Maybe a silly question - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

St33lsinger · 12-21-2009, 09:24 AM

I am looking into buying the ZL427 from SLP. One thing bothers me about it. They install a 25% Under Drive Pulley/Balancer. Will I have problems with water pump, alternator and A/C equipment due to the underdrive?
With it being a daily driver in Florida.

TommyTSquared · 12-21-2009, 09:35 AM

What do you mean by problems? Are you asking if they wont perform as well (or rather work as well as normal)?

HeavyD · 12-21-2009, 09:43 AM

I would say yes! It already says in the owners manual that at idle with lot of accessories on, like the fan being on medium-high or high speed the alternator won't be able to keep up and battery protection may kick in and start killing some non-essential circuits. I'm not sure what is reduced by 25%, is it the diameter, circumference, radius or overall speed of the other pulleys? If the other accessories are turning slower by 25% I would be concerned. A/C should be ok because it is a cycling clutch style anyway, it doesn't spin all the time. Powersteering is usually always way more flow than you need. The alternator would only be problem when the engine is at idle, so on a hot day with a lot of stop and go city driving where the rpms are at idle very often the battery would be not be charging very well if you have a lot of accessories turned on, like the a/c on high. Unstable voltage like that is hard on electronics, with this car being all electronic, I would be concerned. The waterpump, I'm not an engineer, but I am a mechanic and slow waterpump will lead to over heating, again at idle. If the underdrive pulley is optional, I would skip it if this is a daily driver. I think underdrive pulleys only net a few horses anyway, not worth it.

coolman · 12-21-2009, 09:49 AM

I had under drives on my trans am and had to take them off due to charging issues, but I've read that people aren't having that problem with the ls motors. Don't you get a warranty with this car?

St33lsinger · 12-21-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolman

I had under drives on my trans am and had to take them off due to charging issues, but I've read that people aren't having that problem with the ls motors. Don't you get a warranty with this car?

Yes you do get a warrenty, although I don't know what it is off the top of my head.

12-21-2009, 09:24 AM	#1
St33lsinger Emerald Coast Camaros Drives: 2010 1 RS/SS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,095 View My Garage	Maybe a silly question I am looking into buying the ZL427 from SLP. One thing bothers me about it. They install a 25% Under Drive Pulley/Balancer. Will I have problems with water pump, alternator and A/C equipment due to the underdrive? With it being a daily driver in Florida. __________________ Had: 69' RS, 78' Z28, 98' SS Have: 2010 1RS/SS

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12-21-2009, 09:35 AM	#2
TommyTSquared Drives: RSSS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 2,492	What do you mean by problems? Are you asking if they wont perform as well (or rather work as well as normal)?

12-21-2009, 09:43 AM	#3
HeavyD Drives: 1SSRS RY L99 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,323	I would say yes! It already says in the owners manual that at idle with lot of accessories on, like the fan being on medium-high or high speed the alternator won't be able to keep up and battery protection may kick in and start killing some non-essential circuits. I'm not sure what is reduced by 25%, is it the diameter, circumference, radius or overall speed of the other pulleys? If the other accessories are turning slower by 25% I would be concerned. A/C should be ok because it is a cycling clutch style anyway, it doesn't spin all the time. Powersteering is usually always way more flow than you need. The alternator would only be problem when the engine is at idle, so on a hot day with a lot of stop and go city driving where the rpms are at idle very often the battery would be not be charging very well if you have a lot of accessories turned on, like the a/c on high. Unstable voltage like that is hard on electronics, with this car being all electronic, I would be concerned. The waterpump, I'm not an engineer, but I am a mechanic and slow waterpump will lead to over heating, again at idle. If the underdrive pulley is optional, I would skip it if this is a daily driver. I think underdrive pulleys only net a few horses anyway, not worth it.

12-21-2009, 09:49 AM	#4
coolman Guest Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: PA Posts: 4,812	I had under drives on my trans am and had to take them off due to charging issues, but I've read that people aren't having that problem with the ls motors. Don't you get a warranty with this car?