Advice on a smaller pulley for an ESS VT-1 535

[dpohlman]

I have been very satisfied with my ESS VT-1 535 kit. It provides the type of power that an M-3 really should have had "right out of the box". With that said, I would consider adding a small amount of additional boost using a slightly smaller pulley on the blower. I know some VT-1 535 owners have done this, but I don't have a sense of the results they have experienced.

I really don't have a desire to move up to a VT-2 or a VT-3 kit. Obviously, those options generate insane power, but I am already very happy with what I have. If the pulley change gives a little more power with no negative consequences, then I would likely go that route.

Does anyone have experience with this change that they could share?

Thank you, David

[Team Plutonium]

I think you'll get a small power-bump, but at the expensive of voiding your ESS warranty for the kit. I'd skip it, stay with the 535 kit, or move to the 575 kit.

Before I'd change the pulley I'd go with a full exhaust (if you don't have it yet), that will give you some nice extra power, with the added benefit of great sound.

[m3an]

Do it. Who cares about the kits warranty. Your not likely to use it. An IMO the supercharger itself is the only item that could really have an issue. Eveything else is metal and bolts. Not a bad upgrade if you ask me. Keep in mind the 535 still isn't intercooled so I wouldn't go crazy

[img]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

I think you'll get a small power-bump, but at the expensive of voiding your ESS warranty for the kit. I'd skip it, stay with the 535 kit, or move to the 575 kit.

Before I'd change the pulley I'd go with a full exhaust (if you don't have it yet), that will give you some nice extra power, with the added benefit of great sound.

THIS !

[1SICKM]

Go catless...

[Poppin Fresh]

Primary cat delete like Macht Schnell & Turner Test Pipes like they said

[m3an]

Everyone is mentioning go catless and no where in his post does it say he is or isn't. The question was whether or not to up the boost.

How many kits have ESS had to warranty. My guess is few if any. Op do as you wish but I don't see it being an issue. I lol at all the guys in here who are SC but concerned about the Kits warranty

[Team Plutonium]

Originally Posted by m3an

Everyone is mentioning go catless and no where in his post does it say he is or isn't. The question was whether or not to up the boost.

How many kits have ESS had to warranty. My guess is few if any. Op do as you wish but I don't see it being an issue. I lol at all the guys in here who are SC but concerned about the Kits warranty

OP asked for feedback and advice and we gave it to him. As far as I can tell you are the only one without the ESS supercharger giving the opposite advice. It is always easy to tell someone else to skip the warranty isn't it.

And yes, personally I'm not too concerned about anything regarding warranty, but I thought it was worth it to point that out to the OP.

And yes, of course I don't know if he has a full exhaust already or not.... but again, I thought it was worth it to make that suggestion, especially since it will give him a lot more power over the smaller pulley while retaining the ESS warranty.

[Let It Rein]

I'm running the 575 pulley on my VT1 and I'm very happy. I'm also catless and running 93. Go for it.

[1SICKM]

Originally Posted by Let It Rein

I'm running the 575 pulley on my VT1 and I'm very happy. I'm also catless and running 93. Go for it.

Just don't go smaller than the 575 pulley. First, you don't have the tune or injectors for it. Second, your not intercooled.

[m3an]

Originally Posted by 1SICKM

Just don't go smaller than the 575 pulley. First, you don't have the tune or injectors for it. Second, your not intercooled.

1lb shouldn't be a big deal, but I agree as said before being non-intercooled presents another issue. The 535 injectors should support a decent amount of HP too

[pbonsalb]

What sizes are the nonintercooled and intercooled kit injectors?

[dpohlman]

How much gain could I expect from an exhaust change with my ESS VT-1? Would I need a different tune from ESS?

[1SICKM]

Finding out the injector size is difficult. Do you think ESS or these tuners want to release their secrets and hard earned R/D. Gains from stock exhaust to catless are approx 20-25 whp. Gains from 535 to 575 pulley only are minimal. I saw approx 15whp. You would get more from upgrading to the 575 kit because the car is then tuned for it and the injectors are different. IMO - if your upgrading from 535....just go to the 600 or 625.

[Team Plutonium]

It really seems like unnecessary hassle and risk for minimal power gain. OP, do you have a full exhaust? If not, that's your power gain right there...

[m3an]

Originally Posted by 1SICKM

Finding out the injector size is difficult. Do you think ESS or these tuners want to release their secrets and hard earned R/D. Gains from stock exhaust to catless are approx 20-25 whp. Gains from 535 to 575 pulley only are minimal. I saw approx 15whp. You would get more from upgrading to the 575 kit because the car is then tuned for it and the injectors are different. IMO - if your upgrading from 535....just go to the 600 or 625.

It's not difficult at all and certainly not a secret. I believe they're Bosch 40lbs but may be wrong. A shop would be able to flow test them to calculate they're size though.

[Roman@ESS]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

It really seems like unnecessary hassle and risk for minimal power gain. OP, do you have a full exhaust? If not, that's your power gain right there...

Adding a smaller pulley to the current VT1-535 would net you min gains but would lower your safety margin without proper changes to the software. On average you might pickup about 10-15 whp. The down side is the safety calculations in the software are configured to keep the motor safe in most conditions with the current level of boost. One of the changes we make in our higher boost kits is we use a different tune knowing that the vehicle is adding intercooling or is going to be on high quality 93+ octane fuel. In the case of the VT1-535 non intercooled kit we would actually add more safety margin to the current tune if we were going to run higher levels of boost on it. This would allow it to make a small amount of additional power in proper conditions but also keep it safe when needed.

[pbonsalb]

No need to flow test the injectors. Just read the PN on them and look them up on the internet. I don't have a kit or I would have done this to satisfy my curiosity.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Roman@ESS

Adding a smaller pulley to the current VT1-535 would net you min gains but would lower your safety margin without proper changes to the software. On average you might pickup about 10-15 whp. The down side is the safety calculations in the software are configured to keep the motor safe in most conditions with the current level of boost. One of the changes we make in our higher boost kits is we use a different tune knowing that the vehicle is adding intercooling or is going to be on high quality 93+ octane fuel. In the case of the VT1-535 non intercooled kit we would actually add more safety margin to the current tune if we were going to run higher levels of boost on it. This would allow it to make a small amount of additional power in proper conditions but also keep it safe when needed.

+1.

OP: You'll pick up more power going with a set of Macht Schnell Track Pipes.

[davramic]

What's your experience/recommendations for the vt535? Any issues, hiccups or problems?

[dpohlman]

Thanks for the insight everyone!

Based on the general feedback (and Roman's expert insight), my plan is to stick with the stock pulley, and start looking at exhaust options.

Recommendations on something that adds nice sound and power, but not obnoxiously loud?

I know there are many exhaust threads out there, but I would like advice from ESS customers.

[lfelunden]

Originally Posted by 1SICKM

Finding out the injector size is difficult. Do you think ESS or these tuners want to release their secrets and hard earned R/D. Gains from stock exhaust to catless are approx 20-25 whp. Gains from 535 to 575 pulley only are minimal. I saw approx 15whp. You would get more from upgrading to the 575 kit because the car is then tuned for it and the injectors are different. IMO - if your upgrading from 535....just go to the 600 or 625.

+1 on this!