I have found a product that KIA should have put on the Forte engine from the factory. I had the Road Race Motorsports lightweight performance pulley installed on my Forte SX and the difference is night and day. Let me start with a little back story. I had been asked by KIA corporate engineering in Irvine, CA about things I like and dislike about the Forte. They are doing a lot of market research on their new car and they are very concerned to get the Forte right. At the time of that conversation, I told the engineer that the engine hangs on to the RPM's too long when you try to shift making it difficult to shift. I told him that the clutch action as well as the unresponsiveness of the engine makes it difficult to start in first gear at times, so much so that it results in stalling the vehicle. I also mentioned that the change between 1st and 2nd gear is rough. Finally I had mentioned that the vehicle just doesn't have the "free-spirited" feeling to it that I would expect from a sport-tuned model. The KIA engineer's only response was that they would have to look into some kind of change. I never heard of any change from KIA, but I found the change in the form of Road Race Motorsports lightweight performance pulley. This simple pulley install has totally changed the way my Forte feels. The engine is much more responsive now, all of the shifting problems are non-existent. The engine matches RPM's for shifting much better than it ever did before. Most importantly the seat of the pants feel of my car in the very usable RPM range of 3000 – 5000 is amazing. I can not believe that with just a simple change of a pulley you can literally feel it in the most useful portion of the RPM range.
Road Race Motorsports Lightweight Performance Pulley
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The pulley is just light weight, the block design does not allow for a correct underdrive pulley.
I asked the owner and he said that it will be $130-$150, along the lines of his other pulleys.
Glad to hear that the pulley made a big difference, it is not usually HP that you gain but rather more usable horse power across a larger range on the power band.
I asked the owner and he said that it will be $130-$150, along the lines of his other pulleys.
Glad to hear that the pulley made a big difference, it is not usually HP that you gain but rather more usable horse power across a larger range on the power band.
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Not too sure, i can find out, if they are then it would be the same price.
As for automatics, the power delivery will be faster and the power smoother. I have a pulley on my automatic and the biggest change was how the power smoothed out and I gained more usable power at lower RPM's.
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I am not sure but I can find out.
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I wonder if Kia will void your warranty if you have problems down the road. I really want to go for the lightweight pulley, I totally agree with the fact that this car doesn't drive right. I've owned plenty of manual trans cars, and this one is the least fun to drive, due to the many anomalies caused by the excessive rotational mass... Has anyone discussed with a dealership how this may or may not affect your warranty? 
(altering drive train components usually will void them)
(altering drive train components usually will void them)
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man i told kia to take there 10year warrenty and shove it up there ass i had even cali corp kia call me explained the issue with the damn pulley and nothing i will be taking matters into my own hands all they said was "we have not received many complaints about it" " sir if you do change it we will not cover you under our 10 year warrenty" well you know wat your so called tire program is bull shit i have to pay 176 bucks for one damn tire when i can go to townfair tire and get one for 88$ had me livid yesterday afternoon
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I knew you would have something to say about this thread Soar.
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Lightweight pullies are a big help to cars, I have a lightweight crank pulley (10%underdrive and I didn't need to replace the belt, kept the stock belt on), lightweight water pump and altenator pully on my yaris, and for a small car, with small engine power, it made it more repsonsive and i felt a slight difference in power, so I could just imagine how it feels in the forte. I personally would recommend it the 1st mod on all cars if possible.
P.S. I got my pullies from NST (non stop tuning) and i have had them installed for about 35,000 miles with no problems
P.S. I got my pullies from NST (non stop tuning) and i have had them installed for about 35,000 miles with no problems
It's the underdrive that makes more power. For the record, the RRM pulley is not an underdrive.
Even with an underdrive (which can harm SOME engine accesories) the gains are more pronounced on a manual than auto because of hydrodynamics.
There are more bang for the buck options when it comes to horsepower $$$. Exhaust being the most fruitful to date.
Even with an underdrive (which can harm SOME engine accesories) the gains are more pronounced on a manual than auto because of hydrodynamics.
There are more bang for the buck options when it comes to horsepower $$$. Exhaust being the most fruitful to date.
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others who have bought the lightweight pulley (without underdrive) for my car reported a similar results as well. I would still recommend it for all cars.
The only problem i have had is the waterpump pulley is starting to wear off, my lightweight one. The belt is creating a deep grove in the pulley so eventually I am going have to either put my stock one back on (which i may do) or buy a new one (which its a waste as of now since I'm looking towards the forte)
The only problem i have had is the waterpump pulley is starting to wear off, my lightweight one. The belt is creating a deep grove in the pulley so eventually I am going have to either put my stock one back on (which i may do) or buy a new one (which its a waste as of now since I'm looking towards the forte)
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just order it call it a day
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If I had a forte koup I would, but I'm saving up for one as of now
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you can buy mines for 38,000If I had a forte koup I would, but I'm saving up for one as of now
lmao! buy me two!
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Theta, check out Soar4Fun's thread about putting his car on the Dyno with various configurations, including a pulley. Good, verifiable info there on what our cars respond to.
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