Expert: Dan Liddy - 2/4/2008

Question
QUESTION: I race a fwd 4cyl. Dodge Neon on dirt ovals. I just put on an Unorthadox Underdrive pulley. My question is since I'm not running an alternator or power steering is the pulley even needed?

ANSWER: The biggest reason for an underdrive pully is to slow down the alternator.  Even on the street they run at a very high speed, around 9 to 10,000 RPM - - - racing they run from 12,000 to 24,000, constantly!  As you can imagine, they don't last long.

However, your water pump is being run pretty fast as well.  Many of us take the stock water pump and cut off every other vane from the impeller to reduce cavitation and the rate of flow through the radiator. So yes, you can still use the underdrive pully to some benefit.

Neon on a dirt track- - -sounds like a major giggle !!  

Good luck

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Quote:Neon on a dirt track- - -sounds like a major giggle !!
Yes it is quite fun but we do take it quite seriously and do whatever we gain to gain an advantage. The water pump is run off the timing belt. The underdrive pulley runs the alternator/powersteering, which I have elimanated. The Neon has an internally balanced crankshaft so I'm assuming I can elimate the pulley altogether. Am i thinking correctly on this? Don't want to do any damage to the crank. Or should I consult with a Dodge dealership to be 100% sure? Thanks and I enjoy your answers!

Answer
I certainly wouldn't waste any time at a dealership- - - all they know and care about is how to seperate the public from their money.  I actually asked a parts man the other day for some main cap bolts. Not only did he not understand me, he didn't have a clue as to what a main cap was, and on further inquiery, a main bearing ! This was a real parts man at a real (Nissan) dealership.

See if you can find a pro engine builder in your area and ask his opinion. I would try it and if I had a new vibration I would shut down and put the pully on. It may be that your internal balancing depends upon a rotating weight on the nose of the crank. Maybe not.

In other words, I don't really have a good answer for you - - -

Good luck again !

Dan