Underdrive Pulleys Install


The following pictures are from the installation of my Steeda Underdrive Pulleys into my 1998 Mustang Cobra. The Steeda pulleys are the more expensive balancer type. I chose these pulleys because they are the only ones that fit the 1998 and above Cobras due to a metal tube that goes across the front of the engine. I also like the balancer type pulleys better because they seem to be less of a hack job than the piggyback style. The following is a step by step description of the process.

1. Here are pictures of the engine before the process. In these pictures, you can see the stock pulleys. Also note the metal pipe running in front of the crank pulley

Alternator Harmonic Balancer(Crank) Water Pump


2. The next step was to jack up the front of the car and put it on jack stands. I then proceded to loosen the bolts on the Waterpump pulley, the Crank pulley and Alternator pulley(using an impact gun). Make sure the parking brake is on and the transmission is in gear.

3. I then removed the belt. To do this, the guard must be removed from the belt tensioner. Then a 1/2 inch drive breaker bar is used to move the tensioner.

Tensioner Guard


4. I then removed the Waterpump pulley, Crank pulley and Alternator pulley. To remove the Crank pulley, I used a hamonic balancer puller I purchased at Sears. You can rent or borrow these, but the puller cost less than 20 dollars. I also disconnected the metal tube that passes by the Crank pulley. I didn't completely remove it. I just removed the two connections on the driver's side, so I could move it up a little.

Alternator Crank and Waterpump


5. The following pictures show the differences between the stock and the Steeda pulleys. The stock pulley is on the left and the Steeda pulley is on the right.

Alternator Pulley Waterpump Pulley Crank Pulley Front and Back



6. I then installed the crank pulley making sure to torque the crank bolt to 115 ft/lbs and put a dab of Permatex in the keyway slot. I also reconnected the tube that runs in front of the Crank pulley. I will be sure to retorque the crank bolt in a week or two. (Note: The instructions say to torque the crank bolt to 85 ft/lbs, but Steeda has corrected this to 115 ft/lbs.)

Crank Pulley


7. Next I installed the Waterpump pulley. I made sure to torque the bolts to 21 ft/lbs. Using a Torque wrench may have been overkill, but I don't want to risk anything on a 5000 dollar engine.

Waterpump Pulley


8. I then installed the Alternator pulley with the impact gun.

Alternator Pulley


9. Lastly, I reinstalled the belt and belt tensioner guard.

Completed Install


10. Impressions. The car seems to pull harder now than it did before. The car really seemed to respond well over 3000 RPMs. Between the C&L, K&N and pulleys, the car seems much stronger over 3000 RPMs then when it was new.

Click here to view Steeda's Install Instructions

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