freeing up power on a 2.7...

I had no choice but to take the unwanted added options when I got my 2012, and so I set to work on removing them today.



With the power steering and the AC removed, a smaller simpler non serpentine belt now only drives the alternator and water pump freeing up more power to move the truck.

 

AC doesn't pull any power unless you use it.

Power steering draw is minimal.

 

wut

 

It's just a personal preference. AC is only dead weight as I neither need it or use it, and I've never liked squishy power steering because you can't feel road resistance in curves. It's just a small light vehicle and doesn't really need power steering anyways. From what I've read on racing forums, the consensus is power steering losses run from 5-7 whp on a dyno.

I like to have a simple uncluttered engine compartment.

 

Humans have an innate ability to adapt to a wide range of conditions. The more compensations are depended on, the more that ability to adapt is lost until the comfort range becomes so delicate and narrow that the slightest deviation causes discomfort.

None of those are located in the engine compartment.

 

I further refined the idea with a slightly longer belt to go around the belt tensioning idler which eliminated another idler pulley.

So instead of the engine crankshaft working to turn 4 pulleys and 3 idlers, now it only turns 2 pulleys and 1 idler.

The belt is 6 groove instead of 7 because they don't make a 7 groove that small. It doesn't need to be 7 because it's driving so few accessories.









It took a little trial and error to find the right belt. The one that's just the right length to put the tensioner idler square in the middle of it's travel is a Gates:

K060458

or

6PK1165