Got an update for whoever is interested: Basically, the whole Power Steer/Aircon setup has been modded to work with the Gibson Motorsport harmonic balancer, modded so that one belt drives the aircon & p-steer instead of two. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Before anyone asks "why" - its because the Gibson motorsport harmonic is off a racing GTR skyline, and so does not come with the right pulleys to run VL accessories. Also, because the gibson harmonic is much thicker than the standard VLT harmonic, I couldn't put the pulley that is normally on the front of the standard harmonic because (1) it would foul with the radiator due to the intercooler forcing the radiator closer to the engine; and (2) because even if it would fit on the front, it wouldn't line up with the standard air-con & p-steer pulleys. Also, I wanted a simpler and more reliable system - two belts instead of three - and I wanted it so that if I need an extra 10HP or so at a dyno comp, then I can just slip 1 belt off without all the dramas you usually have with the standard belt setup. Oh - and why the Gibson harmonic in the first place? Because a standard VL harminic isn't good enough to dampen destructive harmonic vibrations above 6500rpm - not having one of these harmonic balancers + sustained 7000rpm = broken engine.

Nice work, always wondered if mods were gunna be easy to the belts. Ive also wondered if anyone has ever attemped "gilmer" drives on a vlt????

hey champ just wondering do you do all your work to your engine by yourself? or do you pay a performance shop to do it?

Quote: Originally Posted by Methz hey champ just wondering do you do all your work to your engine by yourself? or do you pay a performance shop to do it? Some stuff I do, other stuff I get others to do. In the case of this drive-belts thingy - I got a motorsport engineering company to do it - where they actually manufacture custom parts etc.

can i ask what the gibson balancer cost you brett?? regards mark

just wondering how you have balancer attached to crank, still just the standard single keyway? is that sufficient in hi-po applications?

GIBSON BALANCER COST ME $1150 Single Key-way seems to be just fine. Although, I've had the nose of the crank metal-sprayed so that the harmonic is almost an interference fit - this reduces the tendency for the balancer to wander around on the nose of the crank and smash up the key.

thumbs up - very good

Quote: Originally Posted by 700HP Got an update for whoever is interested: Basically, the whole Power Steer/Aircon setup has been modded to work with the Gibson Motorsport harmonic balancer, modded so that one belt drives the aircon & p-steer instead of two. Sweeeeeet dude ... Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

nice. what does the water pump ratio work out to be now?

Quote: Originally Posted by HSVSUX nice. what does the water pump ratio work out to be now? Same as standard - the water pump & alternator run off the standard sized pulley on the harmonic, it's the power steer and aircon that are different: Aircon runs about 30% faster than standard (when engaged) which should make for nice cold aircon even at idle, the power steer runs at 1:1 (same as standard) thanks to the VN pulley adapted to the VL pump.

slightly off topic, is that timing cover polished or chromed? ta

pretty hard to polish plastic into metal isnt it ? so i'd say its been chromed lol !!

If you are worried about reliability due to sustained high RPM, why would you not slow the water and and power steer pump down, they will cause problems for sure.

yep, i agree with brent here. it would have been a good idea to reduce the speeds of both regards mark

Quote: Originally Posted by vlc_31t yep, i agree with brent here. it would have been a good idea to reduce the speeds of both regards mark I agree with you too - but it's a case of dealing with the limitations I'm dealt. To slow the accessories down, you either need larger pullies on the accessories or smaller pulley on the harmonic - given that the harmonic can't be changed (it's the best there is) and that I have clearance issues to contend with, then I'm kind-of hamstrung and have to take the less risky road of comprimise. Because the harmonic is larger diameter than standard (not smaller) it means running bigger accessory pulleys than standard, just to compensate for the larger harmonic - which I've done. But I can't really run any bigger accessory pullies than I have now (already big) due to other clearance issues, plus there's the problem of asthetics too. As for gearing down the water pump & alternator - I could - or I could use a different impeller inside the pump to avoid cavitation problems with a combination of air-bleed of stategies at the head - both of which have been done and proven 100% ok on the dyno. ...of course, all of this has to be seasoned with the knowledge that I'm only doing 10% more revs than the factory rev limiter, and that it's not an option to use a different harmonic balancer.

Quote: Originally Posted by AERWLK slightly off topic, is that timing cover polished or chromed? ta Chromed!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by exchaser pretty hard to polish plastic into metal isnt it ? so i'd say its been chromed lol !! even though he chromed them ollie, the belt covers are metal.