168 v 172 v 180
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Southern California
E55 w/ goods, Z32 Project underway
Some of the quickest cars run 172 pulleys. That stated you have to ask yourself about yourself. :0 Are you the type that always wants more? If so, just go with the 180mm vs installing a 172 and then removing to install a 180 later on.
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From: LA
W213 E63
.I went for the 180mm because I was scared that if I got the 172mm I'd always wonder what the 180 was like! I will say that on a cold day the 180 is a force to be reckoned with. I dont know anything else then 180 and I'm a satisfied customer...
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shrimp boat
RennTech made 178mm pulley. They are very rare, but they're out there.
I had 168 and my best mph with that was 120mph in the 1/4 mile. I now have 180 and a whole bunch of mods, my best mph is almost 122mph.
I had 168 and my best mph with that was 120mph in the 1/4 mile. I now have 180 and a whole bunch of mods, my best mph is almost 122mph.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Jacksonville, FL
05 White Pano E55, Cadillac CTS-V
I wonder how all the different pullies are measured and listed also from the different companies because mine is ASP and it is a "180" but ~180mm is to the outer edges which isn't where the actual belt rides so technically the pulley is smaller than 180 where the belt sits. This could make a difference when comparing to others if the next company actually uses where the belt rides as their number for the pulley size.
Example being the Renntech 178 mentioned above could be the same size as my ASP 180, unless they also measure to the outer edges where the belt doesn't actually ride.
Anyone ever actually measured their pullies?
Example being the Renntech 178 mentioned above could be the same size as my ASP 180, unless they also measure to the outer edges where the belt doesn't actually ride.
Anyone ever actually measured their pullies?
Last edited by urbamworm; Sep 9, 2011 at 11:07 AM.
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From: Atlanta
2006 E55 AMG
I would add meth too, and slap that 180mm on there. Why ***** foot around man, you are spending all this cheese, so get all the tq you can but meth is nice for cooling.
My car does jerk when the 180mm engages, but I love it because it displays how raw the beast really is. I dd mine too by the way.
My car does jerk when the 180mm engages, but I love it because it displays how raw the beast really is. I dd mine too by the way.
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06 E55 / 13 C63
Where can I find a 168 that's just the complete pulley kit (i.e no tune package)?
The 172mm pulley kit I know EC has ...
I'm looking for the 168 pulley kit ... I am deciding between a 168 v 172, I think those sizes are perfect considering the other mods I want to get...
Anybody know where to find a 168 pulley kit? Just the kit ...
The 172mm pulley kit I know EC has ...
I'm looking for the 168 pulley kit ... I am deciding between a 168 v 172, I think those sizes are perfect considering the other mods I want to get...
Anybody know where to find a 168 pulley kit? Just the kit ...
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06 E55 / 13 C63
Good to know, I'll have to give them a call.
It's not that I'm afraid to go with a 168 or 172 and then down the road want a 180 because I'll want more power; I am trying to balance the car out with the power upgrades and make sure it's running at optimal performance rather than try to squeeze another 20-30rwhp out of a bigger pulley that'll create more heat etc....for instance, it sounds like even with a 168 and the other proper power adding mods (headers, TB, dyno tune), you can make ideal power yet have the driveability and reliability of a "stock" car - I know it's not going to be safe like stock, but you guys get my drift.
Having said that and listening to what everyone has to say, right now, I am debating between a 168 or 172 ... the 180 is more or less out of the picture. I'm deciding between the Renntech 168 pulley or the 172 EC kit.
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From: New Cumberland, PA
ML63
I went from a 180 to a 175 to try and get the best of both worlds.
The 175 is smoother when engaging. I will be selling the 180 shortly I was debating on selling it but I think I will just stick with what I have now. If these top mounts work they will lower boost a lot "do to better flow". Also remember that if you get long tubes your boost will drop as well.
The 175 is smoother when engaging. I will be selling the 180 shortly I was debating on selling it but I think I will just stick with what I have now. If these top mounts work they will lower boost a lot "do to better flow". Also remember that if you get long tubes your boost will drop as well.
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From: Chicago suburbs
2004 E55 AMG
I went from trapping 115-116 with the stock pully to trapping exactly the same with the 180(but .2 quicker with a 4,500 pound race weight). HOWEVER, in daily driving, even in hot weather, the 180 wins hands down, no contest. When it gets cool out, it's flat-out amazing. This is with only a CM-30, no other cooling. The engagement IS jerky, but I've had it on for more than a year and don't really notice it anymore. The torque you get in the low and midrange are awesome with the 180. Not saying it's the best choice at all, but if track times are not your thing I see no reason to go smaller. I'm thinking about getting a small meth setup just for fun to see what it'll do at the track, but I go maybe once a year.
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06 E55 / 13 C63
So for daily driving, random spirited driving (ie WOT runs), the 180 is the best choice because I won't be doing 10 WOT runs in a row. At most, 2-3 a week. Will daily driving it, just cruising around, and maybe 1/2 throttle here and there build the heat up and cause problems. After all, the 180 will generate the most heat, I just don't want that to be the problem. This is just for daily driving.
