I was wondering if I use an underdrive pulley setup on my 96 z28 if the alternator wouldnt be powerful enough anymore to keep my stereo amplifier juiced up?! Will I need a smaller or bigger belt. An underdrive pulley makes the motor spin the accessories SLOWER right? I am new at this so thanks for your time---

 

Is your car auto or manual.Manuals idle higher and might work ok with a small amplifier and underdrive alt pulley. In my 99 m6 ta I put in overdrive alt as am running two big amps.
In my auto 96 z had to run overdrive alt as wasn't happy with voltage at idle even with bone stock stereo.Budddy also is buying overdrive alt pulley in his auto and he has stock stereo as well. His car seem to be hard to start sometimes from low battery we think.

If you can raise idle in programming that would help too.

 

Ok, so I guess I will be needing an OVERDRIVE instead of UNDERDRIVE, wow I am really messing up lately with buying parts!!! Do you think it would be better if I just left it stock and ran the two big amps I am planning to run ( 900+ watts total )??? I am about to return the hypertech chip I got so I guess I could return the pulleys too?

Edit its a 6 spd manual

Edit if I get a madz28 tune can he adjust for the UNDERDRIVE pulley and raise the idle or would it just not be worth it to install the underdrive in the first place?

 

I am pushing 800+ with a 1farid capacitor and its not enough. Im looking into the 200amp alternator vs. the stock 140amp. Something to think about

 

Do you think if I went with a 200 amp alternator and the underdrive pulley that I will be fine? I think that is what I am going to end up doing. Also...I am guessing I need a different sized belt for the underdrive. The instructions say use a "gates belt k060598" where do I find a place that sells that? I have been a gatorbelt fan....anyone know the model number or size of that brand that I need to get? THANK YOU VERY MUCH

 

im also running stock alt, no cap and its REAL bad at night when i want to bump... cap MIGHT help a bit, but i want to go 200 amp Alt. does the overdrive pully really help that much?

 

If you have big amps, I figured a capacitor would make up for the drain in amps from the alternator. You could either step up to a 180-200 amp alternator or get a 50-100 farat cap.

 

How about this:

Just dont get the underdrive pulley...It only gives you like 2 HP anyway....

 

Well that was definately an option, lol....but I think I need a new alternator anyway ( mine is WHINING bad....bearings? ) and I already have the underdrive pulley just havent installed it yet......so I was trying to figure out a way I can upgrade the alternator AND use the underdrive. I guess I can get the underdrive installed, then try the 200 alt....and if that doesnt work I can get a capacitor THANKS GUYS!!!

 

The 200 amp alts aren't cheap. A cap is a cheaper fix. however if you need an alt anyways, the dif in price from 140 to 200 might be about the same as a cap(I believe the 1 farid cap=about $100). The problem I think with a cap is that if you like a lot of bass(especially continuous or long bumps), the cap is just not enough to keep up. It is there to provide that extra for the hits that the charging system cannot handle. I would think with a 200watt amp you should be ok with a cap. If you plan on going bigger than that down the road, get the 200 amp alt.
With my setup, I'm pushing over 800watts to 2 subs with a 1 farid capacitor and its fine unless im at idle either in nuetral or especially drive. But normal driving is ok.

 

All this stuff seems a bit confusing.... adding huge amounts of weight with electronics, adding the load to the engine of a larger alternator, and then risking it all with U/D pullies for a tiny HP gain???? What's the point?

http://www.ws6.com/mod-2.htm

 

I don't have a built motor yet but enjoy the audio equip. I just happen to know something about it in the camaro. When I do rebuild and add HP/TQ, it will be for pleasure, not the track so I'll keep the audio as well. I can see if I was trying to strip the car down and win some 1/4 runs, but I don't think that is the case with these posts. I guess some of want to be heard, both notor and music

 

Well brotha, I already bought the pulley setup. I figured I should use it since I paid for it already....and thought while I had the alternator off I should just replace it with a better one ( more power for the music ) and just add the pulleys too. I am not really doing it for the HP gain anymore....but I dont think the stock alternator will pump my amps.

 

You can always get a tune and up the idle RPM. I have a tune waiting for when I get my ASP Pulley on and after I get my sound setup in I'll be upping the idle a bit. I added LS1 front brakes to help hold the car at lights. My coworkers at Best Buy had me get a capacitator, not sure what size, but they said it would help keep the lights from dimming on hits. I'll be using a RF 4004 Amp.

-Dustin-

 

Great idea. I just emailed madz28 and asked him what he thought of the idle situation, thanks Bersaglieri