1st -

1.5lb or 3lb pulley? it is my DD

2nd-
Magnaflow x pipe and cats......2.25" or 2.5"?



I have seen the posts but I haven't actually seen where one is better than the other.

 

I had both the 1.5 and 3 lb. pulley (to the present) and both are a hoot to drive. Your choice, both bring up the boost quicker than stock. Naturally, the 3 will heat up the charge coolers quicker than the 1.5. Coupled with the Mafioso air intake tube, hi-flow cats and x-pipe, you moved her up into the muscle sedan scene. Though I went with 2.5" throughout, stick with 2.25". We have members here developing a "Chiller Killer" and ECU program to compliment the mods, and we're certain the STR will see 500 hp and torque.

 

Nitrous oxide

 

The easy...There is ZERO need for an X-Pipe as our OEM resonator is an X-pipe...If you buy one and keep the OEM res, you're crossing over gases twice which is just a waste of money...Now if you remove the OEM res, then an X-pipe makes sense...However, you can still buy an aftermarket res with built in X-over so that would be the cheaper way to go.

For the pulley...

If I could do it over again I'd go nitrous; in fact, if I could find someone to swap out my 3lbs for a stocker (and handle all the labor) I would do nitrous...With the 3lb pulley you can notice a huge butt dyno difference between 80f day and a 40f day (much faster)...I believe the engine is slowing the advancement of timing when the air is hot and raising the engine temps up high...With the pulley, under WOT (wide open throttle) blasts, you're always putting more strain/stress/power/tq on the engine...With nitrous, if you're disciplined enough not to use it at every stop light, I believe the average driver would do less damage to their engine plus you get the added benefit of very cold air...For the price of a 3lb pulley, installation and a chiller killer which CAN have it's own set of annoyances for your climate control preferences, you can buy and have a nitrous kit installed...The shop can set it up safely so that you flip one switch and it's arm and is only automatically spraying during a WOT and within the RPM window...The cold nitrous air will be a god-sent in 80f+ days...

 

I'd still swap s/c with you :P

 

I'll put my offer on the table...If someone who has comparable miles or less is willing to drive to me, will to pay for my gaskets and labor I'll swap S/Cs...

 

Though NO2 sounds intrigueing...I'm stuck in the "Motor to Motor" frame of mind.

 

Most people that talk about an X-pipe replace the resonator with an X-pipe. Your right there is no point having both. The resonator is restrictive since it does act like a muffler so there is material the air goes through. When you cut it out and just go with a regular x-pipe you free up the gases at the expense of it being louder and most people experience a drone when they do this. So if you are going to do an X-pipe cut out the resonator and put it there. This is what I'm looking at doing finally after having half the exhaust sitting in my garage I may finally get the rest of it and get it installed. Hopefully taxes work out to my benefit.

 

Vance- how do you like your 1.5lb pulley or do you wish you would have done the 3lb?

 

I love the 1.5lb. It's perfect for my needs. I didnt want to shave the snout cause just removing the stock pulley is work enough. My STR isnt really my daily driver anymore so when I do drive it I get on it alot so with the 3lb it would probably heat soak everytime I drove it. Also living in NC is gets very hot in the summer and with the 3lb I just felt I'd have constant heat soak. I've got that paired with the Mafioso intake and I love the whine. I'm done with the supercharger mods till either a twin screw comes out or I finally graduate college and try to engineer my own. I think the big question with 1.5 or 3lb is are you doing your own install. The 3lb will be alot more difficult with the grinding of the snout to allow for the smaller pulley. Then you have to look at how much summer driving you do in the high temps. With the 3lb you will heat soak quicker and not have all your power on tap. If you dont mind either one of those then 3lbs would be the way to go.
All these opinions would change if a killer chiller was available. If that was available and getting installed also then 3lb would be the way to go all the way.

 

Vance580 hit all the valid points regarding choosing a smaller pulley. I'm in NY with its cooler spring, autumn, and winter temps., so my 03 STR wears the 3 lb. It did wear the 1.5. and low-end trq. def. came on sooner and stronger. What also needs to be mentioned is the combined temp. lowering effects of removing the top engine cover (covers the charge coolers and blower), Mafioso air intake tube, low temp. thermostat, and hi-flow cats. In addition to the obvious attributes of a "Chiller", a blower port/polish will both make 20+ hp and lower blower charge temps. Though a mega power $5000+ twin screw may lay on the horizon, I'm moving forward with a blower port/polish, and "Chiller". Low 12 second 1/4's is a possibility for the STR. Dragtimes.com posts an official 12.4 1/4 mile by a 2000 XKR 4.0 with lower gears and a blower port/polish.

 

what if you do live in the northeast is the chiller killer going to do any harm due to the temp drop due to seasons?

 

zetesc, the northeast's cooler weather only makes "it" sweeter, as the charge cooler will not only help cool down blower intake charge, but give the ECU both of a reason to maintain and/or advance iginition lead = power.