Hello All!
Need some advice from my fellow z'ers out there. I'm picking up my UR underdrive crank pulley today so I've been doing search after search on instructions, how-to's, tips and tricks, etc and I'm having a hard time with a couple things...
1. I've seen lots of questions regarding which belt (length, brand part #) to use once you install the new pulley, but I could never find a direct answer on it. Where would you recommend I get a new belt and if you recommend a place, which belt?
2. A lot of talk about the 6 speeds, "put it in 6th and have someone step hard on the brakes". The only thing I could find on the auto was an old post by MaxHax who said something like it was a "biatch". Is there anything special involved with removal old/install new with the auto trans?? Any help ya'll can give I would appreciate it! TIA-
TB

 

Here is some help

BELTS
The pulley will come with instructions. Those instructions recommend two belts. However, the narrow one for A/C is the wrong size per my experience, although it will work. You want to get on size smaller as far as length goes. I think it shaves 1/2" off of the length. The reason for this has to do with adjustability. With the recommended size cranked down tight, you will have no room left in the tensioner pulley. It will be fully extended. So, if the belt loosens in the future, you will not be able to tighten it. With a slightly smaller belt, the tensioner will only be extended half way when tight. Any future belt changes will allow you to loosen or tighten without running out of extention. Make sense? Hope so.

As for AT transmissions, I would just put it in park HOWEVER, I do not own a automatic, so I am not sure. I stuck my manual in 6th and took the bolt off without anyone on the brake. The crank did rotate a little, but the car did not move. It worked for me.

 

The instructions can be found here. It should answer most of your questions. Anyone know where I can find a belt tension gauge?

 

I believe that removing the stock crank pulley on an Auto will require a special tool that you will have to try to get from the Dealer.

 

Thanks for the responses. 350Z_Redline: Ya, I have those instructions, but for Auto's, it says "Follow the crank pulley removal procedures specified in the factory manual". I don't have a factory manual, so I was looking for anyone out there that may have already put one on an auto. Gotta be someone! teh215- Mannnn, I hope I don't have to have a special tool, don't wanna deal with that. But again, thanks for the replies. Any autos out there with experience???
TB
P.S. Petibond- Thanks for the belt info. That's good to know prior to starting the project!

 

Oh, OK. I guess I must be the only one that got a pulley with NO instructions. I thought it was a bit odd; just the pulley in a bag inside the UR box with packing material. Well at least I got the what counts

 

Redline-
I haven't even picked up my pulley yet, but I got the instructions on-line so I could see what I was in for prior to getting it! Mine probably won't come with instructions then, either-

 

Bump.

 

err my car is in the air, taken apart and I cant get the freakin crank pulley off. How hard were you guys slamming on the brake to get it not to spin????

 

I have not seen the underside of the 6MT cars but on the auto there is an access panel to the flywheel that comes off on the drivers side. If you take that off you can insert a crowbar and stop the crank from spinning this way. Another option is to remove the starter on the passenger side and do the same thing. I installed the pulley myself on my Auto. Hope that helps.

 

Yeah, that's the truth, I attempted to change mine yesterday, had the neighbor come over and stand on the brake while I tried to loosen the bolt w/a 1/2" drive mated to a lacrosse stick-no luck. Will try again next weekend.

 

To give you an idea of how hard it was to get my crank pulley off, I used my 1/2" drive ratchet with a three foot piece of 3/4" pipe over the handle!!! Good Luck.

 

I had to set the parking brake as well as having someone stand on the brakes...

 

lol...you guys might just need to get the right tool, i.e. a breaker bar. I tried to get mine off with my 1/2 socket wrench with an 8" pole over top of it. After having my GF get pissed at me for having her sit there for 10min stomping on the brake while I damn near blacked out from straining, I finally broke down and drove up to sears and got an 18" breaker bar. After I came back, I figured I'd try getting it off myself before bothering my GF again and it came right off with ease. So I didn't need anyone to step on the brake to remove the old pulley or install the new one. My hands were swolen the next day and stayed sore for like a week . But it was worth it, I ran .2-.3 faster ETs in the 1/4mi the very next day after the install .

 

LOL

 

what does a breaker bar look like and how does it work???

 

It looks like a huge ratchet without the ratchet mechanism at the top. It works using a complicated method known as leverage.

 

ok so once you get it off ( the crank pulley) how hard is it to replace with the lightened one and install the belts or adjust the tension of the belts?

 

Took me about 30-45 minutes by myself to install, including belts.

 

Here is a pic from the Sears website