Smaller pulley user experiences?

[3800Charged]

So I'm thinking about dropping to a 3.5 from stock, on a 2003 SSEI, I want that power obviously but am worried about how much quicker I will get into boost during normal driving, I don't want it to kill my mileage when I'm just cruising around. Is this something Ill have a problem with? Any experiences helpful thanks!

[nos4blood70]

You won't get into boost any quicker really. Also, do you have any supporting mods to be able to run a 3.5?

[3800Charged]

Well that would be my next question? What do I need? Was thinking power log, DP and way to monitor knock?

[2003 SSEi]

its is generally thought that you need some type of Intake and exhaust to do a pulley drop

[nos4blood70]

Don't bother with the Plog and the DP. Just get headers. They're a better investment. A FWI and an Aeroforce should top the list off nicely. With headers and intake you should be able to run a 3.5 with no problems.

[3800Charged]

Oh forgot to mention I have a custom FWI already! So I shouldn't have to worry about getting into boost quicker?

[3800Charged]

I thought the DP was a huge restriction?? Where can I get a best bang for the buck set of headers?

[2003 SSEi]

the factory manifolds are really no better.

You can get a set of the SD headers for 250 on ebay

[redzmonte]

the front manifold is horrible. I would say do a DP and a tune with the pulley. the Plog will work fine as will a set of headers. but not really something i would consider required... I have a Plog, DP, FWI and ZZP tune on a 3.4" pulley (live in colorado 5800ft Elev.). I was running a 3.25" but went up to a
3.4 because i was getting weird KR in mid RPM's which ended up being a fuel pump getting weak. might swap back and scan

I kinda wish i just got the headers from the get go... keep in mind the cheap headers usually need some modifications to fit without leaks and the Flex in the downpipe sucks so you will wanna replace it as well.. so its not just 250$ and everythings perfect, plan on investing more to make them perfect... which is what i am thinking about doing....

S

[00Beast]

I run a 3.6 with an FWI, ported front manifold, ported intake, smoothed intake ports, ported blower, DP/High Flow Cat, and a partial tune, and get minimal KR. The important thing is to scan, and get a tune.

[3800Charged]

Thanks for the input guys! What can I use to tune, I'm not a fam of mail order tunes :/ and I don't feel like spending $600 on hp tuners lol

[3800Charged]

00 beast: did you notice a mpg decrease cruising around with smaller pulley?

[00Beast]

I didn't really do much in-town driving when I did it, and my mileage has always sucked, so I can't really give a fair opinion. Mileage never seemed to go down, though.

[3800Charged]

What can I tune with myself that doesn't cost a fortune?

[00Beast]

Your options for software are either HPTuners or finding DHP PowerTunr secondhand, as DHP went out of business.

Otherwise, you could see if there is someone local to you that has experience tuning 3800's.

[3800Charged]

anybody use this from ZZP
http://shop.zzperformance.com/store/p/5 ... oller.aspx

[redzmonte]

Digital Horsepower Powrtuner (DHP Powrtuner) can be got for a couple hundred bux if you can find one. Look on Clupgp.com 60degreev6.com Grand am forums, ect.. any site that is a GM V6 based site probably has a FS forum that you can find them.. Also the Powrtuner site is hit or miss finding them.

Honestly a Mail order tune from ZZP or intense is not a bad start.. gets all the little Bull out of the way, things you may not even know to change.

S

[FasGP]

anybody use this from ZZP
http://shop.zzperformance.com/store/p/5 ... oller.aspx

I use an AFC 2.2 now on my 2000 SSEi.

I stepped down to a 3.6 from completely stock when I started (blower coupler sounded like a tap dance show when I bought this car, so that was the first mod). I used AFC to cut my KR random spikes to less than 3*, then began putting on supporting mods. This car stock had over 6* KR...so pulleying down and tuning with AFC improved it significantly. Understand however when I stepped down pulley when stock, I have done this many times before, and have scan tool hooked up. You need to know what your car is doing, and know what to look for when you begin this process, with supporting mods or not. FIRST MOD SHOULD BE YOUR SCANNING DEVICE.

I am now running a 3.4 pulley with ported manis, DP and HF Cat, no resonator and stock muffs. I have KN cone CAI, 180 tstat, ZZP wires and AL104 plugs gapped 054 to get it to purr. I have an HPT but have not used it on this car yet (lazy prick). I still scan old school using an LS1M...and I run less than 2*kr max spikes at WOT shift, probably related to my lazy 295k transmission. The AFC is the tuning ticket...as I can make it fuel the way it needs to for keeping KR to a minimum.

Strongly suggest the AFC to those that don't want to spend on the tuner, as long as you have a scan tool (and I mean a tool where you can log and view scan runs, not an Aeroforce). It is able to provide you a good daily driver with little investment. Even on a stock pulley, the AFC can improve performance significantly. This lightly modded SSEi eats stock GTP's for lunch all day long using part throttle.

[3800Charged]

Thanks for the input! greatly appreciated!!
Im searching different forums for a DHP, MAN are they hard to find, but wayyyyy cheaper than HPTuners!!!
FASGP: What kind of MPG you seeing? Any track times?

[FasGP]

FASGP: What kind of MPG you seeing? Any track times?

MPG is never good in either of my cars, but that is because of the weight of my right foot. If I keep them out of the boost as much as I can, I can net about 28-32 highway. Overall, with about a 150k round trip to work every day, I average about 25mpg.

Never had either of these to the track yet. Bonne needed too much work, and the GP just got it's new powerplant. This summer should have some numbers.