This is a difficult decision! Now I'm beginning to think the 180 might be the best bet for my car - after all, I will daily driving it, mostly around town and on the freeway, but with only a couple WOT runs, it sounds like the 180 can't be beat
Hmmm
This is a difficult decision! Now I'm beginning to think the 180 might be the best bet for my car - after all, I will daily driving it, mostly around town and on the freeway, but with only a couple WOT runs, it sounds like the 180 can't be beat
Hmmm
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From: Jacksonville, FL
05 White Pano E55, Cadillac CTS-V
I would say it heavily depends on what kind of weather you experience a lot. For me I live in Florida and it is ALWAYS hot AND humid. Like I mentioned before, even doing a single run from a low speed up to around 100mph I can feel the car lose power once it gets in to 3rd gear. It isn't about multiple runs because it can be felt in one single one for me and I have everything possible done other than a big rear tank (have separated cooling system with small resevoir, bigger heat exhchanger and high flow pump). A smaller pulley would definitely be more beneficial in my opinion in this kind of weather if you are wanting to do more than a take off from the stop sign and run it hard up to 60 and let off type of run.
But when the weather is cooler out the car gets up an goes and keeps on going so if you live in a cooler climate where you see a lot of weather that is 70* or even cooler than you will love the 180 where as for me, I can't enjoy it that much for a big part of the year since it being so damn hot out all the time and then the extra heat is makes adding together just kills performance big time.
But when the weather is cooler out the car gets up an goes and keeps on going so if you live in a cooler climate where you see a lot of weather that is 70* or even cooler than you will love the 180 where as for me, I can't enjoy it that much for a big part of the year since it being so damn hot out all the time and then the extra heat is makes adding together just kills performance big time.
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06 E55 / 13 C63
I'm in MD and the weather here is both extremes.
The winters get very cold and the summers can be brutally hot with high humidity.
I don't think I'll ever decide what to go with! They all seem like they have their pros and cons.
Some people seem to love the 168 (I read some of that one member Vinny posts, and he was fast as hell with the 168), others think 172-175 is the perfect sweet spot with this motor, others have the 180 and think it's the best, even when the weather is hot.
I would say 7/8 months out of the year, we have weather here that's reasonable (not 100F with high humdity, either under 70 for autumn and spring), with 4/5 of those months in winter type weather (i.e less than 40F).
The winters get very cold and the summers can be brutally hot with high humidity.
I don't think I'll ever decide what to go with! They all seem like they have their pros and cons.
Some people seem to love the 168 (I read some of that one member Vinny posts, and he was fast as hell with the 168), others think 172-175 is the perfect sweet spot with this motor, others have the 180 and think it's the best, even when the weather is hot.
I would say 7/8 months out of the year, we have weather here that's reasonable (not 100F with high humdity, either under 70 for autumn and spring), with 4/5 of those months in winter type weather (i.e less than 40F).
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From: Northern Virginia
E55 AMG
I have a 180mm sitting in my garage at the moment...planning on putting it on within a week or two as the weather in VA is starting to cool down a little.
I have a 168 currently on w/ 80mm tb, EC long tubes, Renntech tune, completely gutted 3" exhaust and put down 501whp-503whp-513whp on three runs. Car was dynoed in FL in 97 degree heat and 88% humidity
Car has PLM HE and Meizire pump
The 168 is very drivable and feels like the car is all motor, I love the pull of the 180! If you dont have headers then I would go 168/172, but because your going with the long tubes I would go with the 180 because of the loss of boost due to the reduction in back pressure
I have a 168 currently on w/ 80mm tb, EC long tubes, Renntech tune, completely gutted 3" exhaust and put down 501whp-503whp-513whp on three runs. Car was dynoed in FL in 97 degree heat and 88% humidity
Car has PLM HE and Meizire pump
The 168 is very drivable and feels like the car is all motor, I love the pull of the 180! If you dont have headers then I would go 168/172, but because your going with the long tubes I would go with the 180 because of the loss of boost due to the reduction in back pressure
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06 E55 / 13 C63
I have a 180mm sitting in my garage at the moment...planning on putting it on within a week or two as the weather in VA is starting to cool down a little.
I have a 168 currently on w/ 80mm tb, EC long tubes, Renntech tune, completely gutted 3" exhaust and put down 501whp-503whp-513whp on three runs. Car was dynoed in FL in 97 degree heat and 88% humidity
Car has PLM HE and Meizire pump
The 168 is very drivable and feels like the car is all motor, I love the pull of the 180! If you dont have headers then I would go 168/172, but because your going with the long tubes I would go with the 180 because of the loss of boost due to the reduction in back pressure
I have a 168 currently on w/ 80mm tb, EC long tubes, Renntech tune, completely gutted 3" exhaust and put down 501whp-503whp-513whp on three runs. Car was dynoed in FL in 97 degree heat and 88% humidity
Car has PLM HE and Meizire pump
The 168 is very drivable and feels like the car is all motor, I love the pull of the 180! If you dont have headers then I would go 168/172, but because your going with the long tubes I would go with the 180 because of the loss of boost due to the reduction in back pressure
What about with shorties or not LTs? Do you still lose boost?
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Northern Virginia
E55 AMG
You will still experience a slight loss w/ shorties or a mid-length header setup such as Klemann. I would jump on EC'd group buy... 40-50rwhp gain is no joke.
You actually lose torque with the LT's but gain it back plus more w/ a 180
You actually lose torque with the LT's but gain it back plus more w/ a 180
