I have a 2000 Prelude VTEC DOHC base model and am considering putting a pulley kit on. Lots of choices so I need a little help in understanding the pro's and cons. I've heard about the AEM kits an Unorthodox and don't know enough to determine which is the best for my car.

In looking at the AEM kits I see that they have 2 pulleys in the kit, the crank appears NOT to be one of them. Does it make sense to not change out the crank if you're going to change out the others? What's the reasoning behind this?

Unorthodox includes the crank pulley with their kit (seams to make sense to me). Are there any reasons why it wouldn't make sense to do the crank also? What's their philosophy behind providing all 3 pulley's?

Then there's the issue of "Overdrive" and "Non-Overdrive" or "Standard". If I put "Overdrive" pulley's on what are the pro's and con's in my car? What are the tradeoff's of each of these options?

Who's better... Unorthodox? AEM? Some other brand? Or, is putting these kits on just a waste of $$$?

I appreciate the education and feedback.

 

First, do some searching, second, the URSS set is way better. Ive had both and the difference is night and day. Better gains will be had with the UR

 

Read this thread now....

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1272226

 

Just to be sure, I think you're saying the ur is "much better" than the AEM, not that the overdriven kit is much better than the standard kit...correct?

 

Thanks for the thread. Obviously a lot of confusion and debate on this issue. To sum up what I think this thread (from my point of view) concludes is this...

According to the manufacturers sites there is approx a 15hp gain by putting on the lighter pulleys. 85% of this gain is due to the reduction in weight, therefore 15% is due to overdriving the pulleys. Therfore, by using the standard ur kit I should experience approx. 12.75 hp gain (15hp X .85) and approx. 15hp gain with the overdriven ur kit. That's a 2.25hp difference.

As we're using this car as an everyday driver reliability is also important. After all, that's a major reason why we chose a Honda. From the thread, it seams to me that there is still major debate on the issues of cause and affect between the overdriven pulley's causing some issues. It didn't seem that there was any conclusive information on one side or the other. So, I have to ask myself is it worth it to me to install the overdriven pulleys for an additional 2.25hp and take the chance with other failures or should I simply stay with the standard ur pulleys and be happy with the 12.75hp increase (vs. 15hp).

Am I on the right track here???

Thanks!!

 

if u are running a large system (sound system to be specific) AEM pulleys will not work out for u, due to the size of the pulleys. they are larger than oem, thus will cause a slower rotation, in charging u're alternator. In the other hand there are many myths with the UR crank, where it causing bearing in u're motor to wear out much quicker, causing engine damage, but the only crank pulley that was proven to cause this issue was NOT a UR crank, but then again i dunt remember wat the real problem was. Many with UR crank/ UR pulley sets are happy with it, no problems just yet. if u are looking for more gain off pulleys, u are better off with UR because the crank is where u get more of u're gains, and this will work out with cars with large system as well. I am running with UR pulleys, being carefully debating on which set to go with. I have sold my AEM for UR and i'm happy with it.

 

Good feedback ludeboi121. Thanks. Are you running the overdriven ur pulleys (SS) or the standard (SSc)? How many miles? What kind of gains do you think you've seen?