles of driving, bringing the tests to over one million combined miles.



"With the extensive dynamometer and vehicle-level durability testing we are subjecting this engine to, we are confident that the 3.5L EcoBoost engine is going to further strengthen Ford Motor Company's reputation for delivering reliable, high-quality engines," said Hinds.



It's comforting to hear that Ford is doing it's homework and ensuring that the EcoBoosted engines will not only be powerful and efficient, but reliable as well.



Now let's take one for a test drive already!

Ford to charge $700 for EcoBoost option, F-150 to have 340+ horsepower

Image by Ford Motor Company via Flickr Ford will reportedly charge $700 for it's upcoming EcoBoost engines as an option on many of it's future vehicles when the engine goes on sale in 2009. The first of the EcoBoost engines will be a 3.5L V-6 that will first find its way into the 2010 Lincoln MKS sedan and the 2010 Ford Flex crossover.



A version of the engine is on it's way for the 2010 F-150 that will reportedly develop in excess of 340 hp and at least as much torque, easily besting the present the F150's 300 hp 5.4L V-8.



Ford is heavily promoting it's EcoBoost engines, which are turbocharged four and six cylinder engines, as an alternative to V8 power with much better gas mileage. Ford will use the increased efficiency of the smaller engines as an explanation of the increased premium in price.



Six cylinder EcoBoost engines will feature direct injection and twin turbos. The smaller four cylinders will use single turbos. The EcoBoost has produced a lot of positive PR for Ford, but we'll have to reserve judgement until they finally hit the road next year.



Check out AmericanTrucks.com and their line of Ford F150 Truck Parts.